Job opening: Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)
Salary: $63 132 - 90 647 per year
Relocation: YES
Published at: May 07 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located in Pacific Southwest Region - Region 5, Riverside, CA
Assists with the overall execution of activities of the Fire Intelligence Section of the GACC, which involves interpreting fire indices, weather, and occurrence patterns for the Area.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Deirdre Cherry at
[email protected]
Duties
The duties below are listed at the Full Performance Level of the GS-09.
Sets priorities and directs the movement of personnel, equipment, supplies, and aircraft to respond to wildland fires.
Dispatches and/or orders aircraft for emergency situations, issues flight plans and performs aircraft flight following to ensure safe arrival.
Maintains daily records on the availability of Forest, Regional, and National Fire control resources for anticipated and unanticipated fire needs. Develops and maintains a unit mobilization plan and complex dispatch operating plans and guides.
Prepares and implements fire management plans governing the supply and use of resources such as smokejumpers, food and supplies, and fire retardant.
Participates in the development of recurring and special regional fire wildland and law enforcement and other incident reports (i.e., annual fire narratives, aircraft use report)
Schedules air transportation for personnel, equipment, and supplies. Integrates proper law enforcement dispatching, documentation and required security procedures into the overall operation of the communication center.
Represents the Forest Service, as delegated, in meetings with Federal, state and local agencies for the purpose of planning response.
Assures that current resource availability and use information is exchanged, daily, with the appropriate Geographic Area Coordination Center, adjoining forests, state, and local agencies.
Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
- This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
- Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.
- Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
- Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
- There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
FOR THE GS-08 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7); OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
Examples of specialized experience are: Prioritizing distribution of aid, supplies, and equipment in cases of simultaneous wildland fire incidents. Maintaining and assisting in developing dispatching guides, staffing and action guides, mobilization plans, Haz-Mat response/spill plans, fire management plans, directives, and/or reference materials. Coordinating exchanges of information with other federal agencies as well as municipal and state fire and law enforcement agencies.
FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-8); OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
Examples of specialized experience are: Performing dispatch duties such as coordinating ground and air transportation and determining the nature of the resources needed including personnel, equipment, and services required to respond to varying levels of crisis. Assisting in preparing cost and budgetary data for comparative analysis, flight justification, payment documents, and flight plans for contract and on-call personnel. Assisting in implementing and maintaining mobilization plans, emergency and disaster plans, and dispatch policies and procedures. Assisting in evaluating and coordinating operational situations to ensure the distribution of adequate resources.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Selective Placement Factors
A minimum 90 days experience performing on-the-line (Primary/Rigorous) wildland fire suppression duties as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression, containment or control techniques and practices under various conditions. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.
In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.
To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
See QUALIFICATION SECTION for education requirements.
Contacts
- Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US
- Name: HRM Contact Center
- Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
- Email: [email protected]
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