Salary: $2,784.00 – $3,654.00 Monthly
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Internship
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Dept. of Natural Resources
Job Number: 2023-1-9417-01128
Closing: 2/19/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
2023 Wildland Fire Analyst Intern
Recruitment #2023-1-9417
1 Exempt, Full-time to Part-time position
Anticipated employment: May-September 2023, with flexibility to accommodate school start/end dates.
Salary
Sophomore and under: $16/hour
Junior: $17/hour
Senior: $18/hour
Graduate students: up to $21/hour
- 1 year Master $19/hour
- 2 year Master $20/hour
- Higher $21/hour
*$500/month housing stipend (maximum of three months).
Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The fire season is quickly approaching! The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking one paid intern to work directly with our Plans and Information Section analysts and scientists in the capacity of Wildland Fire Analyst (Intern). We are seeking candidates interested in pursuing a career in wildland fire science and management, particularly as it relates to fire weather, fuels and fire danger, smoke management, and/or fire suppression. This position will report to the DNR Wildland Fire Meteorologist, but will be exposed to everything the division has to offer!
The DNR Wildland Fire Management Division (WFMD) is the state’s largest on-call fire department with over 1,500 permanent and seasonal employees engaged in fire suppression across 13 million acres of private and state forest lands. Within the WFMD, the Plans and Information Section is responsible for fire training, meteorology, GIS, information technology, and intelligence. Staff provide scientific consultation, analysis, monitoring, and predictive capabilities to support the agency’s fire operations mission through daily briefings and on-scene support.
Duties
Responsibilities:
This unique internship will offer the selected candidate direct experience in the wildland fire management environment and the opportunity to work on current projects or choose their own projects within the planning section’s areas of expertise. The intern will visit, under staff supervision, active wildfire incidents (firelines, incident command posts, airbases) to learn more about fire operations. At the end of the internship period, the successful candidate is expected to deliver a presentation to division staff on their experience as well as a report on a project of their choosing.
The day-to-day duties of this position will be tailored to maximize experience in the selected candidate’s area of study as it relates to wildland fire. Example goals for different focus areas given below:
[Fire Meteorology/Climate] Goal: Gain knowledge in operational fire weather forecasting
- Participate in daily coordination calls with National Weather Service and Northwest Coordination Center
- Develop fire weather briefings/forecasts/tools for fire unit managers and the fire aviation program
- Understand how the DNR Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) network functions and identify opportunities for expansion
[Fuels/Fire Danger] Goal: Gain knowledge in fire regulations and the application of fire danger ratings
- Develop understanding of National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) and how it functions
- Apply fuel moisture and other fuel indices to determine Industrial Fire Protection Levels
- Coordinate with local, state, and federal partners to determine burn restrictions/bans
- Participate in smoke coordination and messaging calls with Washington Ecology and Health departments
[GIS/Fire Modeling]Goal: Gain knowledge in fire mapping and cartographic services
- Assist in developing products for the Washington DNR Fire Dashboard
- Develop automated GIS-based fire risk and fire occurrence tools
- Learn how GIS professionals operate when assigned to active wildfire incidents
[Fire Intelligence Coordination] Goal: Gain knowledge in wildland fire statistics and communications
- Use fire occurrence databases and geographic information systems to analyze and evaluate data and prepare information products
- Gather real-time statistics and information from active wildfire incidents, including acres burned, personnel assigned, personnel available, and other key preparedness metrics
- Assist in daily maintenance of the Wildland Fire Management Division’s “dashboard” during fire season, updating statistics and information for firefighters and the general public.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- A junior/senior undergraduate student or graduate student majoring in a related field and be returning to school in a following quarter/semester
- Related Majors: Natural Resources, Meteorology/Atmospheric Science, Forestry/Fire Ecology, Geography (GIS), Statistics, Computer Science, Environmental Studies or closely related field.
- A demonstrable interest in wildland fire
- Strong attention to detail and scientific writing skills
- Proficiency using mobile and desktop devices and basic computer applications
- Experience presenting technical information to diverse audiences
- Conveys a clear desire and ability for learning new concepts and skills.
- Contributes to a work environment that embraces diversity and brings together the strengths and perspectives of diverse groups.
- DNR Core Competencies:
- Personal Accountability
- Value Others
- Compassionate Communication
- Inspire Others
- Commitment to Excellence
Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to complete their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (be fully vaccinated against COVID-19) or be approved for a medical or religious exemption and accommodation as a condition of employment. Please note, any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status or having an approved medical or religious exemption and accommodation. No start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved exemption and accommodation. “Fully vaccinated” means the following: An employee is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax) or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen) authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the FDA or listed for emergency use, or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization.
Desired Qualifications:
- Prior participation in scientific research or analysis projects (assisted professors research, undergraduate capstone, significant course project, etc.)
- Possess a working knowledge (demonstrated by coursework or experience) of an applicable analysis toolkit in one or more of the following:
- Scientific programming/scripting (Python, R, etc.)
- GIS (ArcGIS software, ArcGIS Online, basic cartography
- Forestry or Wildfire software (FireFamilyPlus, WindNinja, Forest Vegetation Simulator)
- Numerical Weather Models (Python/WRF, GFS/ECMWF etc.)
- Data visualization/analysis software (Excel, Tableau, Power BI, etc.)
- 300 level or higher coursework in:
- Fire Ecology and/or Fire Behavior
- Meteorology and/or Climatology
- GIS
- Computer Programming
- Statistical Modeling/Analysis
- Prior fire experience and/or NWCG coursework in fire behavior (S-130/S-190, S-290, etc.)
Application Requirements
- To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above). You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.
- Attach a letter of interest describing your interest in this internship and what you expect to gain from this internship.
- Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
- Provide three to five professional or professor references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
- Attach an unofficial copy of your transcripts.
- Complete all supplemental questions.
Apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3884789/2023-wildland-fire-analyst-intern
Supplemental Information
About the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity and inclusion. With nearly 1,500 employees in locations throughout Washington, we manage and protect more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands.
Our Vision – Our actions ensure a future where Washington’s lands, waters, and communities thrive.
Our Mission – Manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Our Core Values:
- Safety and Well-Being —Our top priority is the safety of the public and our employees.
- Public Service —We value and respect the public we serve, and we value and respect the people of the Department of Natural Resources who step up to serve.
- Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving — We solve our state’s most pressing challenges through innovative thinking, dedication, and bold and creative vision.
- Leadership and Teamwork —We are committed to building leaders at all levels and building teams for success.
DNR provides excellent benefits, a few of those include:
- Commitment to organizational health and wellness
- Work/life balance
- DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
- Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups, visit here to learn more
- Leadership that empowers and supports employees
- Professional development opportunities
- Educational and career development aid
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
- Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
- A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.
Additional Information:
This recruitment may be extended and may also be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty (60) days.
Veterans wishing to claim Veteran’s preference please attach a copy of your DD-214, NGB-22 or other verification of military service. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching. We thank you and are grateful for your service!
The Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Persons needing accommodation during the screening process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff at (360) 522-2500 or (360) 522-0143 or by email at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov. Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 1-800-833-6388 or www.washingtonrelay.com.
Questions? Please contact Matthew Dehr at 360-529-6541, matthew.dehr@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov
Apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3884789/2023-wildland-fire-analyst-intern
