Wildfire Mitigation Specialist

The City of Austin is hiring a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for a full-time position in the Wild Land Conservation Division. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include managing prescribed fire and fuel mitigation projects. Required certifications must be obtained within a year. Benefits include medical and retirement plans. The position is based in Austin, TX, and is not remote.
Position Information

Posting Title

Wildfire Mitigation Specialist

Job Requisition Number

COA093350

Position Number

119506

Job Type

Full-Time

Division Name

Wild Land Conservation

Minimum Qualifications

Education and/or Equivalent Experience:
• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field, plus two (2) years of relevant experience.
• One (1) additional year of experience may substitute for one (1) year of the required education with a maximum substitution of four (4) years.

Licenses or Certifications:
• Must be able to obtain International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Wildfire Risk Reduction qualification, Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) certification, or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Wildfire Mitigation Specialist certification within one (1) year of acceptance of position.
• Valid State of Texas Class “C” Driver License

Notes to Applicants

Position Overview:
The selected candidate will assist with preparation, planning, implementation, and management of prescribed fire and fuel mitigation projects at Austin Water’s Wildland Conservation Division (WCD). The candidate will be one of a team of three at WCD’s prescribed fire and fuels program.

Working with Austin Water provides a number of benefits including medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more! Click HERE for more information.

When completing the City of Austin employment application:
• Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
• A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Be sure to provide job title and employment dates for all jobs you wish to be considered.
• A resume is required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Please do not use the phrase “see resume” or refer to other documents to complete your application. Do not leave the “Duties and Responsibilities” sections blank. These will be considered incomplete applications. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• A cover letter is also required. In the cover letter, candidates should describe in concise detail their interest in this position and highlight any prior experience that is relevant to this position.

If you are selected as a top candidate:
• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution and proof of your professional licenses or certifications.
• If you are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
• A criminal background investigation is required.

Secondary Employment:
• All Austin Water employees are prohibited from accepting or engaging in any secondary employment that might conflict or interfere with an employee’s duty and responsibility to the Department.
• Austin Water must review all secondary employment.
• Employees are required to submit a Secondary Employment Application for review and approval upon being hired with Austin Water, as well as current Austin Water employees considering secondary employment.

Driving Requirement:
This position requires a valid Texas Class C Driver License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months. This position will be required to travel and report to other Austin Water/City of Austin worksites.

Effective October 1, 2014, all Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite – including construction sites, parking lot, garage or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

Pay Range

$27.41 – $33.30

Hours

Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Additional hours may be assigned based on business need

Job Close Date

03/26/2025

Type of Posting

External

Department

Austin Water Utility

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Grant Funded or Pooled Position

Not Applicable

Category

Professional

Location

Reicher Ranch, 3621 South FM 620, Austin, TX 78738

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Experience:
• Knowledge of or experience with National Fire Protection Association Firewise USA programs, practices, and assessments or similar wildland fire public education programs
• Ability to complete training and physical fitness testing to the standards of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Firefighter Type 2 including the Arduous level work capacity test. For details, click here.
• Training or experience performing spatial field data collection, mapping, and data analysis using Geographic Information System software
• Experience independently conducting or supervising vegetation clearing, power equipment operations, or environmental information collection activities in remote locations.
• Experience maintaining and operating outdoor power tools (chainsaws, line trimmers) and equipment (farm tractors, compact loaders)
• Experience operating 4-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, or utility vehicles in an off-road environment.
• Experience towing trailers in urban, rural, or off-road settings.
• Ability to prepare and communicate project and program information to internal and external customers.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
• Assists with coordination, development and delivery of wildfire education programs and training to support Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP).
• Engages community involvement to address all elements of the Fire Adapted Community’s (FAC) objectives of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, supporting safe and effective wildfire response, fire adapted communities, and fire resilient landscapes.
• Develops presentations and educational materials for community wildfire safety including coordinating with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analysts to develop area risk models.
• Liaison with internal and external city department partners, agencies, and community resources for joint efforts in wildfire education and training.
• Assists with assessment and development of wildland fire prevention strategies based on documented fire causes.
• Assists in development and delivery of online wildfire safety and evacuation plans and communication strategies for communities.
• Assists with mitigation training and wildfire prevention, including prescribed burns.
• Reviews, interprets, and educates on wildfire-related policies, codes, regulations, ordinances, plans, and proposals for compliance.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:
• None.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
• Knowledge of wildland fire behavior.
• Knowledge of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firewise USA, Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), Fire Adapted Communities (FAC), and Fire Resilient Landscape (FRL) practices and standards.
• Knowledge of National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) practices and standards.
• Knowledge of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) code.
• Knowledge of Home Ignition Zone (HIZ), ISA Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Responding to the Interface principles.
• Knowledge of applicable wildfire federal, state, local, and county laws, rules, regulations, codes, and guidelines.
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Skill in both written and verbal communications.
• Skill in delivering presentations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees, citizens, public safety agencies, and community organizations.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to train others.

Criminal Background Investigation

This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation.

EEO/ADA

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within

the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.