Introduction
Are you an experienced forestry professional with a desire to work in fire prevention and control?
The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Division of Forestry is seeking to hire a Forest Protection Program Supervisor (Environmental Protection District Supervisor: Forestry) to oversee our forest fire prevention and control program and training for the State of Connecticut.
If you are up for this challenge we invite you to apply!
BENEFITS AND BALANCE AT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
What we can offer you:
- Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage;
- Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
- Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
- Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities; and
- A work culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance to all employees!
The State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 by 'Forbes'. This national recognition comes from offering job growth, competitive benefits and flexible scheduling for our employees!
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
- WORK SCHEDULE: Generally 8:00AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.
- WORK HOURS PER WEEK: 35 hours
- LOCATION: DEEP Headquarters in Hartford, CT with part-time telework/hybrid schedule. Some in-state travel may be required.
This position has statewide personnel supervisory responsibilities.
ABOUT US
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state.
YOUR ROLE
The Forest Protection Program is within the Division of Forestry. Forest Protection Program staff maintain an active forest fire prevention program and a specially trained force of firefighting personnel to combat fires that burn an average of 500 acres of woodland per year in Connecticut.
The Program Supervisor oversees Fire Control Officers who train and mobilize crews and individuals to assist the US Forest Service in controlling large fires across the nation. Fire Departments depend on Program staff for wildland fire training, equipment, assistance, and expertise. The state is divided into two geographic regions for response and management.
As the Forest Protection Program Supervisor, primary duties include, but are not limited to:
- scheduling assigning, overseeing and reviewing work of staff;
- providing staff training and assistance; conducting performance evaluations;
- determining priorities and planning district work; establishing and maintaining district procedures;
- developing or making recommendations on development of policies and standards; acting as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
- preparing reports and correspondence; directing, supervising and coordinating, compiling and analyzing of statistics and data;
- analyzing data and prepares project and other reports;
- reviewing forestry prescribed fire plans to ensuring consistency with program objectives;
- acting as a departmental representative at technical and professional meetings;
- advising management on pertinent matters;
- assisting in preparation of financial reports, budgets and federal grant requests; performing related duties as required;
- assisting other fire control officers as needed;
- other duties assigned on a statewide basis.
More details can be found in the class specification.
Selection Plan
This is a non-examined recruitment, open to the public.
Special Notice: Incumbents in this class will be required to possess and retain certification as a Forester in accordance with Section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes unless already certified by another reciprocating state. Applicants not currently certified as a licensed practitioner at the Forester level must take the certification exam on March 6, 2024. Exam pre-registration is required by February 6, 2024.
TO APPLY
- Complete a Master Application and directly apply to this recruitment.
- Please ensure that your application and professional experience is thorough and complete. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU APPLY
Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board daily to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders daily in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
Other Notes:
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
- Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
Should you have any questions about the position, please contact Samantha Rivera, Human Resources Specialist – Talent Solutions at Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov
Stay connected with the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, this class is accountable for supervising, planning and implementing programs related to the parenthetical title of the class.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
May take an active role in fire control program; schedules assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff; provides staff training and assistance; conducts performance evaluations; determines priorities and plans district work; establishes and maintains district procedures; develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; prepares reports and correspondence; directs, supervises and coordinates compiling and analysis of statistics and data; analyzes data and prepares project and other reports; reviews fisheries, forestry, wildlife plans to ensure consistency with program objectives; acts as a departmental representative at technical and professional meetings; advises management on pertinent matters; assists in preparation of financial reports, budgets and federal grant requests; performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of silviculture, forest management, mensuration, forest products utilization and marketing, forest fire control, forest surveying and type mapping, forest resource protection from fire, insects and disease; knowledge of herbicides and pesticides; considerable ability to formulate short and long-range management plans; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability in technical report writing; ability to utilize computer software; supervisory ability.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Eight (8) years of experience in a field appropriate to the parenthetical title.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
1. College training in a field appropriate to the parenthetical title may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master’s Degree in a field appropriate to the parenthetical title may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
NOTE:
Experience requiring knowledge of scientific fields such as denfrology, silvics and silviculture, engineering, forest economics, forest influences and forest pathology and entomology and the application of their principles to the production of goods and services is interpreted as appropriate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in application of forest protection state agency policies and procedures and forest protection state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations.
- Experience in application of principles and practices of forest fire control, forest resource protection from fire, insects and disease, silviculture, forest management, prescribed fire for vegetation and wildlife habitat improvement.
- Experience with National Fire Danger Rating System, fuels, fire behavior, and how the National Fire Danger Rating System is affected by changes in fire weather.
- Experience with fire management planning and its application.
- Experience with fire organizations under an organized incident command system, including initial attack and extended attack as defined by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).
- Experience with fire cause investigation, fire law enforcement, evidence preservation, interviewing techniques, and court presentation.
- Experience using oral and written communication to supervise, train, direct and evaluate employees’ on how to train and direct personnel in fire suppression and firefighting techniques.
- Experience writing technical reports.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
2. Incumbents in this class will be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain certification as a Forester in accordance with Section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or physical harm from on site environments and to a moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.