Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) - Direct Hire Authority

Full Job Description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement.

Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority In order to be considered for any duty location, ensure desired locations are selected.

Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected.

Additional Vacancies: Multiple positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other USWFS offices in the local commuting area.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. Only experience and education obtained by 02/26/2026 will be considered.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Minimum Qualification For the GW-06 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-05 level in the federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include: 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- 1 full year (18 semester hours) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position. -OR- An equivalent combination of experience and education.

Transcripts must be attached to application package. For the GW-07 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-06 level in the federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include: 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- 1 full year (18 semester hours) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position. -OR- An equivalent combination of experience and education.

Transcripts must be attached to application package.

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.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C.

8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience.

In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting.

Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement.

Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. 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 fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fires: 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.

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.

Working Conditions: 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. Major Duties:

As a Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Determine appropriate resource response to incidents and requests from the field and process and interpret weather information.

Anticipate fire suppression needs and determine resource allocation.

Operate and/or direct the operations of various dispatch telecommunications systems and input data into fire-related computer applications.

Review internal operating procedures and systems, make recommendations for improvement, and update/develop operating plans and mobilization guides.

Perform and direct others in receiving fire reports, determining locations, land status, and current fire information. Duties listed are at the GW-07 full performance level.