Kansas Forest Service

Kansas Forest Service is hiring two full-time positions as District Fire Management Officers (DFMO) within the KFS Fire Program. These positions help the Fire Program to meet the needs of fire departments and communities we serve by being the direct contact for the program to the fire departments and related organizations within their assigned district. They will help provide training, direct incident support, and have the opportunity to more effectively pursue relations with those we serve. They will cooperate with federal, state, and local agencies and will establish and maintain relations with organizations involved in wildland fire protection within the assigned district as well as assisting outside their district as requested. The DFMO will serve as an official supervisor for assigned Kansas Forest Service part-time personnel. The position must maintain an arduous fitness level and specialized National Wildfire Coordinating position certifications at the Single Resource Boss level. The location for these positions is flexible within the NW and SE district and they are eligible to work remote in a hybrid/partial capacity.

About Us
The Kansas Forest Service is the 5th oldest state forestry agency in the country established in 1887 and is housed as an independent agency within K-State Research and Extension. The agency employs 42 full-time employees, and 50+ temporary and student positions, housed in Manhattan, KS and offices throughout the state. Our programs include Rural Forestry, Community Forestry, Fire Management, Conservation Tree Planting, Forest Health, and Marketing and Utilization.

For 50 years the Kansas Forest Service, Fire Management Program has provided vehicles and equipment to fire departments to enhance their fire suppression capacity. Current programs are the Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP), Fire Fighter Property (FFP) and the Equipment Donation Program (EDP). While some restrictions apply, FFP allows the departments to eventually own the equipment and to utilize it for prescribed and controlled burning as well as other civil emergencies.

Education opportunities are available at no cost for fire prevention education, suppression and prescribe burning. Some classes for land managers and fire fighters are specifically for use within the state, others qualify one to participate in incidents at the Federal level through the Incident Qualification System (Red Card).

Financial assistance for the Kansas Forest Service fire program is principally provided by the State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance Programs of the USDA Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry Division. State fire assistance funds, or SFA, provides funding for KFS fire staff to deliver services to rural fire districts and the citizens of Kansas with services such as training, wildfire preparedness and planning, suppression and response, as well as prescribed fire management. Volunteer fire assistance funds are pass-through funds to cooperating fire districts for ancillary products such as communications equipment, protective gear, hand tools, water pumps, and related items. Coupled to the above is long range planning assistance for Districts desiring a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Fire Master Plan, or a Hazardous Fuel Assessment.

Incident support and resource management is made possible through funding from the Kansas Legislature. This allows KFS employees to be positioned through Kansas to respond when requested within 2 hours and enables KFS to pre-position wildland fire taskforces and assist local fire authorities with fire aviation.

Worksite Option

This position is hybrid/remote eligible. The location of the position is flexible within their assigned district where office locations will be further determined by the employee, supervisor, and Fire Program Coordinator. Employee will be expected to be within two hours of the communities within their district.

An employee who is working remotely must reside within the United States in order to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. Remote work agreements are required for all flexible work arrangements and are subject to review.  Review K-State’s remote work policy details for more information.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (This position may use an educational equivalency as determined relevant by the hiring manager. Educational equivalency means that education and experience may be combined to fulfill the minimum qualifications. For details on how to combine these, and to see a matrix that illustrates this process, please refer to our guidelines.)
• Three years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Fire Ecology, Fire Management, or other related field in natural resources
• Five years of wildland fire experience
• Familiarity with both the Rural/Volunteer Fire service as well as the Interagency (NWCG) wildland fire community
• Incident Commander Type 4 or higher, Prescribed Fire Burn Boss type 2 (higher qualifications are highly encouraged)

Other Requirements:

• Maintain a NWCG Arduous fitness rating by successfully passing the annual Work Capacity Test
• Driver's License upon employment

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Professional references

Apply Now

Screening of Applications Begins

Screening begins immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by April 18, 2025.

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$55,000 - $65,000