Fire Dispatch (Forestry Technician) bei Department of the Interior

Not Required

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 (GW-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 (GW-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 (GW-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 (GW-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: Fairbanks, AK Arizona Strip District (Cedar City, UT)** Tucson, AZ Grand Junction, CO Montrose, CO Boise, ID Idaho Falls District (Idaho Falls/Salmon, ID)* Shoshone, ID Billings, MT Miles City, MT Winnemucca, NV Hines, OR Lakeview, OR Redmond, OR Vale, OR Color Country & Paria River Districts (Cedar City/Richfield, UT)** Draper, UT Desert Rivers FMU (Moab/Vernal, UT)* Casper, WY Cody, WY *NOTE: For district locations, applicants may be assigned to any of the locations listed for that district. **NOTE: The Arizona Strip District and the Color Country & Paria River Districts have duty locations in Cedar City, UT; the positions are separate. If you desire to be considered for the Arizona Strip District and/or the Color Country & Paria River Districts, you will be able to select your preference in the announcement questionnaire. Alaska Pay Differential: In addition to the base salary including 32.36% locality pay, you will receive a 1.49% cost of living allowance for Fairbanks, AK. This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and gradual decrease. During the application process, you may select up to SEVEN (7) locations from the list of available locations in this announcement. For contact information and housing availability, visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES website. To view a list of contacts by agency, 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/.

Requirements

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service or exempt. To register or verify your registration, go to the Selective Service System website. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS: Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Failure to satisfy the background check will result in cancellation of offer of employment or may be grounds for termination. DRUG TESTING: Positions require a mandatory pre-employment drug test. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. The drug test will be provided at Government direction and expense. Once hired, employees are also subject to random drug testing during employment. This is in accordance with Executive Order 12564 and under the Department's Drug Free Workplace Program. Positions may require a valid state driver's license. You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment.

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 GW-04 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). Six (6) months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND six (6) months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GW/GS-03 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience may include but are not limited to: Performing dispatch work or equivalent experience that provided familiarity with dispatch operations and procedures, such as performing wildland fire suppression duties or working with fire/dispatch computer programs. -OR- 2). Two (2) 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 GW-05 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GW/GS-04 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience may include but are not limited to: Performing dispatch or dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities such as determining priorities and selecting alternative resources while independently performing dispatch operations duties. -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 GW-06 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GW/GS-05 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience may include but are not limited to: Performing dispatch and dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities such as receiving and reviewing fire incident reports, working with wildland fire dispatch computer programs, and/or determining fire resource needs. -OR- 2). One (1) 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 GW-07 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GW/GS-06 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience may include but are not limited to: 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 (1) 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. 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, 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.

Education

Proof of Education: To qualify based on education, you MUST submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you MUST show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Other Information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Pay rates vary depending on location. For additional information on pay rates: Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay. Consistent with the recent passage of legislation for permanent pay reform, salaries contained within this vacancy announcement are reflective of the new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, on the General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. For more information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified if they meet minimum qualifications for this position. Temporary employees hired in wildland fire or wildland fire support positions are eligible for the following: -Annual, sick leave, and paid federal holidays -Depending on tour of duty - Sunday, holiday, shift differential and/or hazard pay -Participation in the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) program - Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.