Please see the following website for full job posting and application link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/2310343/natural-resource-specialist-2-00105w#new_tab

Salary: $3,664.00 – $4,809.00 Monthly
Job Type: On-Call
Job Number: 2018-00105W
Closing: 1/17/2019 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) protects, conserves, and restores the State’s native fish and wildlife populations and their habitats. These properly managed resources provide sustainable fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and other outdoor experiences for millions of residents and visitors. WDFW’s employees are diverse, interdisciplinary, and enjoy the challenges and satisfaction of working in perhaps the Nation’s most beautiful state. Biologists, scientists, enforcement officers, spatial analysts, land stewards, administrators, lab and computer technicians, customer service representatives and others manage hundreds of fish and wildlife species, maintain nearly a million acres of public wildlife lands, provide opportunities for recreational and commercial fishing, wildlife viewing and hunting, protect and restore habitat and create and enforce the laws that protect fish and wildlife resources. Find out more about us and the important work we are a part of at www.wdfw.wa.gov.

Natural Resource Specialist 2
(On Call)
(3 Vacancies to be filled,
Duty areas will be throughout Washington State)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting to fill three “On Call RXB2”, Natural Resource Specialist 2 position located in the Lands Division of the Wildlife Program.  The duty area for these positions will be throughout Washington State. Employment period is as needed, year round.

This position supports/contributes to Departments mission and goals of preserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats by implementing sound fire practices and restoring fire as a disturbance agent at the appropriate frequency to fire dependent ecosystems/habitats sustaining and perpetuating the plants and animals dependent thereon.

Under the supervision of the Rx Fire Program Manager, this position, On Call RXB2, will provide leadership, supervision, and mentoring within the prescribed (Rx) fire program to support the Department’s mission and goals within the constraints of policy, applicable legal requirements, and applicable collective bargaining agreements to help implement projects for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems. The primary focus will be in Eastern Washington but may include any region in Washington State, which includes more than 200,000 acres of forest including numerous fire dependent, e.g., dry forest and fire maintained prairies and steppe.

General duties include coordinating with the Rx Fire Program Manager, Other Fire Managers, Wildlife Area Managers, Wildlife Biologists and Foresters to implement burns for restoration and maintenance of fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat. Conducting burn unit layout, fuels inventory, assisting with writing and technical review of burn plans, with a primary focus of supervising and training other Rx fire members.

Duties

Job knowledge (to perform the essential activities of this position, the employee must know or understand the following): Fire ecology; fire effects and by-products and their ecosystem actions; fire weather; fuel types; fuel conditions; fuels assessment; smoke management; NWCG standards; knowledge of tools and techniques used to prepare for and implement Rx burns; Working knowledge of management, supervision and training of fire line hand crews and/or prescribed fire hand crews.

Duty: Prescribed Burn planning 10%
Tasks include:

  • Assist with developing burn plans involving site review, assessment using knowledge of various fuel types, fuel inventory methodology and protocol. Apply NWCG burn plan format and standards in writing burn plans and technical reviews for the purpose of applying prescribed fire as a tool to manage wildlife habitat on DFW Wildlife Areas dry forest and shrub-steppe habitats.

Duty: Prescribed Burn Implementation 80%
Tasks include:

  • Implement and supervise burns at a minimum of NWCG Qualified and certified RXB2. Complete burn unit assessment and layout in assigned areas involving weather, fuels consumption, and smoke observations. Smoke management planning and reporting, accomplishment reporting, cost tracking, and submitting other post burn reports as needed.

Duty: Supervision 5%
Tasks include:

  • Supervise a minimum crew of 5 people in fuel preparation, burn unit preparation, Rx burn initiation and completion, equipment maintenance. Making recommendation for training opportunities and mentoring. Provide evaluations.  Provide for employee and public safety while implementing assigned projects including prescribed burning.

Duty: Record Keeping 5%
Tasks include:

  • Develop and maintain records of Rx burns, personnel participation, costs tracking, documentation for preparation and implementing of Rx burns, pre and post burn reporting. Assist with burn plan preparation and writing. Time reporting.

Qualifications

  • A Bachelor’s degree in natural resource science or related field, AND, three years of Rx burning experience qualified at the NWCG standard of RxB2.

An Associate’s degree in natural resource science or related field, AND five years of Rx burning experience qualified at the NWCG standard of RxB2.

  • Current or past certification under the NWCG specifications and standards as RxB2.  Certification must meet the work capacity test at the moderate level.

“In Training” plan can be established if the incumbent does not hold the qualifications required by the position. The incumbent would remain in probationary status until they are fully qualified as an RXB2. The incumbent would need to meet these requirements within 12 months after date of hire.
Key Knowledge and Skills
The employee must know or understand:

  • Demonstrated ability through experience to successfully plan, coordinate, and implement multi-organization prescribed burns to provide cross-training contemporaneously with fire restoration to fire dependent wildlife habitat.
  • Training in ecological monitoring of fire, fire effects, and fire by-products.
  • Familiar with and experience in fire weather.
  • Knowledge of tools and techniques used to prepare for and implement Prescribed Burns.
  • Knowledge of Washington state burn laws, smoke management rules, and smoke management plans at the state and federal level.
  • Team building skills: Leads and promotes cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and deliverables.
  • People skills: communicates well with others while assigning tasks, instructions and expectations.  Deals with difficult personnel interactions with sensitivity, fairness and resolve.
  • Communications: Clear oral and written instructions, listening, incorporating and learning from what supervisors and others have said. Also when unclear or in doubt regarding direction asks appropriate questions for clarification.
  • Safety focus: Adhere to all workplace and safety standards for fire management operations.
  • Use of fire management tools and fuel inventory tools.
  • Equipment operation  (ATV, UTV, 4-wheel drive vehicles, wildland fire engine, water pumps)
  • Use of water handling equipment
  • Ability to effectively work with multiple individuals from multiple organizations towards a common goal.
  • Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and makes the best use of available time and resources.
  • Proficient computer skills such as MS Word, MS Excel, with aptitude for learning new software programs.

Behavioral competencies:

  • Creative and innovative thinking.
  • Communication effectiveness.
  • Organizational and political awareness.
  • Adaptability and flexibility.
  • Accountability.
  • Leadership.
  • Ethics and integrity.
  • Dependability.
  • Strong mentor and development skills

PREFERRED:
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

  • A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in forestry, agriculture, aqua culture, business, engineering, geology, or other related natural science studies and one year of related professional experience.

Required Qualifications/Conditions of Employment:

  • Five years’ experience on prescribed burns or wildland fire suppression.
  • Certified and current under National Wildfire Coordinating Group specifications and standards Qualified as RXB2
  • Supervisory or lead work experience.
  • Must be capable of passing the moderate physical fitness standard of carrying a 45 pound pack 2 miles in 30 minutes annually.
  • Must hold a valid Washington State driver’s license at time of hire.
  • Must be 18 years old at time of employment.
  • First Aid (training provided)
  • ATV certification (training provided)

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions
Duty locations will be determined where the Rx burning will be conducted. This position is primarily fieldwork but may require some office work. The incumbent will be requested to report to field offices as need for meetings and training. The incumbent must be willing to work alone and traverse steep, uneven terrain in all weather conditions. The employee is expected to spend their time working in the field under sometimes difficult conditions.  Weather conditions can vary from freezing to over 100 degrees F, and terrain is steep and rocky.  Other hazards include poisonous reptiles, insects and plants.  Employees must be capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds over steep, rugged terrain in hot or cold weather.

The schedule is on an hourly basis driven by the Rx burn needs and is overtime eligible. The incumbents will be required to travel in their own personal vehicle for work duties. All travel and per diem will be reimbursable. Work hours will remain flexible to enhance functionality and productivity to ensure program goals are achieved.  Work will exceed 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week during prescribed burning season working long hours, including weekends and holidays in isolated field settings. Frequent travel to conduct implementation of fuels projects, especially during prescribed burning, and other projects will be required.

The incumbent will be leading and working closely with other Prescribed Fire Team members for extended periods. Good leadership and exceptional people skills are essential to success of this position and the success of the Prescribed Fire Team as a whole.

The incumbent must be able to drive a vehicle on primitive roads during all weather conditions in 4 wheel drive trucks and ATV’s. The incumbent utilizes agency radio equipment and/or cell phone for communication in the field. Office duties require use of standard office furniture and equipment (e.g. desks, files, cabinets, computers, telephones, fax machines, copy machines, etc). Field duties require frequent use of radios, GPS, topographic maps, aerial photos, and compass.

Union
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

How to Apply:
To apply for this position you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

  • A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted)
  • A current resume (please make it succinct)
  • Three professional references (personal references do not count as professional)

Please note:  Failure to follow the above application instructions will lead to disqualification. Please do not include any attachments other than the ones requested above. E-mailed documents will not be accepted after the closing of the recruitment or in lieu of attaching your documents to the online profile.

Upon submission of your online application, you will immediately receive a confirming e-mail.  You will then be notified via e-mail of your status during the process.  In addition to the e-mail notifications, you can check the status of your application at any time by visiting your online profile at www.careers.wa.gov.  Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we ask your understanding and encourage you to use the online process and avoid calling for information.

Please note that initial screening will be solely based on the completeness of application materials submitted and the contents and completeness of the “work experience” section of your application in NeoGov. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application. The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the supplemental questions. Responses not supported in your application may disqualify you from consideration for employment in this position. All information will be verified and documentation may be required.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.