North Columbia Handcrew Foreman, Wildland Fire Management Supervisor; WFMSup

North Columbia Handcrew Foreman, Wildland Fire Management Supervisor (WFMSup)

Recruitment #2026-2-7726 | Full‑time, Permanent, Represented position (WFSE) | Work hour flexibility may be available and considered |

Location:

Northeast Region - Chewelah, WA

Salary: $4,119.00 - $5,531.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 2/24/26. 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 Northeast Region as a Handcrew Foreman (Wildland Fire Management Supervisor). The role supervises the North Columbia 20‑person Initial Attack Handcrew and represents the Department and the Region when interacting with Federal, Local, and State agencies.

In addition to suppression work, the hand crew supports DNR’s Forest Resiliency and Community Resiliency Programs through fuel reduction projects and other assignments, helping meet wildland fire suppression needs during the active fire season.

• Provide direct fireline supervision of squad bosses and hand crew members responding to grass, brush, and forest fires across district, region, statewide, and interagency dispatch.
• Perform interagency fire suppression activities for initial attack, extended attack, mop‑up, patrol, and rehabilitation. On initial attack fires, may perform Incident Command System functions as Incident Commander Type 4 or 5 or other duties as needed.
• Plan and implement training for seasonal crew members and may instruct or participate in DNR Fire Academies.
• Lead prescribed fire support operations, including crew site fuel and fire effects data collection, unit preparation, burn plan writing assistance, community outreach, and Rx burn implementation support (firing, holding, burn boss, etc.).
• Work in remote areas away from vehicles for extended periods.
• Work in extremely rugged terrain.
• Travel for extended periods (multiple weeks), outside of your home unit to assist on fires within the region, to other regions, and/or states for large fires.
• Provide recommendations and assistance during the seasonal hiring process, including conducting seasonal firefighter interviews and onboarding.
• Build strong team cohesion within the 20‑person crew on a day‑to‑day basis.
• Prepare for fire duty and maintain assigned equipment and vehicles for fire readiness.
• Ensure all required reports are complete and submitted by the required dates.
• Lead community resilience efforts, including home ignition zone assessments for Wildfire Ready Neighbors programs or independent landowner/community requests; participate in community education days and outreach events.
• Lead forest health treatment activities: non‑commercial thinning and slash abatement, project layout, compliance with State Lands and Landowner Assistance staff, tree marking, road brushing, GPS data collection, timber sales support, and forest cruising.

• Experience in wildland fire suppression tactics and fire behavior recognition.
• NWCG Qualified as Firefighter Type 1 and Incident Commander Type 5.
• Supervisory experience.
• Employee Empowerment, Team Effectiveness, Building/Maintaining Cooperative Relationships.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
• Perform assigned duties consistently with applicable laws, regulations, and public record retention policies.
• DNR
  
  Core Competencies:
  • Personal Accountability
  • Value Others
  • Compassionate Communication
  • Inspire Others
  • Commitment to Excellence

• Must annually pass the NWCG arduous work capacity test.
• Position duty station is the Northeast Region Headquarters. Work is performed 30% of the time in office and 70% in unimproved natural areas of the state. The incumbent must traverse uneven terrain in all weather conditions, including hot, dry, heat‑related, cold, wet, and hypothermic events. Duties may require extraordinary strenuous activities in emergencies and extended periods of time.
• Requires large amount of travel (50%). Includes travel…