Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)

Office of the Secretary of the Interior • Fairbanks, AK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement for a Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, at the GW-0462-06/07 grade levels. Applicants must select the duty locations for which they want to be considered. The position is a career-ladder opportunity with a full-performance level of GW-07; promotion from a lower grade is discretionary, contingent on satisfactory performance, regulatory requirements, and higher-level work availability, and is not guaranteed.

The role supports wildland fire dispatch operations. The employee determines resource responses to incidents, anticipates suppression needs, allocates resources, processes and interprets weather information, and operates or directs dispatch telecommunications systems and fire-related computer applications. The position also involves developing and updating operating procedures, plans, and mobilization guides, and receiving and directing the processing of fire reports and incident information.

This is a secondary-administrative firefighter position subject to special retirement provisions for eligible employees. Work is primarily in an office, with demanding, high-pressure conditions during peak fire activity. Career-seasonal employees work between six and eleven and a half months per year and are in non-pay status for the remainder of the year; tour-of-duty details depend on location. Relocation expenses or recruitment/relocation incentives may be authorized for eligible applicants, but are not guaranteed.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must meet suitability requirements for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Must submit to and receive a negative drug test before appointment; the position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must possess and clearly document primary/rigorous wildland firefighting experience gained through fireline work in containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire. Qualifying experience is at least one full fire season in a primary wildland firefighting role, or at least 14 cumulative or consecutive days of on-the-ground fireline experience.
• For crediting experience, the resume must state whether work was full-time (or 40 hours per week) or part-time and include hours worked per week; qualifying primary firefighting experience must include months, days, and hours per week.
• For GW-06: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-05 or higher 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 or higher performing lead wildland fire dispatch duties, including performing and directing dispatch office functions, providing incident logistical support information and recommendations for efficient resource use, and determining appropriate resource responses; or one full year (18 semester hours) of directly related graduate education; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Applicants using education or a combination of education and experience must submit transcripts. Applicants using foreign education must provide documentation of its U.S. equivalency.
• Must meet all selective placement factors and minimum qualification requirements by the announcement closing date. Only experience and education obtained by November 10, 2026, will be considered.
• Must maintain calm, concentration, accuracy, and effective performance under urgent and changing conditions, including time pressure and shifting priorities.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
• May be required to complete training and obtain and maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• May be required to operate a government or private motor vehicle for official duties; if so, must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period. Continued employment after the period requires written agency certification that continued employment advances the public interest.

Responsibilities

• Determine appropriate resource responses to incidents and field requests, and process and interpret weather information.
• Anticipate fire suppression needs and determine resource allocation.
• 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.
• Perform and direct others in receiving fire reports and determining incident locations, land status, and current fire information.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families; specific benefits depend on the position type.
• Relocation expenses may be authorized for eligible applicants, depending on location and applicable requirements; moving expenses are taxable.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered to eligible and qualified applicants on a case-by-case basis; neither is guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed