Wildland Fire Supervisor

Class Concept

The Wildland Fire Supervisor is the state administrative lead for wildland fire and wildfire emergency response planning and implementation. They are responsible for planning and implementing wildland fire control programs that protect citizens and property from wildland fire risk. Initiates and coordinates the statewide direction and priorities of all Fire Control and Emergency Response program activities of the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS). Represents NCFS wildfire and emergency response programs statewide and nationally. Monitors statewide fire potential and readiness. Provides resource information, fire danger potential, fire behavior updates and operating procedures to all field units. Collaborates with cooperators, such as NC Parks, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, National Weather Service (NWS), United States Forest Service, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, NC Division of Emergency Management (NCDEM) to ensure wildland fire/natural disaster information is appropriately interpreted and passed to non-state field units. Coordinates fire suppression dispatch statewide and NC fire suppression dispatches nationally. Oversees the NCFS' statewide radio communication networks that support wildland fire suppression and coordination. Develops a wildland fire and emergency response training calendar and manages NCFS personnel wildland fire qualifications. Develops and manages wildfire mitigation programs in coordination with local, state and federal cooperators. Coordinates the acquisition of wildland firefighting equipment from federal partners. Manages NCFS federal grants regarding wildfire mitigation and response. In addition, coordinates emergency responses to natural disasters, outside of wildland fires, through the NCDEM emergency operations center.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of principles and methods of wildland fire mitigation, prevention, and suppression.
• Thorough knowledge of analytical planning techniques applied in the research and analysis of information pertaining to emergency/disaster events
• Intermediate knowledge of and ability to interpret federal and state legislation, regulations, guidelines, and policies related to emergency management programs
• Intermediate knowledge of the principles and methods of federal, state and/or local government organization and administration
• Intermediate knowledge of wildland fire services offered by federal, state and local agencies and applicable non-governmental organizations
• Ability to train and evaluate the work of others
• Ability to assess emergency and disaster situations and work in extremely stressful situations for extended periods of time

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in forest management or an environmental or natural science curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and six years of related forestry/emergency response experience to include at least one year of responsible supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.