Job Summary

MN DNR—Division of Forestry is hiring a Rural Fire Program Coordinator, whose position is located in Grand Rapids, MN, at the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center (MIFC). This position's primary responsibility is administering the Volunteer Firefighter Assistance (VFA) grant program. The Rural Fire Program Coordinator leads the U.S. Forest Service Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) and the Department of Defense’s Firefighter Property (DoD-FFP) programs for the Division of Forestry statewide.  The Coordinator will monitor and analyze Rural Fire Program’s acquisitions to ensure they meet state and federal guidelines. The position also provides management, planning, implementation, and coordination of federal surplus property in the state that is granted or loaned to fire departments.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Coordinating and administering the VFA program activities utilizing both federal and state grant funds
• Coordinating and leading the United State Forest Service (USFS) Federal Excess Property (FEPP) and Firefighter Property (FFP) programs
• Facilitate collaboration between structural fire service agencies and the MN DNR Division of Forestry

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

There are 3 minimum qualification pathways:

• Three (3) year’s experience coordinating, training, or administering programs serving fire departments as well as managing or facilitating grants, contracts, and agreements.

OR

• Two (2) years advanced level professional experience leading a complex program including planning, leading staff, assigning work, monitoring accomplishments, administering a budget, administering and implementing programs.

OR

• Three (3) years intermediate professional experience administering sub-programs or single programs.

In addition, candidates should possess the following skills:

• Knowledge and experience with structure fire department equipment and apparatus
• Knowledge of wildland fire management principles sufficient to guide training and assistance to structure fire departments in wildland fire techniques.
• Ability to plan, lead staff, administer budgets, implement programs, and consult.
• Knowledge of the requirements and regulations for creating and administering state grants. 
• Ability to use financial data reporting tools and inventory tracking methods.
• Ability and skill to utilize spreadsheets to collate and analyze data.
• Ability and skill to formulate and communicate narratives, presentations, reports, complex concepts and principles in both verbal and written format to a variety of stakeholders.

A related master’s degree may substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience; a related bachelor’s degree may substitute for (12) months experience; and a related associate’s degree may substitute for six (6) months experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five (5) or more year’s experience serving on a paid or volunteer fire department and qualified as NFPA Firefighter I and II
• Two (2) or more year’s experience serving as chief or assistant chief on a fire department
• Two (2) year’s experience cooperating and coordinating with wildland fire agencies (state, federal, tribal, local fire departments)Current National Wildland Coordinator
• Group (NWCG) “red card” qualification as a Unit Leader and above OR Single Resource Boss and above.
• Knowledge of the technical aspects of wildland fire management such as the Incident Command System, wildland fire equipment, and wildland fire behavior
• Knowledge of Department and Division policies, procedures, MN statute, and operating guidelines pertaining to fire management