Wildland Firefighter (District/Zone Fire Management Officer - Moderate Complexity)
Forest Service
Posted: January 9, 2026 (6 days ago)
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State of Alaska
Natural Resources
This job involves leading a team of firefighters on a specialized wildland fire crew, supervising daily operations, directing fire suppression efforts, and training others in fire safety and equipment use, all while handling administrative tasks.
It's based in Alaska but includes travel to remote fire sites across the US and Canada, with long periods of intense physical work in tough outdoor conditions.
A good fit would be someone with strong leadership skills, physical endurance, and a passion for teamwork in high-stakes emergency response.

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for multiple Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 2/3 positions in Palmer, Alaska.
This position is open to all applicants.
What You Will Be Doing:
Mission and Values/Culture:
The Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew is a State of Alaska Wildfire Crew whose main objective is to support Alaska and the United States with a production-oriented fire management service and all hazard response.
Pioneer Peak IHC is a group of 25 individuals dedicated to overcoming all odds together to provide a reliable and competent crew of Type 1 Wildland Fire Operators.
Our goal is to build better people, firefighters, and leaders through hard work and dedication.
Duty, Respect, and Integrity are applied to all aspects of our work as professional wildland firefighters.
Benefits of Joining Our Team:
The Working Environment You Can Expect:
We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.
Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.
Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 2- starting salary $27.25 per hour
Six months of trainee or entry-level wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience. The required experience is met by service as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
And
Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).
Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 3- starting salary $30.80 per hour
Twelve months of wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience, of which at least six months was at the developmental level. The required developmental experience is met by service as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
And
Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).
Education substitution applies to the Wildland Fire & Resource Technicians 2 and 3Completed coursework from an accredited college or vocational-technical school in forestry, fire science, or a closely related field may substitute for six months of general field experience.
(For college 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month of work experience.
Transcripts or a letter from a vocational-technical school must indicate a college credit equivalency for the completed coursework.
For example, at Alaska Vocational Technical Center: Forest Ecology = 3 semester credits; Forest Regeneration = 2 semester credits; Timber Harvesting and Sale Administration = 4 semester credits; and Wildland Fire Management = 3 semester credits.)
There is no substitution for the six months of developmental experience.
There is no substitution for the National Incident Qualification System (Red Card) qualifications.
Special Notes:
Most positions require National Incident Qualification System certifications.
Because there are different specialty areas in this field, recruitment and selection will be made from among those candidates who meet the experience and the basic National Incident Qualification System training requirements specifically listed within the recruitment bulletin.
The specialty areas are within one of the following functions: fire operations, wildland fire prevention, and aviation support.
Applicant must possess an Alaska driver's license. An individual without an Alaska driver's license who meets the minimum age and experience requirements may apply for the vacancy.
An applicant qualifying under this option may receive a job offer conditional upon the acquisition of an Alaska driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.
** Please read the information below carefully. **
At the time of application, the applicant must attach the following items as individual documents; failure to provide the requested documentation will result in non-consideration. If you are unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below. Required documents include:
At the time of the interview, please ensure that you provide the following materials. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration. Required documents include:
SPECIAL NOTICES
Classification Study Notice
This position is currently under review as part of the Forest and Fire Management job class study. Therefore, both the title and the assigned pay range may be subject to change upon completion of the study.
Application Notice
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application. Instructions on how to apply can be found on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage (link). Your application must be received by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.
Supplemental Questions
For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions.
The State of Alaska (SOA) utilizes four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s level of competence in applying certain behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task.
The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.
Education
If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application.
If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed.
Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education
Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S.
education programs. Alternatively, an accredited U.S.
post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula.
It is your responsibility to provide this evidence when applying.
Work Experience
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time.
Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether the minimum qualifications are met.
If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.
Note: Attaching a resume is not a substitute for completing the application in its entirety. Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
Bargaining Unit
If you are a current state employee, please indicate the union to which you belong at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.
Flexible Staffing
This position is flexibly staffed. The level of the job offer will be based on the selected candidate’s eligibility. If hired at the lower level, you will be promoted to the higher-level job class after completing the training plan and meeting the minimum qualifications.
Driver’s License Requirement
Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.
Firearms
This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.
A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.
If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.
Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.
EEO STATEMENTThe State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O.
Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure that your email address is correct on your application and that your spam filter will permit emails from the governmentjobs.com domain.
Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.
For assistance with your password, please visit the password reset page.
For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:
Kris Baumgartner
Crew Superintendent
FAX: 907-761-6319
Phone: 907-841-9716
Email: kris.baumgartner@alaska.gov
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