Wildfire Dispatch Operations Coordinator

Dispatch Operations Coordinator, Wildland Fire Program Coordinator 1
Salary: $5,241.00 – $7,043.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment any time after 03/19/2025. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:

• Fire Preparedness & Response Coordination – to include facilitating “closest forces” response principles to wildland fire initial attack; coordinating with multiple agencies to ensure sufficient resource coverage throughout the dispatch area and identifying additional resource needs; managing initial attack dispatch staff and ensuring sufficient coverage in the dispatch center for predicted levels of fire activity; ensuring interagency standard operating procedures are updated and applied to initial attack dispatch; and working with dispatch supervisors to plan and implement training plans for seasonal dispatchers.
• Interagency Collaboration – to include establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with fire managers, duty officers, and administrators from multiple agencies served by the dispatch center (DNR, USFS, BLM, USFWS, BIA, NPS) as well as cooperators (local fire districts, contractors); working closely with the Forest Service Operations Coordinator to manage interagency (state and federal) dispatch staff.
• Fire Reporting – to include processing and completing fire reports, focusing on detail and accuracy, thus supporting the integrity of national fire data and statistics; tracking and processing fire investigation reports.
• Support Other Functional Areas – to include working collaboratively with the other NEWICC coordinators to ensure there is sufficient leadership in all functional areas – Aircraft, Logistics, and Intelligence in addition to Dispatch Operations; may assist with Logistics functions, such as placing and filling orders in IROC, talking to potential vendors about DNR pre-season agreements or federal VIPR contracting, and updating the local service and supply plan; may assist with Intelligence functions, such as compiling fire weather forecasts or updating NEWICC Facebook page; may assist with Aircraft functions, such as coordinating with aviation managers for aircraft response on wildfires when the Aircraft Coordinators are unavailable.
• Administrative Support/Other Duties as Assigned – to include answering and directing phone calls; providing accurate information to the public regarding burn restrictions and current fire danger ratings, which will require interpreting and explaining various levels of restrictions, bans, closures, or regulations; managing records retention schedules for fire documentation and responding to public disclosure requests; and assisting the center in maintaining reference materials.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience working with the Incident Command System (ICS).
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) training.
• Two or more years of progressively professional work in wildland fire suppression, wildland fire training, dispatch communications, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge of fire suppression principles and techniques, including resource capabilities and limitations.
• 2 years supervisory experience.
• Experience with Word and Excel, IROC, and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) programs, or equivalent resource ordering and tracking programs.
• Ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks concurrently, handling interruptions appropriately.
• Ability to research and interpret complex rules, legal documents, plans, and contracts.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.