Open to: General Public

Work Week: 40-hour Work Week

Salary: (O13) $44,323.02– $64,052.12

Opening Date: 1/27/2026

Closing Date: 2/10/2026

Existing Vacancies: 2

Program/Location

Department of Environmental Protection

State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites

Position 1

Forest Fire Service – Division B

103 Shinn Road

New Lisbon, NJ 08064

Position 2

Forest Fire Service – Division C

5555 Atlantic Avenue

Mays Landing, NJ 08330

Scope of Eligibility

Open to applicants who meet the requirements below.

Description

Under supervision of an Assistant Division Forest Firewarden or other supervisor in the Department of Environmental Protection, in a fire tower, is responsible for detecting, locating, and reporting forest fires to protect life and property from wildfire; when required, performs forest fire suppression, pre-suppression, and prevention; performs maintenance work; does related work as required.

Specific to Position

Forest Fire Observers are expected to detect and report wildfires, dispatch initial attack fire resources, monitor fire behavior and act as a safety lookout for fire resources, observe and record weather conditions, and help maintain the fire tower and tower grounds. During periods of low fire danger, assist with other duties such as office coverage, construction and maintenance of fire equipment, public outreach and prescribed burning.

*Due to nature of the role, this position is performed exclusively on-site.

Preferred Skillsets

Preference will be given to applicants who possess thirty (30) semester-hour credits from an accredited college which shall have included a minimum of fifteen (15) credits in fire science, environmental science, physical science, forestry, and/or mathematics.

License

Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.

Appointees may also be required to possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated.

SPECIAL NOTE: Appointees must establish residence in an assigned area within thirty (30) days of appointment. (The appointee must live within the forest region assigned.)

Appointees will be required to obtain a certification as an Instructor-Trainer issued by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Appointees will be required to successfully complete forest fire training courses and maintain qualifications as a forest firefighter. Failure to maintain qualifications will result in progressive disciplinary action.

Benefits

As a New Jersey State Department, NJDEP offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Paid Benefit Leave
Holiday Pay
Alternative Workweek Program*
Telework*
Pension
Deferred Compensation
Health Benefits (medical, prescription drug, dental & vision care) and Life Insurance
Flexible and Health Spending Accounts (FSA/HSA)
Commuter Tax Savings Program
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Tuition Reimbursement*

*Pursuant to the State/Department's policy, procedures, and/or guidelines.

Veteran's Preference

To qualify for New Jersey Veteran's Preference/status, you must establish Veteran's Preference through the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs. Please submit proof of your Veteran's Preference along with your resume as indicated. For more information, please visit https://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/services/civil-service-preference/

Residency

All persons newly hired on or after September 1, 2011, have one year from the date of employment to establish, and then maintain principal residence in the State of New Jersey subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L.2011, Chapter 70), also known as the “New Jersey First Act”.

Authorization to Work

Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services regulations. NOTE: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.

SAME Applicants

If you are applying under the NJ SAME program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter) must be submitted along with your resume by the closing date indicated above. For more information on the SAME program, please visit https://nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml, email SAME@csc.nj.gov, or call CSC at (609) 292-4144 and select Option #3.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of New Jersey seeks to increase the richness and diversity of its workforce, and in doing so, become the employer of choice for all people seeking to work in State Government. To evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts to attract and employ a diverse workforce, applicants are asked to voluntarily answer a few brief questions on the NJ Affirmative Action Information Form. All information is considered confidential and will be filed separately with the agency's affirmative action officer. This information will not be part of your application for employment and will not be considered in any hiring decision.

DEP Notices of Vacancy have a 4:00 p.m. deadline on the closing date. When filing for these opportunities, please be sure to have your letter of interest and credentials sent electronically before 4 p.m. on the closing date.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to inclusive hiring and a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. Accommodations under ADA will be provided upon request.

NJ Department of Environmental Protection jobs

Forest Fire Observer

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