Job opening: Fire Dispatch (Forestry Technician)
Salary: $17 - 22 per hour
Published at: Oct 26 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.
This is a Public Notice for positions being filled under the Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) for Wildland Fire. Under this recruitment procedure applications will be accepted for each location identified in this Public Notice. Veterans' Preference is not applicable to this announcement. To learn more about Direct-Hire Authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information - DHA.
Duties
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking for temporary employees to work as Fire Dispatchers. For more information on Dispatchers, click this video.
A Fire Dispatcher (GS-04 Forestry Technician) provides a wide range of fire dispatch support functions; including mobilization, demobilization, logistics support. This involves the movement of aircraft, personnel and equipment in accordance with local dispatch mobilization guides and planning documents.
A Fire Dispatcher (GS-05 Forestry Technician) receives fire reports, determines location, land status, and current fire information, and dispatches personnel, equipment, aircraft, and/or supplies. Collects, processes, collates and submits incident information to support fire operations. Processes and interprets weather information. Inputs data into a number of fire-related computer applications.
A Fire Dispatcher (GS-06 Forestry Technician) serves as a dispatcher receiving fire reports, determines location, land status, and current fire information, and dispatches personnel, equipment, aircraft, and/or supplies. Interprets weather information and gives to management for making decisions. Inputs data into a number of fire-related computer applications. May train other dispatchers.
A Fire Dispatcher (GS-07 Forestry Technician) serves as a senior fire dispatcher in a dispatch center. Performs and directs others in receiving fire reports, determining location, land status, and current fire information. Determines appropriate resource response to incidents. Anticipates fire suppression needs and determines resource allocation. Coordinates aviation dispatch operation. Inputs data into a number of fire-related computer applications.
Locations for these positions are:
Arizona Strip District (Cedar City, UT)*
Tucson, AZ
Grand Junction, CO
Idaho Falls District (Idaho Falls/Salmon, ID)*
Shoshone, ID
Billings, MT
Lewistown, MT
Miles City, MT
Elko, NV
Vale, OR
Draper, UT
Casper, WY
Cody, WY
*NOTE: For district locations, applicants may be assigned to any of the locations listed for that district.
During the application process, you may select up to SEVEN (7) locations from the list of available locations in this announcement.
For contacts and information regarding housing availability visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES Jobs website and select the state you are interested in.
For more information about temporary fire positions with DOI, go to the following link: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/.
Qualifications
Hours worked per week must be stated for each season and position held in your resume.
***Experience listed will need to include specific duties about the work being performed and should not be only the general language stated below in the examples.
To qualify for a GS-04
You must meet at least one of the following:
1). Six months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-03 level duties.
Examples of specialized work experience include:
Working in any type of dispatch office; performing dispatch related work.
-OR-
2). Two years of education above the high school level which included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours of mathematics is creditable toward this requirement.
-OR-
3). A combination of the education and experience described above.
To qualify for a GS-05
You must meet at least one of the following:
1). One year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04 level duties.
Examples of specialized work experience include:
Working with dispatch and dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities. Work should have included experience such as determining priorities and selecting alternative resources while performing dispatch operations duties independently.
-OR-
2). A successful completion of a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with either 1. a major study in forestry, range management or agriculture; or a subject matter field directly related to the position; OR 2. at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours of mathematics is creditable. The level of the course work must have been equivalent to at least the junior and senior year levels of a baccalaureate program.
-OR-
3). A combination of education and experience as described above.
To qualify for a GS-06
You must meet at least one of the following:
1). One year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-05 level duties.
Examples of specialized work experience include:
Dispatch and dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities; may include guidance and direction to subordinate dispatchers.
-OR-
2). One year of graduate level education directly related to this position.
-OR-
3). A combination of education and experience directly related to the work of the position.
To qualify for a GS-07
You must meet at least one of the following:
1). One year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-06 level duties.
Examples of specialized work experience include:
Performing and directing others in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities, providing logistical support information and making recommendations for efficient use of available resources.
-OR-
2). One year of graduate education directly related to this position.
-OR-
3). A combination of education and experience directly related to the work of the position.
**All locations may not be hiring for all grades; check with each location.**
For more information regarding basic qualifications and combining education and experience click here.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Physical Demands: The work involves long hours of sitting, intense concentration, and working at peak proficiency/intensity levels with irregular breaks and mealtimes. The duties of this position create a highly stressful environment during peak activity, requiring the ability to keep calm in emergency situations. Must be able to cope with the pressure of meeting timeframes and changing priorities. Mental concentration and accuracy are required.
Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in an office setting. During peak activity, long hours, increased radio traffic, numerous ringing phones, and conversations result in high noise levels, which require a high level of concentration to perform duties. This creates a high stress work environment.
Contacts
- Address Bureau of Land Management
call toll free number for address information
Boise, ID 83705
US
- Name: DOI FIRES Program Office
- Phone: 888-364-6432
- Email: [email protected]