Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) - Direct Hire Authority

Office of the Secretary of the Interior•Hines, OR

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) is a GW-0462-6/7 position with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, located in Hines, Oregon. This is a career-ladder opportunity with a full performance level of GW-07. A selectee hired at the lower grade may be considered for promotion to the next grade at the supervisor’s discretion, subject to applicable requirements, satisfactory performance, and availability of higher-level work; promotion is not guaranteed. The position supports wildland fire dispatch operations. Duties include determining appropriate resource responses to incidents and field requests; operating or directing dispatch telecommunications systems and entering information into fire-related computer applications; reviewing operating procedures and systems and recommending improvements; and updating or developing operating plans and mobilization guides. The incumbent also receives fire reports, determines locations, land status, and current fire information, directs others in these activities, anticipates suppression needs, and determines resource allocation. Work is primarily performed in an office. During peak activity, radio traffic, ringing phones, and conversations create high noise levels, and the work can be highly stressful. The role requires sustained concentration, accuracy, calm under urgent and changing conditions, and the ability to cope with deadlines and shifting priorities. Long periods of sitting and vehicle or aircraft travel for field visits or administrative travel may be required. The incumbent may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime during fire season, and may need to travel overnight. A government or private motor vehicle may be operated as part of official duties, and the employee must maintain a valid state driver’s license. A U.S. Wildland Fire Service uniform is required. The position requires a drug test before appointment and is subject to random testing, a background investigation, direct deposit, a government travel charge card, and a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or national status.
Suitability for federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
Negative drug test result before appointment; the position is also subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
Maintain a valid state driver’s license; the position may require operating a government or private motor vehicle for official duties.
Wear the official U.S. Wildland Fire Service uniform.
Obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period.
Documented prior primary wildland firefighting experience: at least one full fire season in a primary wildland firefighting role, or at least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience, cumulative or consecutive. Experience must be clearly described in the resume.
For GW-06: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-05 performing wildland fire dispatch duties, including receiving and reviewing incident reports, using wildland fire dispatch computer programs, and determining fire resource needs; or one full year (18 semester hours) of directly related graduate education; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
For GW-07: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-06 performing lead wildland fire dispatch duties, including directing dispatch office functions, providing incident logistical support information and recommendations for efficient resource use, and determining appropriate incident resource responses; or one full year (18 semester hours) of directly related graduate education; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
Applicants qualifying through education or a combination of education and experience must submit transcripts.
For secondary firefighter retirement coverage, provide a written description of direct wildland firefighting experience; education alone does not satisfy this requirement.
When documenting qualifying experience, the resume must state full-time or part-time status and hours worked per week.

Responsibilities

Determine appropriate resource responses to incidents and requests from the field.
Operate and/or direct the operation of dispatch telecommunications systems and enter data into fire-related computer applications.
Review internal operating procedures and systems, recommend improvements, and update or develop operating plans and mobilization guides.
Receive fire reports and determine locations, land status, and current fire information; perform and direct others in these functions.
Anticipate fire suppression needs and determine resource allocation.