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Fire Dispatch

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking for temporary employees to work as Fire Dispatchers.

For contacts and information regarding housing availability visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES Jobs website and select the state that you are interested in.

For more information about temporary fire positions with DOI, go to the following link: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/18/2019 to 02/04/2020
Salary
$16.20 to - $22.45 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 04 - 07
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Fairbanks, AK
Bishop, CA
Porterville, CA
San Bernardino, CA
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel is required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - The length and actual dates of employment may vary depending on the position.
Work schedule
Full-time - These are full-time competitive service temporary seasonal positions; Not to Exceed 6 months.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
07
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
BLM-FIRE-2020-023-DHA
Control number
551999500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all qualified U.S. Citizens. This is a public notice under the Direct Hiring Authority.

Duties

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This is a Public Notice for positions being filled under the Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) for Wildland Fire. Under this recruitment procedure applications will be accepted for each location identified in this Public Notice.  To learn more about Direct-Hire Authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information - DHA. 

A Fire Dispatcher (GS-04 Forestry Technician) provides a wide range of fire dispatch support functions; including mobilization, demobilization, logistics support. This involves the movement of aircraft, personnel and equipment in accordance with local dispatch mobilization guides and planning documents.

A Fire Dispatcher (GS-05 Forestry Technician) receives fire reports, determines location, land status, and current fire information, and dispatches personnel, equipment, aircraft, and/or supplies.   Collects, processes, collates and submits incident information to support fire operations.  Processes and interprets weather information.  Inputs data into a number of fire-related computer applications

A Fire Dispatcher (GS-06 Forestry Technician) serves as a dispatcher receiving fire reports, determines location, land status, and current fire information, and dispatches personnel, equipment, aircraft, and/or supplies.  Interprets weather information and gives to management for making decisions.  Inputs data into a number of fire-related computer applications.  May train other dispatchers.

A Fire Dispatcher (GS-07 Forestry Technician) serves as a senior fire dispatcher in a dispatch center.  Performs and directs others in receiving fire reports, determining location, land status, and current fire information. Determines appropriate resource response to incidents. Anticipates fire suppression needs and determines resource allocation.  Coordinates aviation dispatch operation.  Inputs data into a number of fire-related computer applications.

Cut-off Date:  The following locations will begin to consider applicants prior to the closing date of the announcement.  You must apply on or before the date indicated below to receive first consideration.  Thereafter, applications may be considered as needed, during the open period of the announcement:

12/10/2019
Fairbanks, AK
Arizona Strip District (Cedar City, UT)
Bishop, CA
Porterville, CA
San Bernardino, CA
Susanville, CA
Craig, CO
Grand Junction, CO
Boise, ID
Shoshone, ID
Billings, MT
Lewistown, MT
Miles City, MT
Elko, NV
Ely, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Minden, NV
Winnemucca, NV
Hines, OR
Vale, OR
Cedar City, UT
Richfield, UT
Vernal, UT
West Desert District (Draper/Salt Lake City/West Valley City, UT)
Casper, WY
Cody, WY

*In addition to the base salary, you will receive a 3.27% cost of living allowance for Fairbanks, Alaska. This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment and gradual decrease.

During the application process, you may select up to SEVEN (7) locations from the list of available locations in this announcement. 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older prior to appointment.
  • These positions have no promotion potential.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The work is primarily performed in an office setting, but demands long hours of sitting and irregular shifts.  Long periods of intense concentration and working at peak proficiency/intensity levels.

DRUG TESTING:  Positions require a mandatory pre-employment drug test.  Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.  The drug test will be provided at Government direction and expense. Once hired, employees are also subject to random drug testing during employment.  This is in accordance with Executive Order 12564 and under the Department’s Drug Free Workplace Program.

Qualifications

To qualify for a GS-04, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factor listed below:
- 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-03 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include working in any type of dispatch office; performing dispatch related work. OR
- 2 years of education above the high school level which included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours of mathematics is creditable toward this requirement; OR
- a combination of the education and experience described above.

To qualify for a GS-05, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factor listed below:
- 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include working with dispatch and dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities. Work should have included experience such as determining priorities, and selecting alternative resources while performing dispatch operations duties independently. OR
- successful completion of a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with either 1. a major study in forestry, range management or agriculture; or a subject matter field directly related to the position; OR 2. at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours of mathematics is creditable. The level of the course work must have been equivalent to at least the junior and senior year levels of a baccalaureate program; OR
- a combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify for a GS-06, you must meet the specialized work experience AND the Selective Factor listed below:
- 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-05 level duties.  Examples of specialized work experience include dispatch and dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities; may include guidance and direction to subordinate dispatchers; OR
- 1 year of graduate level education directly related to this position. OR
- a combination of education and experience directly related to the work of the position.

To qualify for a GS-07, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factor listed below:
- 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-06 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include performing and directing others in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to wildland fire suppression activities, providing logistical support information and making recommendations for efficient use of available resources. OR
- 1 year of graduate education directly related to this position; OR
- a combination of education and experience directly related to the work of the position.

Selective Factor for GS-04/05/06/07: In addition to the basic qualifications listed above, you must have the following:  90 days of wildland fire experience.  Wildland fire experience is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Wildland firefighting experience is gained through work on the wildland fire line in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal or equivalent private sector fire position. Periods of wildland firefighting experience gained through militia and rural fire departments can also be credited.

For more information regarding basic qualifications and combining education and experience click here.

**All Locations may not be hiring for all grades; check with each location.**

You must meet all qualification requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.  To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS:  These positions are subject to a pre-employment background investigation.  If applicable, the appointment will be subject to successful completion of the background investigation and favorable adjudication.  Failure to satisfy the background check will result in cancellation of offer of employment or may be grounds for termination.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):  CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP.  If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review will be made to ensure basic qualification requirements are met. 

Because this vacancy will be filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans' Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to positions filled under this announcement. All qualified candidates will be referred for consideration; the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. 

The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) required to do the work of this position and must be supported in your resume.

GS-04/05/06/07
1. Knowledge of wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire strategies, tactics, methods and procedures to effectively dispatch fire resources.
2. Knowledge of fire management operations, dispatch procedures, and resources used for the tactical and logistical support for wildland and prescribed fire incidents.
3. Knowledge of wildland fire management computer programs and procedures for mobilizing resources. 


To preview questions please click here.

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