Program Supervisor - Area Assistant Fire Management Officer / Northwestern Land Office

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

   

Work Unit Overview: The mission of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC or Department) is to ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. Land Offices are responsible for integrating and implementing programs for both the Forestry and Trust Land Management Divisions. The Forestry Division plans and implements forestry and fire management programs through an extensive network of staff in field offices across the state. Division functions include: fire & aviation management, forestry assistance, business management, and policy, planning and outreach. The Trust Land Management Division administers and manages the state trust timber, surface, and mineral resources for the benefit of the common schools and the other endowed institutions in Montana. Division functions include: Agriculture and Grazing Management, Forest Management, Minerals Management, and Real Estate Management.

Job Overview:This position is the Area Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Northwestern Land Office. The position works under the direction of the Area Forestry Program Manager to administer the Fire Program within the assigned Northwestern Land Office jurisdictional areas to protect lives, property and natural resources on state and private lands by providing resources, leadership and coordination to ensure safe and responsive fire suppression. This includes implementing the fire program and coordinating resources by creating successful working relationships with other wild land fire suppression organizations and by providing or arranging for personnel, resources, leadership and inter-agency coordination. The position directly supervises (1) staff position.

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

Fire Management /Administration
Manages and administers the Fire Program within the assigned Northwestern Land Office jurisdictional areas to protect lives, property and natural resources on state and private lands by providing resources, leadership and coordination to ensure safe and responsive fire suppression.

Fire program Implementation and Resource Coordination
Perform fire management suppression and pre-suppression duties based on agency needs and individual qualifications and certifications on national, regional, or local interagency incident management overhead teams. This includes providing backup for the supervisor as duty officer.
 

Fire Suppression
Perform fire management suppression and pre-suppression duties based on agency needs and individual qualifications and certifications on national, regional, or local interagency incident management overhead teams. This includes providing backup for the supervisor as duty officer.

Supervision
Supervise Area fire staff including permanent FTE, seasonal, temporaries, and contractors to ensure the Area has adequate trained personnel to meet fire prevention and suppression program requirements.

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.

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.