BC Public Service - Internal Job Opportunities

The Team
The Columbia Fire Zone is a supportive, community‑minded team made up of five Initial Attack crews, two Unit Crews, and 12 officers who work together in a challenging and diverse mountain landscape. You’ll collaborate with a wide range of colleagues from BC Wildfire Service and contract crew members to senior officers who bring strong local knowledge, professionalism, and a deep commitment to safety and community wellbeing. We value inclusion, teamwork, and shared learning, and we’re proud of the way our team’s skill, collaboration, and dedication help shape the next generation of wildfire management in B.C.

The Role
As a Wildfire Assistant, you’ll play a key role in preparing crews for the wildfire season by supporting training, coordinating projects, and staying closely connected with the Zone team to ensure effective response and recovery efforts. Throughout the year, you’ll help guide staff development, review field performance, support fire origin and cause investigations, and work directly with partners and communities to advance wildfire preparedness and prevention. This role has a meaningful impact, supporting both crew readiness and public safety, and welcomes individuals who value collaboration, fairness, and helping others succeed.

Qualifications:
Education and Experience Requirements
 

• Technical diploma in a field related to forestry or resource management, or equivalent knowledge, plus 2 seasons recent related experience*; OR
• Grade 12 plus 4 seasons in related experience*; OR
•  An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered; AND
•  Minimum 2 seasons of demonstrated supervisory experience.

*Related experience is defined as operations or other disciplines related to natural resource management.

Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

• Incident Commander 4 or higher certification
• Qualified Faller Assessor, Qualified Faller Trainer, Certified Faller, Faller in Training, bucker or industry equivalent
• Response Officer experience
• Division supervisor/Division Supervisor trainee or Task force leader/ Task force leader trainee certification
   

Provisos

• Valid class 5 driver licence.
   

Willingness Statements

• To be flexible regarding ongoing changes in responsibilities, assignments and corporate structures.
• To keep current on emerging issues.
• To take in-house training and certification as required.
• To fly in aircraft (fixed wing and rotary) as required.
• To work extended hours, including weekends, and be on standby with limited notice in accordance with the preparedness plan.
• To travel and overnight in remote locations where accommodations may vary as required.
• To participate in Incident Command System positions as assigned.
• To work under adverse or stressful conditions, including smoke, extreme heat and mountainous terrain in remote and isolated conditions.
• To obtain and maintain certification and training for position to meet operational requirements.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Quintin.Balfour@gov.bc.ca.

About this Position:
This position has full time on-site requirements. 
This is a temporary opportunity until October 31, 2026. This position may be extended.
An eligibility list may be established to fill future temporary vacancies.
A Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be required.
Employees of the BC Public Service must be located in BC at the time of employment.

Working for the BC Public Service:
The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

We are committed to ensuring that reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process, including the assessment and selection stages. Please email the individual or contact listed on the posting if you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Inuit or Métis) applicants originating from the land now known as Canada, seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. Indigenous applicants can contact this service for personalized guidance on the BC Public Service hiring process including job applications and interviews.

The BC Public Service is an award-winning employer and offers employees competitive benefits, amazing learning opportunities and a chance to engage in rewarding work with exciting career development opportunities. For more information, please see What We Offer.

How to Apply:
Your resume and/or cover letter must clearly show that you meet the education and experience requirements. Highlight the required qualifications and support them with specific examples, such as your responsibilities, projects you've worked on, or accomplishments. Find more information on the recruitment process, including helpful tips and videos about the application process, visit the Your Job Application page of MyHR.

Cover Letter: NO - Please do not submit a cover letter as it will not be reviewed.

Resume: YES - Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

Questionnaire: YES - You will need to complete a basic questionnaire to demonstrate how you meet the job requirements.

Applicants who are selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on their knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and other position related requirements as outlined in the Job Profile at the bottom of the posting. Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, visit the Technical Assistance page of MyHR.