ASSISTANT CHIEF-FORESTRY-DACS - 42002054

Requisition No: 871577 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ASSISTANT CHIEF-FORESTRY-DACS - 42002054

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 42002054 

Salary:  $53,917.08 - $97,750.38 

Posting Closing Date: 03/18/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ASSISTANT CHIEF-FORESTRY­-DACS

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Vanessa Smart, (850) 681-5930

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and nine (9) years of professional, aviation, forestry or supervisory experience; or

A bachelor’s degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university and five (5) years of professional forestry or aviation experience, two (2) years of which must have been in a supervisory or administrative capacity; or

A master’s degree (6 years) from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of professional forestry or aviation experience, two (2) years of which must have been in a supervisory or administrative capacity. 

In addition, requirements under Florida Statute 633 must be met.  NOTE:  THE INCUMBENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF HOURS OF FIRE RECRUIT TRAINING WITHIN THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.

 ***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values
and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Certificate of Compliance as a Fire Fighter.

Occasional to moderate travel required.  Position may respond to emergencies, including natural disasters or other type incidents requiring travel, as needed.

NOTES:

To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position.

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES:

The incumbent in this position is required to be fire certified as a forestry firefighter under Chapter 633, F.S., and at any time may be required to perform the tasks of a Certified Wildland Firefighter in accordance with Florida Forest Service (FFS) Policy and Procedure 225.00, Appendix B.  Coordinates, supervises and manages aircraft operation.  Responsible for aircraft flights and maintenance based on Federal Aviation Administration Rules and Regulations, as well as laws governing use of state-owned aircraft.  Establishes and maintains maintenance schedules for aircraft; ensures that all aircraft comply with parts 43 and 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations; prepares and manages the aircraft program budget; develops policy and procedure related to aircraft program. Ensures incorporation of risk management practices into all FFS fire aviation and related programs.

This position is responsible for the coordination of the detection and aerial suppression programs of the FFS.  This position is responsible for coordinating with field administrative units to provide for a statewide fire detection system that integrates new technology with aerial detection systems.  FFS has aerial fire suppression resources which are allocated based on values at risk and potential for threat to loss of life from wildfire.  This position is responsible for budget preparation and administration, recommending policy and procedure, setting standards for pilot qualifications and proficiency, maintenance of FFS aircraft, compliance with applicable federal aviation laws and rules, and the aviation safety program.

Coordinates the development and implementation of fire aviation tactical training for state and other agency firefighters.  Acts as liaison with other state and municipal aviation programs regarding wildfire aviation and represents the FFS on fire aviation related committees and groups.

As a member of the Forest Protection Bureau team, participates in other duties and training as necessary.

Evaluates and coordinates the wildfire detection system.  Reviews and monitors new technology available to detect fires.  Analyzes current detection statistics to determine effectiveness and efficiency.  Establishes detection standards and develops and implements measures to meet those standards.

Responsible and accountable for managing budget/dollars/resources (staff, vehicles, computers, cell phones, etc.) of any assigned programs in an efficient and accountable manner.

Responsible for ensuring that assigned program areas have operational procedures and processes which result in accountability and compliance with FFS and department policies and procedures.

The Following Special Benefits for this Position Include

• Annual Uniform Allotment

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck.  The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com;)
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

SPECIAL NOTES:

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.