Assistant Wildfire Aviation Supervisor

Job Summary

The MN Department of Natural Resources—Division of Forestry is hiring a talented individual to join its dynamic wildfire aviation team as their Assistant Wildfire Aviation Supervisor. Based at the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids, MN, primary responsibilities include supervising staff within the statewide aviation program and assisting with the overall administration of its policies, personnel, fiscal activities, and safety programming.

Job Responsibilities

In addition to supervisory and administrative responsibilities, the Assistant Wildfire Aviation Supervisor will plan, coordinate, and facilitate the statewide aviation training program and special aviation programs, such as the fixed wing or rotor wing programs, depending on their skillset.

Responsibilities include:

• Supervision: Supervise staff by recruiting, testing, selecting, assigning, scheduling, directing, evaluating work, rewarding, and disciplining.
• Program: Direct and plan program operations, identify needs and problems, develop program goals and objectives, coordinate program activities with other agencies, evaluate program effectiveness, and implement policy and procedure.
• Administration: Contribute to the development of Division program policy and procedure.
• Budget: Develop and manage program budgets.
• Information & education: Represent the Division of Forestry to the public, legislature and other jurisdictions and organizations. Coordinate development and implementation of public information and education activities for a specific program.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

There are 3 minimum qualification pathways that determine job eligibility for this position. Candidates must possess/have:

1. Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resource Management or related field.

 AND

the following minimum past or current National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications:

• Incident Commander, Type 4 (ICT4) and Helibase Manager Trainee (HEBM-T) or
• Single Engine Tanker Manager (SEMG) and Helicopter Manager (HMGB) or
• Helibase Manager, (HEBM) and Helicopter Coordinator Trainee (HLCO-T) or
• Air Tactical Group Supervisor Trainee (ATGS-T)

OR

2. Have the following minimum past or current NWCG qualifications:

• Air Support Group Supervisor Trainee (ASGS-T) or
• Air Tanker Base Manager (ATBM) and Single Engine Tanker Manager (SEMG) and Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) or
• Helibase Manager (HEBM) and Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) or
• Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS)

OR

3. Possess one year of experience as a Helicopter Program Coordinator; Fixed Wing Program Coordinator; or State, Forest or Unit Aviation Officer.

IN ADDITION

Candidates should have or possess the:

• Experience providing leadership, oversight and technical direction of a complex aviation or wildfire operation either inside or outside the organization
• Knowledge of Interagency air-to-air and air-to-ground communications, including VHF-AM, VHF-FM and 800 MHz, aircraft flight following and navigation systems needed to conduct aerial suppression activities on fires.
• Knowledge of fire suppression techniques, tactics and strategies and the capabilities, limitations and tactical use of firefighting aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, sufficient to determine the best configuration of response.
• Knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations, state statutes, fundamentals of contracting and the aviation regulations of cooperating Federal agencies and states to evaluate contracts and interagency programs and procedures.
• Ability to apply principles of National Incident Command System (ICS) sufficient to manage emergency response air operations.
• Knowledge of budget policies, procedures and regulations sufficient to manage and administer budgets and to cost effectively deliver aviation resources.
• Communication skills sufficient to communicate complex concepts and principals to other resource professions and the public and make effective presentations to a wide variety of audiences by identifying their level of understanding and evoking a positive response.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience sufficient to administer an aviation safety program.
• Supervisory experience sufficient to direct, coach and resolve conflicts.
• Completion of a Leadership Development Program or supervisory skill development program with training in the areas of basic supervision; advanced supervision; communication; performance management; interpersonal skills; and leadership.
• College coursework or equivalent training with a program emphasis in Fire Science and/or Fire / Aviation Management and Safety
• Have the following minimum past or current National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications:
• Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS)
• Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD)
• Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3)
• Certificate of completion from a Pilot Ground School
• Broad range of experience with all programs administered by the Division of Forestry with an emphasis on State Land Management and Resource Protection that includes fire suppression and management.