Job Type: Full-time, hybrid
Location: State of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) - Sacramento, California
Salary: $7,556-$10,221/month
Application Deadline: November 13, 2025
Description:
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) - Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) is currently looking to fill the position of Wildfire Risk Specialist (Senior Environmental Scientist – Specialist). The primary role of the job is to lead and coordinate projects and activities related to the evaluation of wildfire hazard and risk across California, and to support the environmental assessment and scientific functions of FRAP. This position will serve as a technical expert in the characterization of wildfire hazard and risk for strategic planning, policy and regulatory products for the State, including leading the development and implementation of Potential Operational Delineations (PODs) risk frameworks across CAL FIRE Units, as required by Senate Bill 1101.
The selected candidate will join the CAL FIRE - FRAP team, whose mission is to assess conditions and trends, identify causal factors, and provide policy options for improving California’s forests and rangelands. The mission of CAL FIRE is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.
Duties:
Under direction provided by the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) for Hazard and Risk Assessment in FRAP, this position is responsible for leading and coordinating projects and activities related to the evaluation of wildfire hazard and risk across California, and for supporting the environmental assessment functions of FRAP. Specific job duties include the following:
Spatial wildfire modeling - PODS (40%)
Serve as project lead for the development and implementation of Potential Operational Delineations (PODS) across CAL FIRE Units, as required by SB 1101.
Support quantitative wildfire risk assessment.
Statistical analysis of wildfire hazard related data.
Participate in stakeholder meetings for the development of PODs.
Coordinate with CAL FIRE Units on use of PODs framework to implement prescribe fire and related mitigation measures.
Wildfire hazard and risk characterization - analytics for planning, decision support, and regulatory products (25%)
*Provide analytics and support for Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), Unit and State fire plans, and other department strategic planning efforts, including estimating wildfire probability, modeling prescribed fire, improving models for urban wildfire spread and other wildfire modeling.
Use spatial data management software, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and spatial fire simulation models to implement risk-informed analysis in land management decision support projects, including statistical methods for determining inference and uncertainty.
Field-based research and monitoring on fire effects (15%)
Assist with field data collection and analysis to support research/monitoring of fire effects from wildfires and prescribed fire. This will include evaluating fire effects on vegetation conditions and structure, post fire erosion, smoke production and transport, etc.
Coordinate with University and Agency partners on studies to evaluate fire effects.
Provide support for development of and updates to the California Forest and Rangeland Assessment report (10%)
This may include primary or co-authorship of assessment chapters related to wildfire.
Develop and maintain indicators related to wildfire hazard, risk, and fire effects.
Serve as technical expert for the department on wildfire hazard and risk modeling (5%)
Participate in the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force and other interagency committees.
Prepare and deliver technical presentations to the Board of Forestry, CAL FIRE executives, and other professional meetings.
Other job-related duties as assigned, in accordance with the class specifications (5%)
May include non-fireline assignments on wildfire incidents or post fire damage assessments. This will include current non-safety fireline training typical for prescribed fire monitoring and analysis duties.
Provide support for special projects and program administration as needed.
Eligibility:
The incumbent must be absent of any medical condition which would preclude the safe and efficient performance of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist). Persons unsuccessful in the required medical exam cannot be appointed.
Working Conditions:
The ability to travel to remote parts of the state, conduct field sampling involving moderate to difficult physical activities including hiking on rough terrain, carrying equipment, sampling vegetation and other site attributes. This travel may be local or statewide and may involve overnight stays.
