Fire Academy Program Manager, Wildland Fire Program Coordinator ; WFPC

Fire Academy Program Manager, Wildland Fire Program Coordinator 2 (WFPC2)

Recruitment #2026-2-7846

Full-time, Permanent, Represented position (WFSE)

Location:

Natural Resources Building - Olympia, WA

Work Hours and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered

Salary: $5,812.00 - $7,817.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 2/11/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Wildfire Management Division as the Fire Academy Program Manager.

Do you have a creative, innovative mind? Are you invested in those you teach? Do you like to think outside the box to create fun and engaging learning environments and develop programs that set the example? Then this might be the position for you. This position will plan, organize, and direct DNR's statewide Wildland Fire Academy program, and is responsible for developing and implementing systems to ensure that DNR wildland firefighters and other Washington State and Local government agencies meet national certification requirements.

The position will be responsible for evaluating and recommending strategic direction, agency policy, procedures, and guidelines with respect to fire program training needs. For the Academy program to succeed, this position will work closely with DNR Regions and the Division, State Fire Service, and Federal firefighting partners to build continuity, relationships, and keep communication lines open and effective. Understanding and utilizing the Washington State Wildland Fire Protection 10-year Strategic Plan as a supporting foundation will help guide the direction of the program.

This position is part of a larger state wildfire training program group that plays a key role in guiding the State's Wildfire Training Program, and will have important contributions to guiding the program into the future. If you're looking for an opportunity to work as part of a great team, have a strong desire to advance Washington's wildfire training program, and create new training opportunities, processes, and procedures, this position offers all of those and more.

Responsibilities:

* Provide initiative-based leadership and strategic oversight of the DNR Interagency Wildland Fire Academy program. Develop and implement training opportunities to ensure that DNR personnel, and those Washington State and Local agencies the DNR is partnered with, will meet incident command system certification requirements through attendance at DNR wildland fire academies. This includes primary responsibility for implementing annual academy sessions that meet relevant DNR policy and ensuring all performance standards, certification requirements, and training offered at the academies meet DNR and National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards.

These academy sessions include in-person and virtual instructor-led (VILT) sessions.

* Develop and implement systems to ensure DNR personnel meet all performance standards, certification requirements, and ensure the academy program procedures and guidance are documented in an Academy Operations Plan.

* Support six Regions in delivering the academy program. Coordinate with team members and other staff available to ensure training needs and opportunities are being met. This includes setting and adjusting program priorities.

* Supervise four Wildland Fire Coordinator 1s who are project leads for each of the academy's services that round out a successful cadre to deliver up to three in-person fire academies, and other training events to include: stand-alone, in-person, and virtual instructor-led training (VILT). Provide leadership and guidance to direct reports on work processes, procedures, and forward progression.

* Conduct analyses and make recommendations for future DNR fire academy budgets. Assesses expenditures on an ongoing basis and makes recommendations for actual and anticipated spending changes according to available funding.

* Propose new and innovative ways to deliver academy training. These might generate cost savings and efficiencies, or new and innovative ways to instruct wildland firefighters.

* Recommend, develop, and implement a succession plan by ensuring that DNR has the appropriate number of academies to serve employees and other agency personnel seeking to gain basic and advanced qualifications in wildland firefighting on a sustained basis. Complete seasonal reports documenting objective achievements over the course of 12 months.

* Maintain accurate data/information about individual DNR employees' fire academy experience, as well as records maintenance and data collection of other agency personnel attending academies.

Required Qualifications:

* 5 years' experience in wildland fire activities, suppression, or other closely related natural resource management;

OR an…