Hybrid Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) at Department of the Interior

Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): Bishop, California, San Bernardino, California

Salary Range: $47944 - $93895 Per Year

Job Summary: Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. We expect to fill many vacancies at this time for the following locations: Bishop, CA San Bernardino, CA This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet

Major Duties:

• Coordinates aviation dispatch operations (aircraft limitations, flight planning, aviation safety).
• Determines appropriate resource response to incidents and dispatches appropriate personnel, equipment, aircraft, and/or supplies.
• Anticipates fire suppression needs and determines resource allocation.
• Operates or directs the operation of various dispatch telecommunications systems.
• Processes and interprets weather information (spot weather forecasts, lightning detection, and fuel moisture levels) to determine burning indices, preparedness levels, and staffing levels for suppression and aviation resources.
• Performs and directs others in inputting data into a number of fire-related computer applications (incident qualification records, fire reporting systems, and automated dispatch systems).
• Provides information and consults with supervisors, multiple state, county, and/or local agencies and other interested entities.
• Provides critical logistical support information to supervisor and makes recommendations concerning the efficient use of available resources.
• Makes initial and extended attack decisions in response to fire reports and orders for additional support by arranging and coordinating transportation of personnel, equipment, aircraft, and supplies.
• Provides liaison between the unit and other dispatch offices and the geographical coordination center.
• Coordinates fire training and orientation.
• Provides technical guidance and on-the-job training for other dispatchers.

Qualifications: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. For the GS-04: You must possess 6 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: organized and accurate handling of multiple tasks at one time, where tasks are completed quickly and efficiently and require precise verbal and electronic communication, such as on the phone and entering data into a database; - OR - 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 biology 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 - a combination of the education and experience described above. For the GS-05: You must possess 12 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04. Examples of specialized work experience include experience in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to law enforcement and wildland fire suppression activities; -OR- 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science; -OR- a combination of education and experience as described above. For the GS-06: You must possess 12 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-05. Examples of specialized work experience include experience in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to law enforcement and wildland fire suppression activities; guidance and direction to subordinate dispatchers; -OR- one full year (18 semester hours) of graduate level education directly related to this position such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science; -OR- a combination of experience and education. For the GS-07: To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-06 grade level. Examples of specialized work experience include: performing and directing others in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to law enforcement and wildland fire suppression activities, providing logistical support information and making recommendations for efficient use of available resources;- OR- one full year (18 semester hours) of graduate education directly related to this position such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science; -OR- a combination of experience and education. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements by the date of application. Retirement: This is a SECONDARY/Administrative fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits(normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION. Physical Demands: The work involves long hours of sitting, intense concentration, and working at peak proficiency/intensity levels with irregular breaks and mealtimes. Must be able to cope with the pressure of meeting timeframes and changing priorities. Mental concentration and accuracy are required. Vehicle and aircraft travel associated with field visits and other administrative travel may be 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. The duties of this position create a highly stressful environment during peak activity, requiring the ability to keep calm in emergency situations.

How to Apply: THIS IS AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS THROUGH USAJOBS. Your application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time by 11/04/2025. If you need assistance in applying on-line, please contact the HR Office at [email protected]. If applying on-line poses a hardship for you (i.e. you do not have access to the Internet) you must contact us prior to the closing date of the announcement for an alternative method of applying. PLEASE NOTE: If you have access to a public library, State Job Service Office, etc., you should use these resources to apply online. You must follow the steps described below to complete the application process: YOU MUST HAVE OR CREATE A PROFILE IN USAJOBS. Your profile must contain a current resume for submission. See Required Documents section for what to include in your resume. INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION COULD RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. The USAJOBS Resume Builder was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is an available tool when you login to your USAJOBS account. Review the Appointment Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility section of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the appointment eligibilities that you selected. You must provide proof of your eligibility to be considered. You must submit a resume and also complete the online application and assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. The eligibility portion of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this announcement. You may choose more than one eligibility. You must provide proof of your eligibility and will only be considered for the questions that you answer "yes". Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated in this section. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered. You may choose more than one eligibility in this section. To view the assessment questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12724593 To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (Welcome | Login.gov), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. FOLLOW UP. Check your application status before the announcement closes. It is your responsibility to ensure that a complete application (including a resume, on-line questionnaire, and applicable supplemental documentation) is received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 11/04/2025. NOTE: Technical problems may take at least 1 business day to resolve; therefore, you are highly encouraged to complete the application process prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-04