Program Specialist 2 Fire Investigation and Cost Recovery (FICR) Program Manager

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

Requires a combination of education and/or experience equivalent to a bachelors degree in natural resources fire science law enforcement criminal justice emergency management or a related field and at least four years of progressively responsible experience in wildland fire management fire investigation or closely related work. Experience should include conducting or supporting fire origin and cause investigations and working within an interagency fire management environment.
Demonstrated experience building or leading programs projects or initiatives involving multiple units or agencies such as development of standard operating procedures training programs or technical guidance. Experience working with attorneys law enforcement or regulatory staff on cases claims or enforcement actions is desirable. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered on a yearforyear basis.
Required knowledge skills and abilities:

The position requires thorough knowledge of wildland fire behavior and suppression operations including how weather fuels and topography influence fire spread and fire patterns. It also requires knowledge of wildland fire origin and cause determination principles and methods such as the scientific method fire pattern recognition ignition area analysis and cause classification as well as knowledge of DNRCs fire protection mission state fire statutes and basic civil liability concepts related to negligence and cost recovery in the wildland fire context. The incumbent must understand evidence handling and documentation fundamentals (e.g. chain of custody scene security field notes diagrams and photographic documentation) sufficient to support administrative and civil proceedings and be familiar with interagency fire management structures and roles including the functions of the State Fire Marshals Office local fire departments county law enforcement and federal cooperators.
The position requires skill in leading and managing a technical program including planning prioritizing and implementing new processes guidance and tools across multiple field offices and partner agencies. The incumbent must be skilled in conducting or overseeing complex wildland fire origin and cause investigations and

Background Check

This position requires a background check as a condition of employment. The successful candidate must pass a criminal history background check which may include fingerprinting to ensure suitability for work involving sensitive investigative information coordination with law enforcement and potential court testimony. A valid drivers license is required and the incumbent must maintain an acceptable driving record for operation of state vehicles.

Travel & Availability

This position serves a statewide program and requires frequent travel throughout Montana including regular trips to DNRC Land Offices Units and incident locations often in remote or rugged terrain and under variable weather and fire conditions. The incumbent must be able to respond on short notice to significant or complex incidents and provide onscene or nearscene support across the state to meet program expectations for timely highquality origin and cause investigations.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid drivers license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK:

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a drivers license or other picture I.D. or a U.S. passport or a green card

Effective May 4 2026 this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9 your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification.

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservations mission is to help ensure that Montanas land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Core Values:

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservations Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative professional and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing protecting and promoting stewardship of Montanas forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other.
• We create collaborative work environments.
• We build and maintain strong relationships.
• We practice accountability.
• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

Due to the specialized nature of this position interested candidates are encouraged to contact DNRC Human Resources to request the official State of Montana job description.

This position is located within the DNRC Forestry and Trust Lands Division Fire Protection Bureau headquartered in Missoula Montana. The DNRC administers a statewide fire protection mission and may consider alternate work locations within Montana that effectively support bureau operations and meet program delivery needs.

This position requires travel up to 50%. Fire Protection Bureau Program Managers conduct regular travel throughout the state to support DNRC fire operations and coordination activities. Employees based outside of Missoula should expect routine travel to the Forestry Division Headquarters particularly during periods of elevated activity.

Build and maintain the capacity of the DNRC Fire Investigation and Cost Recovery Program and cooperating partners by leading managing and supporting a multifaceted program focused on wildland fire origin and cause determination and cost recovery. Provide leadership and support to DNRC Land Office and Unit personnel as well as interagency partners to ensure consistent legally defensible and efficient investigation practices that advance the objectives of the Fire Protection Program the Fire Investigation and Cost Recovery strategy and broader Forestry and Trust Lands Division initiatives.

• Develops implements and maintains DNRC fire investigation and cost recovery policies procedures and guidance consistent with NWCG PMS 412 and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Maintains the DNRC Fire Investigations Manual (500 Series) including the Fire Investigation Matrix and levels of investigative response aligned with NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion.

• Designs and builds the Fire Investigation and Cost Recovery Program framework including statewide roles responsibilities processes and decisionsupport tools that guide when and how wildland fire investigations and cost recovery actions are initiated and escalated. Identifies recommends and implements improvements to investigation and cost recovery processes standards forms and support services to increase consistency defensibility and efficiency.

• Serves as a program liaison with the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations State Fire Marshals Office county attorneys local law enforcement agencies and federal partners to align wildland fire investigative practices roles and expectations. Serves as the primary DNRC point of contact with local or federal wildland fire agencies for requesting receiving and coordinating fire investigation reports and related information on incidents of mutual interest.

Build and maintain DNRCs capacity to conduct highquality wildland fire origin and cause investigations by serving as a lead investigator and technical resource to Land Offices Units and cooperators. Conduct and oversee complex investigations mentor and support investigators and first responders and help ensure that investigative work products evidence handling documentation and coordination with cost recovery and legal staff are consistent defensible and aligned with the overall objectives of the Fire Investigation and Cost Recovery Program and the DNRC Fire Protection mission.

• As a wildland fire investigator leads and/or participates in wildland fire investigation teams on significant complex or highprofile incidents providing technical expertise in fire behavior fire patterns and origin and cause methodology

• Develops complete well organized case files for significant wildland fire investigations including origin and cause reports photographs maps witness statements evidence logs and cost documentation. Ensures all documentation is clear internally consistent and meets evidentiary and confidentiality standards so it is ready for use in administrative civil or criminal processes.

• Provides nonsworn subject matter expertise to support internal and external wildland fire investigations maintains ongoing communication and responds to followup requests for clarification or supplemental documentation to ensure DNRC investigative actions support investigative and prosecutorial efforts. May provide fact or expert testimony in administrative or civil proceedings as requested. Provides technical guidance to initial attack resources firewardens and local DNRC staff on origin protection scene preservation and initial documentation responsibilities to support later investigations and potential cost recovery.

Develops and maintains DNRC practices for evaluating and pursuing cost recovery and damages in alignment with MCAand. Integrate fire investigation findings with DNRCs cost recovery and legal processes to support fiscally responsible recovery of suppression costs associated with humancaused fires. Work closely with DNRC legal staff and local prosecutors to identify and develop cases appropriate for billing or civil action.

APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION ARE:

• Online State of Montana application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Please include three character references with submission

HELPFUL HINT:You must check the relevant document box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.

Benefits: