Dept. of Natural Resources Washington State Seeks a Fire Science Analyst
Position Title: 
Fire Science Analyst,
Natural Resource Scientist 3
Position Summary:
This is a Full-time, Permanent, Represented position.
Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Forest Resiliency Division. We are looking to add to our growing team of professionals working to assess, plan, coordinate, implement, and monitor forest health related activities across all-lands that work to restore and sustain ecological functions of Washington’s forested landscapes.
This Fire Scientist Analyst position provides scientific analysis in support of Washington’s Forest Action Plan, 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan: Eastern Washington, 10-Year Wildland Fire Protection Strategic Plan, Forest Health Assessment and Treatment Framework (RCW 76.06.200),and other legislative requirements and projects. This position will provide analytical support to integrate fire risk analysis, fire modeling and community wildfire risk reduction with landscape resiliency planning.
This position will work closely with the Senior Fire Scientist and DNR Forest Health Scientists to develop applied fire science analyses and data to support planning and implementation of the agency’s strategic plans and answer fire science questions related to DNR’s business activities. The analyst will apply different techniques, including advanced GIS modeling, and write scripts to automate and optimize the spatial analysis required to produce fire hazard, risk, wildfire transmission, fire modeling and data products related to DNR’s various plans and businesses. This position requires experience working with remote datasets and a strong statistical modeling background. This position will require ingenuity to manage large geospatial datasets and produce scripting to accomplish complex geospatial modeling across large landscapes (statewide). The analyst performs these duties with broad direction in terms of objectives and scope from the Section Manager and the Fire Scientist. This position will work collaboratively internally with DNR scientists, planners, and wildfire operations staff as well as externally with US Forest Service researchers, University researchers, fire staff, other partners, and the public.
SALARY: $5,102.00 - $6,862.00 Monthly
$61,224.00 - $82,344.00 Annually
OPENING DATE: 12/02/21
CLOSING DATE: 01/02/22 11:59 PM
$61,224.00 - $82,344.00 Annually
OPENING DATE: 12/02/21
CLOSING DATE: 01/02/22 11:59 PM
Responsibilities:
The Fire Science Analyst position will be responsible to:
- Perform fire science analysis to create fire hazard, risk, wildfire transmission and fire modeling data and analytical products in support of the Forest Action Plan, 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan: Eastern Washington, 10-Year Wildland Fire Protection Strategic Plan, Forest Health Assessment and Treatment Framework, and other legislative requirements and projects.
- Utilize GIS and other analytical tools such as ArcGIS, BEHAVE, FlamMap, FSim, FS Pro, FVS-FFE, and FCCS to create fire hazard, risk, wildfire transmission and fire modeling data and analytical products.
- Utilizes R, Python and other relevant programming languages to develop scripts that automate and replicate analysis across the state.
- Build and maintain statewide fire science datasets.
- Transfer scientific knowledge gained through fire science analysis and research efforts to a variety of technical and nontechnical audiences including: DNR staff, DNR leadership, Washington State Legislature, natural resource professionals, land managers, forest stakeholders, forest collaboratives, wildfire professionals, forest ecologists, wildlife biologists, and fire ecologists.
- Develop a variety of communication materials (reports, factsheets, website content, maps, presentations, etc.) to share results for fire science analysis and research with technical and non-technical audiences.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree with a major study in fire ecology, fire science, forest ecology, landscape ecology, forest management or a closely related field.
- Two (2) years of professional work experience in a relevant field relying on the required position competencies. Work experience may include relevant experience during the course of obtaining an advanced degree.
- Graduate level knowledge and expertise in fire science and ecology of western US forests.
- Knowledge of major forest health issues in the Pacific Northwest and management strategies to address those issues.
- Experience in spatial and non-spatial statistical modeling concepts and methods to study trends and predicted changes in forest conditions, wildfire risk, and values at risk over time.
- Advanced experience using fire and vegetation models such as BEHAVE, FlamMap, FSim, FS Pro, FVS-FFE, and FCCS to predict fire effects and changes in vegetation.
- Advanced experience using remotely sensed data to analyze natural resources, including demonstrated proficiency working with large spatial datasets in ArcGIS, R, and Python.
- Demonstrated experience using the Scientific Method, including sound understanding and working knowledge of experimental design, sampling procedures, systematic literature reviews, error assessment methods, data analysis procedures, and both spatial and nonspatial statistical techniques.
- Demonstrated ability to create maps, figures, and tables that effectively and creatively communicate results of analyses and research.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex forest ecology science to technical and nontechnical audiences, including land managers\.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and project management skills.
- Work will primarily be performed in an office setting with up to 25% in field conducting monitoring and research of forest health conditions and treatments. Ability to traverse difficult terrain during all weather conditions to establish and maintain research and monitoring field sites.
- This position will be required to travel throughout Washington State. Candidate must be able to drive a state vehicle and travel independently to those locations
- A valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.
- DNR Core Competencies:
- Personal Accountability
- Value Others
- Compassionate Communication
- Inspire Others
- Commitment to Excellence
- All employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Vaccination status will be verified at the time an offer of employment is made. An accommodation may be available for individuals who have a sincerely held religious belief or a medical reason for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, based on the essential functions of this position
Our ideal candidate will also have the qualifications listed below:
- A PhD with a major study in fire ecology, fire science, forest ecology, landscape ecology, forest management or a closely related field.
- Three years of professional work experience in a relevant field relying on the required position competencies. Work experience may include relevant experience during the course of obtaining a PhD.
- Knowledge of Pacific Northwest or similar ecosystems, including significant field experience.
- Proven experience implementing forest ecology and silvicultural concepts in a forest management context.
- Experience conducting fire history studies, including sample design, field collection of fire scar and tree ring data, lab processing and cross dating, and analysis to determine fire regime characteristics for a site.
- A successful record of publishing peer-reviewed research papers and reports, and presentation of research at scientific meetings and conferences.
- Knowledge and experience in applying climate change science to the study and analysis of forest ecosystems.
- Experience participating in multi-stakeholder forest collaboratives and understanding of how to effectively communicate and represent both science and agency policy to external partners.
To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov
Application Requirements:
- Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.
- Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
- Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
- Attach a copy of your college degree certificate or an unofficial copy of your transcripts.
- Complete all supplemental questions.
Questions? Please contact Ana Barros at 360-561-3748, Ana.barros@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at
DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov
DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov
Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov