Wildland Fire Aircraft Dispatch Coordinator

Aircraft Dispatch Coordinator, Wildland Fire Program Coordinator 1
Work Hours flexibility may be available and considered
Relocation Compensation may be available and considered
Salary: $5398.00 – $7254.00 Monthly

Recruitment extended! Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after July 1. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with the DNR Air Operations Support Coordinator to obtain the Aviation Exclusive Use and Call When Needed Aviation Agreements, Amendments, and Contract Numbers.
• Transfer and/or accept or accept aircraft transferred in IROC between the Washington State DNR Coordination Center WA-WAC) and sending or receiving dispatch centers. Ensure that before transfer, the sending/receiving dispatch center has obtained the correct DNR aircraft agreement number(s) and dispatch center unit identifiers.
• The DNRCC aircraft desk in the DNR Coordination Center is the single point of ordering for additional aircraft. Surge resources that are staged at the Olympia Airport will be dispatched by DNRCC as state-wide assets. ACDP will clarify roles with WA State Dispatch Centers, ensuring parallel processes are eliminated.
• Communicate with statewide surge aircraft via radio console and log activity in WildCADe.
• Track aircraft resources during fire suppression and non-fire suppression activities using systems such as Automated Flight Following (AFF) and WildCADe. Relay status updates to region dispatch centers, fire managers, and incident commanders.
• Coordinate with aviation staff and region dispatch centers to ensure resource orders for aviation assets are properly executed statewide.
• Coordinate with Dispatch Centers or WFMD Aviation staff to obtain or create the Tactical Aircraft Request Orders (TARO) for DNR aviation resources dispatched to incidents. Ensure TAROs are attached to the IROC resource orders.
• Assist regions or the NW Coordination Center with ordering Service, Infrared Daytime (SIRD) and Service, Infrared Nighttime (SIRN) resource requests, if needed. When Western Washington dispatch centers request SIRD and SIRN, place the resource orders with the appropriate dispatch center.
• Fill fixed wing, rotor wing, equipment, and overhead aviation IROC resource orders sent to the DNR CC, and email resource orders to the necessary staff.
• Implement formal procedures requiring all region dispatch centers or the NW Coordination Center to submit detection flight requests through a unified process, either directly to the “HUB” or coordinated through the DNR CC Aircraft Coordinator.
• Coordinate with the Region dispatch centers to document aircraft dispatched to the NW Compact partners. Ensure the resource order indicates it is a Compact Request in IROC prior to filling or creating the resource order.
• Provide flight following when regional dispatch centers are not staffed, ensuring communication and coordination with pilots and air operations.
• Collaborate with helicopter managers, air attack, and other dispatchers and coordinators during initial attack to ensure efficient and safe dispatch of air resources.
• In coordination with state and partner dispatch centers, assess the need for and manage Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) based on fire complexity and location. This includes creating and submitting TFR orders in IROC and communicating with the Northwest Coordination Center (NWCC).
• If WNG Aircraft are requested to be mobilized, communicate promptly with the DNR CC Center Manager, DNR Aviation personnel, and State EMD personnel. Upload IROC aviation resource orders into the State EMD WebEOC Mission Tracker.

Required Qualifications: 
You must meet all the Required Qualifications and Competencies to be considered for this position. There are multiple pathways to meet qualifications, such as education, volunteer work, life skills, and experience.  It is important that you clearly communicate in your application material that your skills align with the position and qualifications. 

• Associate’s degree in a Natural Resources field and two years of professional experience working with wildland fire management, natural resources, dispatching or communications, and/or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Completed FEMA ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 courses.
• Qualified Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC).
• Qualified Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP).
• Experience with understanding complex rules, legal documents, plans, agreements, and contracts.
• Knowledge of fire suppression principles/techniques and resource capabilities/limitations.

Required Competencies: 

• Strong interpersonal communication skills with co-workers, partner agency employees, and the general public.
• Strong professional writing skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.