Assistant Fire Management Officer

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. 

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Core Values  

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other.

• We create collaborative work environments.

• We build and maintain strong relationships.

• We practice accountability.

• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

Position Overview

This Assistant Fire Management Officer (AFMO) position is located at the Kalispell Unit and is a crucial position that will provide leadership both off and on the line to the Unit Engine Crews. This position may also help with various Forestry Division or Trust Land Management Division (TLMD) duties.

This position has primary responsibilities to coordinate, implement, and supervise wildland fire initial attack personnel and equip­ment to provide a safe and effective fire manage­ment capabil­ity for the Unit. Work assignments require coopera­tion and coordina­tion with County, State, Tribal and Federal agencies, the general public, permanent and seasonal employ­ees, and private contrac­tors.The posi­tion adminis­ters seasonal activities related to wild­land fire protec­tion, the maintenance of build­ings, grounds, and vehicles, and fire-related program pro­jects of the Unit.The position is responsible for implementing operational activities associated with fire suppression and prevention; providing wildland fire planning and professional assistance; supervising and training fire crews; developing and coordinating training programs; investigating and enforcing forest use laws, rules, and policies; educating and informing the public of fire prevention and fire management practices.The incumbent may attend county fire meetings and plan and coordinate county fire trainings.

One of the priorities for the Kalispell Unit is our cooperator relationships, therefore, the AFMO will help build and maintain relationships with the adjoining DNRC Units, surrounding National Forests, other tribal and federal agencies, and surrounding counties. This position will directly supervise the engine crews as directed by the Fire Management Officer (FMO). This position assists with Unit fire prevention work, duties, and plans.Consequently, the Unit AFMO will provide input in developing the Fire Prevention Plan.This position will assist forest management duties concerning forest improvement, as well as other duties assigned.This position reports directly to the Kalispell Unit Fire Management Officer and assists in supervision of 6.1 seasonal and permanent FTE.

Essential Functions (Major Duties and Responsibilities)\: These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

Fire Management and Coordination\: 

Fire Management Program\: The incumbent has the responsibility to plan, coordinate, and supervise several concurrent activities within the Unit Fire Program or where assigned.

Fire Suppression
Fire Pre-Suppression
Fire Prevention 
Project Work and Fire-related Programs\:
Personnel
Building, Grounds and Vehicle Maintenance

Trust Land Management / Good Neighbor Authority\:
This position may be responsible for managing various Good Neighbor Authority or Trust Land activities as directed by the Unit Manager and other Program Managers.

Management and Supervision of others\:

Supervision and Training

Scope and Effect\:

Actions and decisions of this position affect operational aspects of the Unit's fire management programs including the implementation of fire management plans, coordination of resources, and providing leadership and expertise in fire suppression activities.Decisions concern choices between numerous and varied alternatives during specific or multiple fire incidents, the delivery of technical and professional assistance to the public and forest land users, and coordinating manpower and equipment readiness levels with other organizations and agencies.Decisions often commit the department to particular and costly courses of action that are critical in fire suppression activities and directly affect firefighter and public safety.The incumbent is responsible for keeping the Unit in compliance with federal, state, county and local laws, and regulations related to fire management and forest practices.

*If you are interested in this position and want to apply, please reach out for a full job description. Contact HR at Lysandra.Badilla@mt.gov

Application Materials Required For This Position Are\: 

• Online State of Montana Application 

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• References 

HELPFUL HINT\: You must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.

Benefits 

• Work/life balance. 

• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays), with vacation leave increasing with service.

• Longevity pay with continued state service.

• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

• Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.

• Retirement plans (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plus an optional 457(b) Plan).

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.

• Career progression, professional development, and state employee discounts.

• Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
   

Minimum Qualifications\:

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• This position requires a High School diploma and a two-year degree.
  A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience, including fireline leadership, Incident Command System (ICS) training, and related fire program experience, or equivalent.
  Areas of study could be, Wildfire Management, Forestry or other Land Management, Teaching, Communications, Information Technology, or Computer use.
  Requires the ability to attain Incident Commander Type 4 and Strike Team/Task Force Leader certification upon hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)\:

Knowledge of\:

• Requires knowledge of the principles and practices of Wildland Firefighting
  Natural Resources

• Adult education and training

• Fire management including suppression, protection, and prevention

• State and Federal fire protection and natural resources laws, including the Department's legal responsibilities to personnel, cooperative personnel, and volunteers; wildfire and structural fire protection techniques relating to WUI.

• Volunteer group organization and management

• Local government organization, jurisdiction, and authorities

• Equipment management and maintenance

• Fire budgeting, billing and auditing methods and procedures; communication systems; safety management methods and procedures.

• Supervisory principles and practices, DNRC and State personnel policies, procedures, and precedents, organizational structures, employment law, and program requirements.

• variety of computer software applications including; word processing, spreadsheets, databases and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

 

Skilled in\:

• Use and operation of tools, equipment and vehicles used in wildland fire control, forest management activities and field operations.

 

Ability to\:

• Coordinate extensive and complex amounts of personnel and equipment to meet the needs of fire suppression and support forces during fire actions on multiple jurisdictions.

• Make independent decisions with minimal supervision, and express views and provide clear direction both in writing and through verbal communications.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, government officials, and agency employees.

• Establish communications and decisions that are frequently conducted under duress and with fire personnel having different backgrounds and management priorities.

 

Minimum Physical Requirements\:
Generally, this position is physically demanding and is conducted in a field setting.
This position will require annual completion of an arduous Wildland Fire Work Capacity Test which includes walking three miles over level ground, with a 45lb. pack in no more than 45 minutes.

The incumbent may be required to work extended hours in the office or fire environment.

Fire suppression activities often include extremely hectic conditions, requiring an ability to think calmly and clearly, make appropriate but rapid decisions, provide adequate responses, and coordinate numerous activities all occurring at the same time.Under such conditions, this position can be extremely demanding, both mentally and emotionally.

SPECIAL INFORMATION\: Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK\: In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card"

Effective May 4, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification.

Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.