Aircraft Dispatch Coordinator, Wildland Fire Program Coordinator 1

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coordination Center is searching for a Wildfire Aircraft Dispatch Coordinator (Wildland Fire Coordinator 1). This position will report to the DNR CC Center Manager, but will also take direction from the Aviation Assistant Division Manager and coordinate directly with other Aviation Program staff to implement programmatic duties. This position works under the guidance of state regulations, agency policies and procedures, applicable collective bargaining agreements and agency strategic plans. This position supports the mission and goals of the agency through the coordination of wildland fire mobilization, dispatching, regulation, contracting and interagency agreements. This position will dispatch DNR and Contract aircraft to wildland fires working with DNR, partner agency staff and the private aviation sector. The position will track DNR Aircraft mobilization, demobilization, and response efforts. This position is an important link coordinating the fiscal accountability for aircraft billings with the operational use of DNR aviation assets. The position will provide technical direction, coordination, and make recommendations to improve aviation dispatch procedures and protocols through pre-season preparedness efforts, AAR’s, aviation briefings, etc. The individual in this position ensures the DNR Coordination Center (DNR CC) aircraft desk is maintained in a constant state of readiness. To be successful in this role, the selected individual will need to be: Service-oriented, Calm under pressure, Attentive to detail, and possess strong verbal and written communication skills. Additionally, the person serving in this role will be required to learn established, complex procedures, tools, and technical programs. They will communicate and coordinate with the DNR Coordination Center Manager and the Aviation Assistant Division Manager to use their judgment and make decisions that align with those procedures and support the overall mission to protect the health of Washington's lands.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in a Natural Resources field and two years of professional experience working with wildland fire management, natural resources, dispatching or communications and/or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
Completed FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 courses.
Qualified Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC).
Qualified Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP).
Experience with understanding complex rules, legal documents, plans, agreements and contracts.
Knowledge of fire suppression principles/techniques and resource capabilities/limitations.
Strong interpersonal communication skills with co-workers, partner agency employees and the general public.
Strong professional writing skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention and requests are followed.

Nice To Haves

Qualified Aircraft Dispatcher (ACDP) or Aircraft Dispatcher Trainee D-312
Aircraft Dispatcher D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder D-310, Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher D-311
Initial Attack Dispatcher S-270, Basic Air Operations
ICS-200, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
L-180, Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service
S-130, Firefighter Training
S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
A-100, Basic Aviation Safety
A-103, Temporary Flight Restrictions and Advisory Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)
A-109, Aviation Radio Use
A-110, Aviation Transportation of Hazardous Materials
A-115, Automated Flight Following
A-200, Mishap Review
A-202, Interagency Aviation Organizations
A-203, Basic Airspace
A-204, Crew Aircraft Capabilities and Limitations
A-205, Risk Management I
A-207, Mission Scheduling and Coordination
A-208, Aircraft and Pilot Approval
A-303, Human Factors in Aviation
A-305, Risk Management II
A-307, Aviation Policy and Regulations II
A-310, Overview of Crew Resource Management

Responsibilities

Coordinate with the DNR Air Operations Support Coordinator to obtain the Aviation Exclusive Use and Call When Needed Aviation Agreements, Amendments and Contract Numbers.
Transfer and/or accept or accept aircraft transferred in IROC between the Washington State DNR Coordination Center WA-WAC) and sending or receiving dispatch centers.
Ensure prior to transfer, the sending/receiving dispatch center have obtained the correct DNR aircraft agreement number(s) and dispatch center unit identifiers.
The DNRCC aircraft desk in the DNR Coordination Center is the single point of ordering for additional aircraft.
Surge resources that are staged at the Olympia Airport will be dispatched by DNRCC as state-wide assets.
ACDP will clarify roles with WA State Dispatch Centers, ensuring parallel processes are eliminated.
Communicate with statewide surge aircraft via radio console and log activity in WildCADe.
Track aircraft resources during fire suppression and non-fire suppression activities using systems such as Automated Flight Following (AFF) and WildCADe.
Relay status updates to region dispatch centers, fire managers and incident commanders.
Coordinate with aviation staff and region dispatch centers to ensure resource orders for aviation assets are properly executed statewide.
Coordinate with Dispatch Centers or WFMD Aviation staff to obtain or create the Tactical Aircraft Request Orders (TARO) for DNR aviation resources dispatched to incidents.
Ensure TARO’s are attached to the IROC resource orders.
Assist regions or the NW Coordination Center with ordering Service, Infrared Daytime (SIRD) and Service, Infrared Nighttime (SIRN) resource requests, if needed.
When Western Washington dispatch centers request SIRD and SIRN, place the resource orders with the appropriate dispatch center.
Fill fixed wing, rotor wing, equipment and overhead aviation IROC resource orders sent to the DNR CC and email resource orders to the necessary staff.
Implement formal procedures requiring all region dispatch centers or the NW Coordination Center to submit detection flight requests through a unified process, either directly to the “HUB” or coordinated through DNR CC Aircraft Coordinator.
Coordinate with Region dispatch centers to document aircraft dispatched to NW Compact partners.
Ensure the resource order indicates it is a Compact Request in IROC prior to filling or creating the resource order.
Provide flight following when regional dispatch centers are not staffed, ensuring communication and coordination with pilots and air operations.
Collaborate with helicopter managers, air attack and other dispatchers and coordinators during initial attack to ensure efficient and safe dispatch of air resources.
In coordination with state and partner dispatch centers, assess the need for and manage Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) based on fire complexity and location.
This includes creating and submitting TFR orders in IROC and communicating with the Northwest Coordination Center (NWCC).
If WNG Aircraft are requested to be mobilized, communicate promptly with DNR CC Center Manager, DNR Aviation personnel and State EMD personnel.
Upload IROC aviation resource orders into the State EMD WebEOC Mission Tracker.
Work with the Center Manager to determine staffing needs for the Aircraft Desk based on current and expected wildfire conditions and severity.
Request funding if needed to schedule qualified and trainee Aircraft Dispatchers primarily between July-September, or as needed, based on fire activity and preparedness levels.
Oversee and train detailed dispatchers or other personnel involved in aircraft dispatch operations, including on-the-job training, simulation exercises, and reviews of aircraft protocols and safety plans.
In coordination with dispatch centers and the WFMD Aircraft Duty Officer, monitor all House Bill (HB) 1498 fires and track DNR aircraft dispatched to each.
Receive, collect and save IROC aircraft demobilization resource orders for each fire and aviation resource.
Create and maintain a HB 1498 Excel spreadsheet with date, name of fire and DNR aviation resources on each fire to provide to WFMD Aviation staff.

Benefits

Commitment to organizational health and wellness
Work/life balance
DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups
Leadership that empowers and supports employees
Professional development opportunities
Educational and career development aid
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
Employer contributions toward health insurance
Paid holidays
Retirement plans
Sick leave
Vacation days