Fire Watch Officer I
Job Description
About Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc.
Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. (“WDS”) is a Qualified Insurance Resource (QIR) operating the largest private sector wildfire service in the nation, encompassing a 22-state service area and specializing in wildfire education, loss prevention, and wildfire response services. Qualified Insurance Resources are defined as NWCG qualified or equivalent, wildland engines, tenders, hand crews, fire/liaison officers, and personnel working for or contracted by an insurance company with a mission to mitigate impacts on insured structures threatened by wildfire. WDS holds contracts with insurance companies to provide wildfire loss prevention services. WDS fields experienced, highly trained, safety-focused wildfire officers and fire personnel that hold a wide range of Federal Wildfire Incident Command position classifications necessary to meet or exceed all federal wildfire operation standards and codes including all requirements of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (“NWCG”) or equivalent. WDS is capable of providing more than 180 wildland engines and hundreds of fire personnel and support personnel. WDS has served large and small insurance clients since 2008.
Job Summary
The Fire Watch Officer I (FWO I) is responsible for analyzing and collecting data to make rapid fire response decisions, including independently dispatching and managing fires across the U.S. and Canada. They ensure mission success by applying WDS guiding principles of Safety, People, and Mission, while maintaining cross-departmental coordination, communication, and professional expertise. The FWO I works directly with FWO II to provide updates on fire activity, threats, resource allocation, and recommendations. The FWO I will work in the Fire Watch section of the Current Operations Department of Field Services.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts WDS rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The pay range for this role is:70,000 - 95,000 USD per year(Bozeman, MT )
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties and associated time allocations will vary depending upon seasonal fluctuations and fire conditions. The primary focus will be managing data collection, analyzing wildfire activity, and providing response recommendations. This includes resource allocation and strategic placement to meet response needs. This position works closely with FWO II, Battalion Supervisors, Regional Coordination Business Managers (RCBM), and Insurance Resource Commanders (IRC). This role requires expertise in wildfire behavior, incident command system principles, and operational risk management to ensure safety, mission success, and alignment with WDS standards.
Wildfire Analysis & Resource Management
- Must be able to read and interpret wildland fire activity, provide a fire progression risk analysis based on fire intel, and determine a desired response.
- Independently review and analyze intelligence to strategically manage fires and resources across the U.S. and Canada.
- Provide Quality Assurance reviews for fire updates from field teams.
- Assist FWO II in directing and managing wildfire response, resource allocation, including subcontractors, during response operations.
- Collect data and intel from IRCs.
- Provide daily Situation Reports and weekly/monthly Fire Outlooks that inform team members of the current and projected fire danger areas.
Leadership
- Responsible for supporting and promoting a professional and engaging culture within the Current Operations Department to foster a positive employee experience.
- Ensure compliance with all health and safety practices and procedures.
- Provides support to firefighters and coworkers; and must take initiative to ensure the guiding principles of Safety, People, Mission are adhered to.
- Demonstrated ability to apply operational risk management to recommend safe and executable response to incidents. Must be able to recognize risk and recommend trigger points for disengagement of field resources from the incident.
- Enforces and models WDS culture, professionalism, and image while supporting the mission.
Professional Expertise
- Collaborate with other WDS sections, departments, and divisions to streamline and/or improve existing systems, processes, and methods.
- Contributes to the Fire Watch Team’s strategic operational goals based on business vision.
- Supports and enhances a robust logistics capability to meet business requirements.
- Utilize wildfire expertise to provide consultations within WDS companies
Job Requirements
Job Requirements:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree, undergraduate degree, or equivalent work experience in resource management, emergency services, wildfire, or similar industry experience working in a high-stakes, time-critical, emergency environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in leadership roles and/or personnel management
- Experience working in the Information and Intelligence section of WDS
- Any combination of the following preferred qualifications: CRWB, FIRB, RXB3, TFLD, STLD, DIVS, ENGB, FBAN, IMET, LTAN, ATGS and/or LOFR
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to work in fast paced and stressful environment.
- Computer skills with Google Earth, Excel, and Word.
- Technical aptitude to complete reports and draw threat perimeters based on wildfire analysis.
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to use maps and other tools to provide detailed recommendations of the growth and movement of wildfire.
- Ability to work in a team-focused environment.
- Ability to adjust actions based on changing information and evolving Situational Awareness.
- High level of professionalism, accountability, diligence, and dependability.
- Strong communication, both written and oral.
Physical Requirements
- Not a remote or hybrid position.
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift 15 – lbs.
- Must be able to work in a general office environment, with typical office noise and lighting conditions.
Working Hours
- The full-time schedule will generally be 40 hours per week.
- The hours worked per week may increase or decrease based on travel needs, business goals, and fire activity.
