Natural Resources Forestry Support Dispatcher

Job Summary:

MN Department of Natural Resources is hiring a Natural Resources Forestry Support Dispatcher in Little Falls, MN. This full-time, seasonal position performs fire response administrative and dispatch work for the Division of Forestry.

Job Responsibilities:           

• Informing the public and cooperating agencies (fire departments, fire wardens) about state and local laws and regulations regarding fire suppression by answering questions in person and on the telephone.
• Dispatching resources to fires as requested by incident commander using two-way radios.
• Accessing and distributing weather forecasts and fire danger indices to foresters by using computers.
• Dispatching and tracking supplies, equipment and personnel by processing resource orders for supplies, equipment, and personnel.
• Conducting pre-fire season and post-fire season inventories of fire prevention materials and equipment.
• Implementing administrative processes so that resources are available by updating daily dispatch plans; recording daily fire detection and suppression operations; recording special and prescribed burn permits within the Area, and processing fire reports.
• Issuing burning permits in a timely and accurate manner by using paper permits and utilizing the electronic permit system.
• Updating and maintaining fire suppression business information so that accurate data are available for future reference by recording air tanker and helicopter requests, updating fire operation plans, vendor agreements and records; and updating fire warden list and vendor list.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Knowledge of computer systems and software programs sufficient to support daily fire response operations and access and distribute fire and weather data.
• Communication skills sufficient to ensure accurate and effective transmission of information through internal and interagency communications for routine and crisis situations.
• Ability to assist in implementing wildfire operations so that dispatch of resources can be facilitated in an efficient and safe manner.
• Ability to read maps sufficient to locate legal descriptions by section, township, range, and latitude and longitude so that fires can be located and dispatch processes are completed in a timely and accurate manner.
• Writing skills sufficient to write incident reports, maintain log records accurate and consistently.  
• Organizational and interpersonal skills sufficient to work as a productive member of a team.
• Conflict resolution/human relation skills sufficient to negotiate, resolve issues, read situations and settle disputes equitably by finding common ground and cooperation.
• Skill in using automated systems (word processing, calculators) sufficient to process information in a timely and accurate manner.
• Trained as an Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC) as defined by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) or within the first 6 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Qualified as a Support Dispatcher (EDSD).
• Skill in operating a two-way radio system sufficient to communicate effectively in dispatch operations.
• Knowledge of various equipment types as prescribed by the MN Incident Command System (MNICS) definition so that their dispatch and tracking is accomplished in an effective manner.
• Knowledge of fire suppression equipment operation sufficient to dispatch and track in an effective manner.
• Knowledge of Division of Forestry Fire Program policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Knowledge of hiring procedures for emergency fire fighters so that the necessary administrative functions proceed efficiently.
• Knowledge of state and local fire laws and regulations sufficient to document violations.
• Ability to understand and use information contained in the Forestry Administrative Area Fire Plan sufficient to prepare for wildfires.
• Ability to recognize reportable events sufficient to meet Forestry fire reporting requirements.