Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)

Full Job Description

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.

We expect to fill three (3) vacancies at this time in the following locations: One (1) vacancy: Bishop, CA One (1) vacancy: Porterville, CA One (1) vacancy: Susanville, 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

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.

GW-06 Grade Level Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS/GW-05 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: performing wildland fire dispatch duties such as receiving and reviewing fire incident reports; working with wildland fire dispatch computer programs; and determine fire resource needs.

-OR- Education: One (1) full year of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to the work of the position.

-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education DIRECTLY related to the work of the position.

Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

GW-07 Grade Level Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS/GW-06 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: performing lead wildland fire dispatch duties such as performing and directing others in wildland fire dispatch office functions; providing incident logistical support information and making recommendations for efficient use of available resources; and determining appropriate resource responses to incidents.

-OR- Education: One (1) full year of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to the work of the position.

-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education DIRECTLY related to the work of the position.

Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

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 closing date of the announcement.

Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland.

Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire: Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages.

Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

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.

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.