Wildland Fire District Manager, Natural Resource Specialist ; NRS

Overview

Wildland Fire District Manager, Natural Resource Specialist 6 (NRS6)
Recruitment #2026-2-2833
• Full-time, Permanent, Represented position (WFSE)
•

Location:

Pacific Cascade Region - Castle Rock, WA
Salary: $6,735.00 - $9,065.00 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.

Join the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in the Pacific Cascade Region as a Fire Operations District Manager. This is a leadership opportunity for a proven fire professional to lead a great team and make a lasting impact.

The Wildland Fire Operations Manager provides leadership and oversight of dynamic fire management programs. This position directs operational activities, develops and mentors personnel, and ensures the consistent application of operational standards. It involves comprehensive wildland fire management for state and private forest lands within the Pacific Cascade Region, ensuring suppression is conducted safely, effectively, and with minimal risk to firefighters, the public, and property.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing and developing staff; ensuring training readiness; mentoring employees; and providing performance evaluations while supervising multiple managers, coordinators, and a large permanent and seasonal workforce.
• Ensuring accurate forest land assessments; overseeing fire investigations to support cost recovery; enforcing wildfire-related RCWs and WACs, including determining fire danger ratings, industrial fire precaution levels, and burn restrictions.
• Providing oversight of fire prevention planning, burn permits, compliance and enforcement activities, smoke management, and fire tools inspections.
• Building strong internal and external partnerships and representing the department in complex and sensitive interactions with agencies, private operators, and the public to advance effective wildfire management solutions.

• A bachelor’s degree in a natural resource field or related natural sciences field, and 5 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of public and business administration, budgeting, economics, and management.
• Knowledge of leadership principles.
• Knowledge of wildfire qualification training and certification requirements.
• Current or past NWCG certification as Task Force Leader or Strike Team Leader and Incident Commander Type 4.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to negotiate with diverse interest groups, including other agencies, tribes, environmental groups, private industry, local government, media, and the public.
• Commitment to fostering an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
• Ability to perform duties in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention requirements.
• DNR
  
  Core Competencies:
  
  Personal Accountability;
  Value Others;
  Compassionate Communication;
  Inspire Others;
  Commitment to Excellence.

• Must pass a work capacity test annually at the level the incumbent is red-carded, as required by NWCG.
• Work is primarily in the office with occasional field visits to field locations, work centers, and meetings with cooperators.
• Occasional travel within the region and to Olympia.
• Current, valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience. Driving is an essential function; finalists may be asked to provide driving records from all states where licensed in the past three years.

• NWCG qualified Type 3 Incident Commander or Division Supervisor Line Rating.
• Ability to manage budgets.
• Experience making public presentations.
• Working knowledge of the Incident Command System.

We value diversity and inclusion and encourage applicants from non-traditional backgrounds. Please clearly communicate in your materials how your education, volunteer work, life skills, and experience transfer to this position and the…