DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Address:  

3650 Lake Mary Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86005
or
1110 W. Washington St., Suite 500
Phoenix, AZ 85007
or
316 W. White Mountain Blvd., Unit A
Lakeside, AZ 85929
or
1133 West Road 3 North
Chino Valley, AZ 86323
or
6781 E. Outlook Drive
Tucson, AZ 85756

Salary: $70,000 - $75,750 

Grade: 23

Closing Date:  April 18, 2025

Under the direction of the Assistant State Fire Management Officer, the Planning and Preparedness Officer shall have responsibility for the oversight, supervision and execution of multi-discipline regional and statewide planning programs. These include programs such as the Annual State Wildfire Preparedness Assessment, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) administration, Annual Operating Plan development for the National and Regional Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement, State Emergency Response and Recovery Plan (SERRP) Emergency Support Function (ESF) 4 representative, Oversight and supervision of the Federal State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant programs, agency strategic planning coordinator for fire program scope of work, maintenance of the State Fire File archives. Supervision and coordination of specialized multi-disciplinary and multi-agency Remote Incident Support Team (RIST)

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, shall be performed within Arizona.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Provide supervision of support personnel.
- In coordination with DFFM Deputy and Assistant State Fire Management Officers, DFFM District Fire Management Officers and State Incident Business Officer, develops an assessment and preparedness plan for submission to the State Fire Management Officer. The plan addresses a multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency response accounting for statewide fire danger, fire potential outlook, and firefighting prepositioning needs in terms of personnel, ground fire equipment, and firefighting aircraft based on national fire science-based data and principles. Develops a preparedness budget.
-Oversight and supervision of the following programs: Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement Annual, Operating Plan Development and Assistance, Fire Operating Plans with the Federal Firefighting Agencies (USFS, BLM, BIA, NPS, and the USF&WS) and Department Districts.
- Has oversight and supervision of the Department Fiscal Staff for the Federal State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant programs, develops a Statewide Fiscal Annual Operating Plan with Federal Firefighting agencies.
- Provide assistance to the State Fire Business Specialist with Cooperative Fire Department and Emergency Vendor Equipment Agreements: Reviews, updates, and processes State Forester Intergovernmental Fire Department Agreements. Assist State Fire Business Specialist with Coordination and develops Cooperative Fire Rate Agreements and Emergency Equipment Agreement standards, revisions and forms for use by the Department Districts.
- Fire Financial Agreements and FEMA Grants: In absence of the Assistant State Fire Management Officer, State Fire Management Officer and the Department Director, this position may be designated as a Governor's Authorized Representative in requesting Fire Management Assistance Grants from FEMA for major wildland fire declarations. - Responsible for preparing follow-up documentation to FEMA for approved FMAG declarations.
- Responds to fire and all-hazard incidents, compiles annual wildland fire reporting data, carries out fire planning, collaborates with other agencies on incident exercises and statewide response plans, instructs fire training courses, and covers other Fire Staff
- Administrative support and coordination to the other Fire Staff Positions and individual District Staff.
- Supervision and coordination of specialized multi-disciplinary and multi-agency Remote Incident Support Team (RIST)
- Drive on State business
- Other duties as assigned

Knowledge of:

DFFMs Statutory Firefighting responsibilities and authorities
Fire season preparedness requirements
Local, state, and federal wildland firefighting and operating agreements
Incident management team deployment and operating standards
Fire department and fire district organizational structure
Wildland fire incident business regulations and standards
Fire department and private vendor equipment and personnel rate and reimbursement structure and systems
FEMA FMAG pre and post wildfire administrative requirements
Principles of fire behavior, prescribed fire management, smoke management, and fire danger prediction
National wildland fire reporting requirements
Local, state, and federal policies, rules, regulations, and laws pertaining to wildland fire and all-hazard incident response and management
Emergency support function rules, regulations, and policy to include understanding and application of the SERRP in all five emergency management functions
State employee policy and procedure

Skills in:

Interpersonal skills with internal DFFM personnel and with external government and private cooperators
Exceptional oral and written communication skills for training, plan and agreement development, and personnel management
Skills in training and teaching internal and external personnel in Department applicable subject matter
Effective organizational leadership skills to provide direction and intent to personnel based on given agency policy, vision, and values
Skills to interpret fire weather and fire behavior indices to develop fire outlooks
Effective in use of computers and applicable software
Skills to generate draft program budgets for areas of responsibility

Ability to:

Ability to work and communicate effectively with diverse governmental wildland firefighting agencies and recognize their differences in authorities and capabilities
Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with DFFM personnel and outside cooperators/partners
Ability to plan in short-term and strategic intervals
Effective organizational ability with strong attention to detail
Ability to remain focused and calm during emergency incidents
Able to respond to and manage emergency wildfire incidents statewide
Effective abilities to develop forms, documents, processes, and systems to increase efficiency and improve Department effectiveness
Ability to become National Wildfire Coordinating Group Qualified for assigned ICS positions
Drive on State business

Bachelor's Degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or Emergency Management.
Type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team Command and General Staff Experience.
Fire business policy/procedure administration experience.

Must maintain a current valid driver's license.

Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program, learn more at hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion).
Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
Deferred compensation plan
Wellness plans
Tuition reimbursement eligible after one year of employment

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.

Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

The current contribution rate is 12.29%

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Lisa Ross at lross@dffm.az.gov for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 771-1427. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.