Fire Chief Jobs in Baton Rouge, LA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $2,784.00 - $5,009.00 Monthly
Location : Baton Rouge, LA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: FOR-50679715-8.25.26-TW
Department: DAF-Agriculture and Forestry
Opening Date: 08/26/2026
Closing Date: 9/5/2026 11:59 PM Central
About this Job
Job #FOR-50679715-8.25.26-TW
This position is located within the Office of Forestry in Baton Rouge, La.
Ready to make a difference in protecting Louisiana's forests? Join the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry as a Communications Officer! If you're ready to step up, stand out, and help safeguard our forests, apply today and start your next adventure!
The Office of Forestry's primary responsibilities include suppressing timberland wildfires; promoting sound forest management practices, disseminating information; facilitating educational programs; producing reforestation seedlings; enforcing timber-related laws; investigating timber theft; and assisting community urban forestry programs. The Communications Officer manages and assists Forestry Dispatch in the completion of day-to-day activities. The Forestry Dispatch offers support to the six districts within Forestry. Supervision for this position is received from the Assistant Commissioner of Forestry.
Selected Core Competencies:
Accepting Direction: The ability to be open and willing to follow guidance or instructions.
Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
Demonstrating Accountability: The ability to take ownership of actions, behaviors, performance, decisions, and outcomes.
Selected Preferred Competencies:
Adapting to Change: The ability to demonstrate flexibility in thoughts, behaviors, and actions in response to evolving circumstances or unexpected change.
Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess situations independently and take proactive steps to address them without being prompted or instructed by others.
Displaying Professionalism: The ability to uphold workplace standards through consistent conduct, responsible communication, and consideration for others.
Following Policies and Procedures: The ability to follow, reinforce, adapt, or develop policies and procedures to maintain compliance with federal and state legal requirements, State Civil Service rules, and organizational policies.
Managing Time: The ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and allocate time to ensure timely completion of work goals.
Solving Problems: The ability to identify root causes, analyze relevant data, and apply practical or innovative solutions to challenges.
Thinking Strategically: The ability to anticipate trends, understand context, and align actions with long-term priorities.
Why Join Us?

• Enjoy competitive pay and great benefits
• Be part of a passionate, supportive team

LDAF cares about the well-being of its employees! We offer a fully employer-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing valuable support and resources to help you and your household members thrive at work and at home. The EAP is also free for all members of your household.
Minimum Qualifications
Six months of experience in transmitting and receiving messages by radio or in administrative services; OR
Six months of training in a business or clerical-related curriculum in a business school or technical institute; OR
Fifteen semester hours of college training.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
All persons appointed to this job will be required by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Louisiana State Police Terminal Operator Certification Program Guidelines to meet the terminal operator certification/re-certification requirement within six months of employment.
An applicant who has been convicted of a felony or who is under indictment on a felony charge will be disqualified until relief from the disabilities imposed by state and federal laws is granted.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:

• Participates in monitoring the location and status of field personnel by radio on a regular basis and dispatching additional personnel to assist with handling certain situations, as needed.
• Receives, analyzes, prioritizes, and initiates response to incidents that require immediate attention. Maintains and operates a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
• Monitors and coordinates the usage of a statewide radio system and utilizes all options and capabilities available in a central communications console.
• Assists the public by researching, locating, printing and providing fire reports when requested.
• Participates in receiving fire information by telephone and two-way radio, and transmitting messages based on this information to the appropriate personnel; participates in the receipt and transmittal of wildland fire information and handles communication requests from key personnel.
• Ensures that proper procedures are followed in routine and emergency operations.
• Performs routine checks on communications equipment including capabilities and options available in central communications radio consoles remain functional.
• Maintains and updates monthly reports as needed.
• Possesses technical knowledge of personal computer-based operations and operational design of a radio system.
• May operate Forestry's system at potentially life-threatening disasters sites. Notifies key personnel to ensure public safety in potentially life-threatening situations. May be required to be on 24-hour stand-by, with limited response time, during high alert incidents or natural disasters.

Other duties may be assigned.
Functional Requirements:
Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds
Reaching above shoulders
Prolonged sitting at workstation
Occasional bending and/or kneeling
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Job Appointment (up to four years).
Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Communications Officer 1, 2, or 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s).
Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
*Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Tiffany Waddell - HR Analyst
Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factor. LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.
Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at
Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at
Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

***** Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement- State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (), among others

01
To ensure compliance with the LDAF Nepotism Policy, do you have any immediate family members or relatives who are currently employed with the LDAF? Immediate family member is defined as children (blood, step, adopted), spouse, brother, sister, father, mother, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, mother-in-law and father-in-law. Relative includes immediate family members previously defined and also includes grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, uncle, aunt, niece and nephew.

• Yes
• No

02
If you answered "yes" to the above question, please list the name of your immediate family member and/or relatives currently employed by the LDAF. If you answered "no" to the above question, enter N/A.
03
Are you currently a classified employee of Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry serving with permanent status?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you have a valid Louisiana driver's license?

• Yes
• No

05
The incumbent of this position may drive a state-owned vehicle during working hours. Office of Risk Management prohibits drivers with three or more moving violations in a one-year period from operating a state-owned vehicle. Based on this information, will you be able to operate a state-owned vehicle?

• Yes
• No

06
Do you possess a High School diploma or GED equivalency?

• Yes
• No

07
Do you have clerical experience in Word, Excel, and SharePoint?

• Yes
• No

08
CE: Communicating Effectively - How well do you share information and ideas in ways that others can understand, relate to, and act on?

• I communicate unclearly, use poor tone, and ignore the audience.
• I share main ideas clearly and adapt to the audience when reminded.
• I communicate clearly, listen actively, and explain complex ideas well.
• I craft messages that connect, inspire, and drive action across audiences.

09
CE: Communicating Effectively - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.
10
FPP: Following Policies and Procedures - How well do you apply rules, policies, and procedures in your work?

• I struggle to follow rules or apply policies correctly, which can lead to confusion or mistakes.
• I follow rules with support and help correct issues, but I sometimes apply policies inconsistently.
• I apply and explain policies accurately, adapt to routine situations, and help improve procedures.
• I guide others in applying policies, prevent compliance issues, and improve procedures based on experience.

11
FPP: Following Policies and Procedures - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.
12
MT: Managing Time - How well do you manage your time, meet deadlines, and prioritize your work?

• I miss deadlines, struggle to prioritize, and don't use tools to manage my time.
• I complete some tasks but need reminders or get distracted by low-priority activities.
• I plan and complete work on time using tools and strategies to stay focused and on track.
• I balance competing demands, adapt to shifting priorities, and model strong time habits under pressure.

13
MT: Managing Time - Explain your selection by pr