Program Specialist III

Summary

Salary: $44,814.59 Annually
Location : 61 - RANKIN COUNTY, MS
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 9062-0502-20261103Rn
Department: 0502 - STATE FIRE ACADEMY
Opening Date: 11/10/2026
Closing Date: 11/16/2026 11:59 PM Central
Agency Minimum Salary: $44,814.59
Agency Maximum Salary: $44,814.59
What you'll need to be Successful: Good communication skills, customer service, ethical
Aboutthe Agency: The Mississippi State Fire Academy (MSFA) is dedicated to serving the Mississippi fire service community and the world by providing quality education and training in fundamental and advanced skills to save lives and protect property.For more information, please contact Shameshia Walls, HR Generalist, at swalls@msfa.ms.gov or Cindy Stevenson, HR Director, at cstevenson@msfa.ms.gov.
About the Position: This position reports to the Administrative Services Director in the Support Services Group. Job responsibilities include:• Assist with maintaining class records, email and telephone correspondence, entering grades, and related paperwork.• Assist with contracted and field delivery courses including contract development and course enrollment.• Coordinate student documentation for scheduled courses and prepare course packets and manuals for upcoming classes.• Communicate daily with fire chiefs and training coordinators across all groups, including Firemanship, Special Operations, Professional Development, and Strategic Operations.• Assist with correspondence and administrative support for all groups, including Support Services.• Support key operational functions at the Academy through effective coordination of student lodging, logistics and facility maintenance tracking.• Assist with managing late arrivals and housing adjustments for weekly student rotations while ensuring proper key control and accountability.• Receive and route electronic maintenance requests, track work order progress, and provide timely status updates to Academy leadership.• Assist with course management including instructional design, course template building and updating, and maintenance of online course content to ensure accuracy consistency and relevance.• Assist with answering the agency switchboard on a rotating basis as needed.
Preferred Qualifications: Typically requires a Bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of experience. Agency preferred qualifications: Educational Administration experience.

No available description
Health/Prescription InsuranceEligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state's health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits

Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance

All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances

Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts

Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.

Paid Personal Leave and Sick LeaveFull-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave

In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays

Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation's celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs

The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State's retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State's retirement program can be found at
Deferred Compensation

State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union

All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training

The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities

Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders

Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual's salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01

How many years of relevant experience do you have?

• No experience
• 1 year of experience
• 2 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 4 years of experience
• 5 years of experience
• 6 years of experience
• 7 years of experience
• 8 years of experience
• 9 years of experience
• 10 years of experience
• More than 10 years

02

What is the highest level of education (or semester hours of college) you have completed?

• None
• GED or High School Equivalency Diploma / High School Diploma
• 30 semester hours
• Associate's Degree / 60 semester hours
• 90 semester hours
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Specialist Degree
• Doctorate Degree

Required Question

Job Description

Salary: $44,814.59 Annually
Location : 61 - RANKIN COUNTY, MS
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 9062-0502-20261103Rn
Department: 0502 - STATE FIRE ACADEMY
Opening Date: 11/10/2026
Closing Date: 11/16/2026 11:59 PM Central
Agency Minimum Salary: $44,814.59
Agency Maximum Salary: $44,814.59
What you'll need to be Successful: Good communication skills, customer service, ethical
Aboutthe Agency: The Mississippi State Fire Academy (MSFA) is dedicated to serving the Mississippi fire service community and the world by providing quality education and training in fundamental and advanced skills to save lives and protect property.For more information, please contact Shameshia Walls, HR Generalist, at swalls@msfa.ms.gov or Cindy Stevenson, HR Director, at cstevenson@msfa.ms.gov.
About the Position: This position reports to the Administrative Services Director in the Support Services Group. Job responsibilities include:• Assist with maintaining class records, email and telephone correspondence, entering grades, and related paperwork.• Assist with contracted and field delivery courses including contract development and course enrollment.• Coordinate student documentation for scheduled courses and prepare course packets and manuals for upcoming classes.• Communicate daily with fire chiefs and training coordinators across all groups, including Firemanship, Special Operations, Professional Development, and Strategic Operations.• Assist with correspondence and administrative support for all groups, including Support Services.• Support key operational functions at the Academy through effective coordination of student lodging, logistics and facility maintenance tracking.• Assist with managing late arrivals and housing adjustments for weekly student rotations while ensuring proper key control and accountability.• Receive and route electronic maintenance requests, track work order progress, and provide timely status updates to Academy leadership.• Assist with course management including instructional design, course template building and updating, and maintenance of online course content to ensure accuracy consistency and relevance.• Assist with answering the agency switchboard on a rotating basis as needed.
Preferred Qualifications: Typically requires a Bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of experience. Agency preferred qualifications: Educational Administration experience.

No available description
Health/Prescription InsuranceEligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state's health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits

Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance

All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances

Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts

Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.

Paid Personal Leave and Sick LeaveFull-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave

In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays

Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation's celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs

The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State's retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State's retirement program can be found at
Deferred Compensation

State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union

All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training

The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities

Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders

Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual's salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01

How many years of relevant experience do you have?

• No experience
• 1 year of experience
• 2 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 4 years of experience
• 5 years of experience
• 6 years of experience
• 7 years of experience
• 8 years of experience
• 9 years of experience
• 10 years of experience
• More than 10 years

02

What is the highest level of education (or semester hours of college) you have completed?

• None
• GED or High School Equivalency Diploma / High School Diploma
• 30 semester hours
• Associate's Degree / 60 semester hours
• 90 semester hours
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Specialist Degree
• Doctorate Degree

Required Question