Forestry Technician (Dispatcher)

Forest Service•East Wenatchee, WA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This temporary Forestry Technician position is located on a fire crew within a National Forest fire management organization, at one of the Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACCs). The role supports the Operations Section of a GACC by coordinating the mobilization, reassignment, and demobilization of firefighting resources for wildland fires and all-hazard emergencies. The position may be filled for up to six months or, in some cases, up to one year, with a possible extension; an appointment may end earlier due to lack of work or funds. The anticipated start date is between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027. The technician coordinates movements of personnel, equipment, supplies, and aircraft within and between geographic areas, working with federal, state, local, and other land-management agencies. The role maintains resource availability records, monitors fire conditions and resource demand, supports mobilization plans and operating guidance, and helps ensure deployments meet incident timelines while prioritizing safety. It also includes aviation-related coordination, tracking equipment and supplies, reviewing services against contract or agreement requirements, and specialized administrative support for operational readiness.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service or exempt.
Must pass background investigation and/or fingerprint adjudication and E-Verify employment verification.
Must pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to random drug testing; appointment depends on a negative pre-employment result.
Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
For GW-07, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06, or one full year of directly related graduate-level coursework (18 semester or 27 quarter hours), or a qualifying combination of graduate education and specialized experience.
Qualifying specialized experience includes assisting with mobilization and demobilization of personnel, equipment, and aircraft; coordinating ground and air transportation and identifying resource needs; monitoring daily fire conditions and shared resources; or assisting with operational policies, technical guidance, handbooks, guides, and plans.
Must be willing to live and work in remote locations that may be volatile or unpredictable.
Must submit transcripts when qualifying based on education; course descriptions may also be required.
Some fire positions may require a valid state driver's license, a commercial driver's license, additional physical or medical examinations, or other conditions of employment.

Responsibilities

Implement procedures for mobilizing, reassigning, and demobilizing firefighting resources according to incident priorities.
Coordinate the movement of aircraft, personnel, and equipment within and between geographic areas for wildland fire and all-hazard emergency response.
Assist in maintaining geographic-area mobilization plans, dispatch operating plans, guides, and operational guidance.
Implement plans governing the supply and use of personnel, equipment, supplies, aircraft, and fire retardant.
Maintain records of the availability of unit, geographic-area, and national wildland fire resources for planned and unplanned events.
Coordinate resource information, utilization, and accountability with higher-level and adjoining units, government agencies, and cooperating entities.
Track the acquisition, issuance, and return of equipment and supplies from central facilities.
Monitor the availability and recommend geographic placement of shared resources, including air tankers, lead planes, aerially delivered firefighters, and associated aircraft.
Monitor the daily fire situation and keep supervisors informed about current and anticipated resource drawdown.
Plan mobilization and demobilization actions to prioritize safety while meeting incident-support timelines.
Assist in arranging transport flights for crews, personnel, and cargo using government-owned or contracted aircraft, and assist with use of infrared aircraft according to operating procedures.
Assist supervisors with resource mobilization and support for communications capabilities and operational facilities.
Gather and compile information about available resources and recommend acquisitions or adjustments for immediate fire-management and emergency-service needs.
Monitor compliance with regulations and instructions concerning mobilization and readiness of fire equipment and personnel.
Perform specialized administrative work supporting mobilization of equipment, vehicles, communications capabilities, and operational facilities.
Review contracted, call-when-needed, and negotiated services for compliance with specifications and agreement or contract scopes.
Apply technical methods and procedures related to aviation operations and agency programs to resolve irregular or nonstandard problems and assignments.