Wildland Firefighter (Aviation Dispatcher)

Full Job Description

These positions are located in Region 5, Pacific Southwest, California.

The primary purpose of this position is Regional fire aviation dispatching, scheduling Forest Service and contract aviation resources, aircraft, equipment, personnel, and supplies for suppression of wild land fires.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - Brian Grabowski - brian.grabowski@usda.gov 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 GW-8: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-7 grade level Examples of specialized experience are: Performing training and safety program support activities for an aviation program; evaluating and coordinating operational situations in fire and/or aviation management to ensure the distribution of adequate resources; following mobilization plans, emergency and disaster plans, and dispatch policies and procedures; performing dispatch duties, 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.

For the GW-9: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-8 grade level.

Examples of specialized experience are: Performing contract management, aviation training, and safety program support activities for an aviation program; evaluating and coordinating operational situations in fire and/or aviation management to ensure the distribution of adequate resources; implementing and maintaining mobilization plans, emergency and disaster plans, and dispatch policies and procedures; preparing cost and budgetary data for comparative analysis, flight justification, payment documents, and flight plans for contract and on call personnel; independently performing dispatch duties, 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.

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.

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.

Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions.

Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

• Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-09 level.
• Takes fire suppression dispatching and mobilization action on a 24-hour basis, receiving calls and dispatching from home after office hours when "on call" at night.
• Analyzes the situation and dispatches requested aid from the Regional Office Zone IDC based on the variables of relative priorities, travel time, availability of transportation, and the qualifications of personnel to meet the request.
• Responsible for the planning, development, operation, and implementation of the Regional light aircraft coordination plan, between the Regional Office, Forests, Zone and other Regions.
• Has the expertise to assure that operational standards and safety requirements are met.
• Responsible for implementation of agency flight following systems and procedures, while coordinating flight information with all units.
• Manages the ordering, scheduling, dispatching, and tracking of regional aircraft.