Statewide Fire Risk Assessment Specialist

Full Job Description

Job Title: Statewide Fire Risk Assessment Specialist
Location: Salt Lake City
Schedule: TL (time limited)

Job Description:
The purpose of the “Statewide Fire Risk Assessment Specialist” is to create awareness of the wildfire risk to Utah homeowners who are located inside FFSL’s high-risk WUI boundary, through the successful delivery of a robust lot assessment program for property owners in the high risk wildland urban interface. These efforts are channeled through the Cooperative Wildfire System (“CWS”) and implementation of the High Risk WUI Program outlined in 2025’s House Bill 48 “Wildland Urban Interface Modifications.”

The Agency:
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Requirements

• Coordinates the lot assessment program statewide under the High Risk WUI Program.
• Develop and maintain the criteria used for High Risk WUI lot assessments in collaboration with state fire leadership, to include the current Utah WUI code requirements, NFPA, and IBHS standards and recommendations.
• Develop the criteria for lot assessors to be certified to perform High Risk WUI lot assessments.
• Develop and implement a statewide training program and courses for high-risk WUI lot assessors to be certified.
• Train potential lot assessors across the state using a variety of methods that maximize access to a range of audiences and skill levels.
• Train and certify the Zone Risk Assessment Technicians and other employees and cooperators to perform High Risk WUI lot assessments.
• Train the Zone Risk Assessment Technicians to be certifiers of potential High Risk WUI lot assessors.
• Track lot assessor certifications statewide. Provide technical support to High Risk WUI lot assessors that ensures statewide uniformity of delivery.
• Responds to public questions about the High Risk WUI lot assessment delivery.
• Audit High Risk WUI lot assessments and assessors to ensure strict compliance with program requirements and standardization across the state and assessors.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the statewide lot assessment software package in collaboration with the Wildfire Data Specialist.
• Assess the prioritization of lot assessment at the state and regional levels to provide the best customer service to the public, considering conflicting issues.
• Serve as the first point of contact for property owner appeals to lot assessment results.
• Develops and maintains productive relationships with county and local partners involved in the High Risk WUI lot assessment delivery.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• NWCG qualified at FFT1 or above.
• Extensive experience performing lot assessments addressing wildfire risk.
• Sound understanding of the Utah WUI Code, NFPA Firewise, and IBHS standards.
• Experience in building training programs. Ability to work with minimal supervision and produce expected results.
• Experience working with members of the public and government agencies.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in wildland fire.
• Valid state driver's license.
• Must pass the Work Capacity test at a minimum light level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Qualified as an NWCG Structure Protection Specialist.
• Advanced knowledge of the Utah WUI Code, NFPA Firewise, and IBHS standards.
• Extensive experience triaging structures during wildland fire incidents.
• Experience collaborating with various agencies to build effective working relationships.
• Experience in building positive relationships with members of the public.
• Experience in leadership roles, managing programs and people.
• Experience conducting wildland fire training as lead instructor/course coordinator.
• Fuels and Fire management experience.

Additional Information

• Firefighter Retirement
• Physical Requirement
• Risks found in potentially dangerous or unusual environmental stress situations, e.g. , working in extreme outdoor weather conditions, working in remote wilderness areas, and/or boating/OHV areas, etc.
• Wildland fire qualifications and agency certification standards.
• Work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities, and recurring lifting.
• Requires frequent in-state travel.
• Must be able to pass a drug test screening.

Why You Should Join Our Team:
This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced wildfire expert to build a program from the ground up in Utah. Work with a positive and dynamic team at our new Fire Operations Center in Salt Lake. Collaborating to better prevent the impact of wildfires at the local level.