Forestry Crew Specialist 1/2 (Wildland Firefighter)

Job# FOR-51022-11.7.24-CH The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. * This position has a Special Entrance Rate at each level of the Career Progression Group* Forestry Crew Specialist 1 has an SER of $13.82 per hour. Forestry Crew Specialist 2 has an SER of $15.16 per hour. This position (#51022) is located in the Office of Forestry.  This position is domiciled in DeSoto Parish.    This position may be filled by probation or by promotion of a classified employee of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry serving with permanent status. Applicants who are not permanent employees of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will be required to serve a probationary period up to 24 months.    This position is eligible to receive on-call compensation ($1.00/hour) when the employee is required to be available for work status at times outside of the regular work schedule. Work schedules and on-call rotations are determined by the Ag/Forestry Regional Administrator.  The incumbent of this position will receive hazardous duty pay ($1.73/hour) for all hours worked in addition to their base salary. As part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as a Forestry Crew Specialist 1 or 2 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s).  Please refer to the 'Job Specifications' tab located at the top of the LA Careers Current Job Opportunities' page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications and job concepts for each level.     No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.   To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities.   Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.   Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the work experience sections of the application.   This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.    All candidates for hire must undergo drug screening.   For further information about this vacancy contact: Cody Hulbert HR Specialist Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001 Baton Rouge, LA 70806 The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factor. LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: No experience or training is required. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid Louisiana driver's license is required. Function of Work: To serve as a member of an autonomous forestry crew and as such provides assistance to forestry management and protection personnel. Level of Work: Entry. Supervision Received: Functional from Forestry Crew Specialist Leaders and Forestry Parish Assistants and general from Forestry Crew Supervisors or Forestry Parish Supervisors. Supervision Exercised: None. Location of Work: Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Job Distinctions: Differs from Forestry Crew Specialist 2 by the absence of responsibility for more specialized non-professional forestry management and fire suppression activities. Incumbent of this position will perform duties related to fire prevention and suppression of wildfires in the forestlands of Louisiana for the Office of Forestry within the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry. The Office of Forestry's primary responsible includes: suppress timberland wildfires; promote sound forest management practices, disseminate information; facilitate educational programs; enforce timber-related laws; investigate timber theft; and assist community urban forestry programs.  Supervision for this position is received from the Forestry Parish Supervisor.  This position is eligible for the Hazardous Duty Services Retirement Plan. 40% The incumbent is on-call day and night and is responsible for maintaining a twenty-four hour state of readiness and equipment preparedness to respond to calls for fire suppression or other emergencies.  This includes working with forestry crew members, leaders, heavy and supervisors in such activities, determining point of initial attack on fires in order to accomplish suppression with the maximum degree of safety and with a minimum loss of forest land or other real property and determining the effects of weather on wildfire.  The incumbent is also responsible for making reports of forest fires, including gathering data such as location and number of acres involved in fire and possible causes of fire, and make referral to an enforcement agent when arson is suspected.   The incumbent may also be dispatched between units and Districts to fight forest fires, as well as to member states, as required under the South Central State Forest Fire Protection Compact.   30% The incumbent assists the Forestry Crew Specialist Leader in the performance of forest management activities including cruising, detecting and controlling forest insects and diseases.   Duties may include marking timber in the state forest.  The incumbent is responsible for learning, applying and staying informed about the latest technology required for job performance and date collection.  The incumbent is responsible for the collection of data and measurements needed for the administration of forestry programs, including federal and state cost-share programs.  The incumbent participates in Information & Education programs related to all forestry fields as required.   20% The incumbent is responsible for the repair and maintenance of transport trucks, dozer (crawler) tractors, various fire suppression equipment, base and mobile two-way radios, multiple GPS equipment, computers, clothing, PPE and a variety of hand and power tools.   The incumbent is responsible for repair or maintenance of buildings, equipment, wildland substations and grounds or similar work.   10% In addition to fire reports, the incumbent is also responsible for the preparation of other assigned reports, including time sheets, vehicle reports, etc.  The incumbent may also be required to determine fire danger through the collection of fire weather data by taking daily readings on anemometer, rainfall, and fuel moisture using prescribed tables.   Incumbent is also responsible for the performance of other duties as assigned by supervisor.   Other duties as may be assigned.   Functional Requirements: *             Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50+ pounds *             Reaching above shoulders and carrying specialist equipment needed to perform duties *             Requires considerable walking over irregular ground and standing for long periods of time *             Occasional demands maybe required for moderately strenuous activities in emergencies over long periods of time *             Climbing on and off transport and tractor   Environmental Factors: *             Working indoors and outdoors *             Excessive smoke, heat, humidity, cold, wet and extreme dry conditions *             Walking on irregular ground for long distances *             Working around neighborhood/residential and wild land hazards *             Will be required to wear appropriate safety protection/clothing

Created: 2024-11-11