Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)

Office of the Secretary of the Interior; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the Secretary of the Interior is seeking a Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) to support the US Wildland Fire Service with dispatch duties and resource coordination. The role requires selecting locations and demonstrating prior primary wildland firefighting experience or equivalent qualifying experience.

The advertisement emphasizes a Direct Hire Authority and threshold qualifications at GW-06/07 levels, including lead dispatch duties and incident support.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in wildland fire dispatch operations.
• Experience with fire incident reporting and communication systems.
• Ability to determine resource needs and coordinate dispatch actions.

Responsibilities

• Receiving and reviewing fire incident reports.
• Working with wildland fire dispatch computer programs.
• Determining fire resource needs and appropriate responses.

Skills

Wildland fire dispatch

Fire incident reports handling

Dispatch software

Resource needs assessment

Education

Graduate education related to the position

Job description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0462-06/07 working in the listed locations. In order to be considered for any duty location, ensure desired locations are selected. Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected.

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Selective Placement Factor(s)

This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.

• This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is clearly in an established career path.
• Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE.
• Candidates must possess Primary/Rigorous wildland firefighting experience, gained through fire line work in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your resume, including the months, days, and hours per week at which the work was performed to be considered.
• Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization; - OR - At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive). Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement.

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required. Only experience and education obtained by 11/10/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Minimum Qualification For the GW-06 level

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-05 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, is required. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: performing wildland fire dispatch duties such as

• receiving and reviewing fire incident reports;
• working with wildland fire dispatch computer programs;
• and determine fire resource needs.
• -OR- 1 full year (18 semester hours) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position.
• -OR- An equivalent combination of experience and education. Transcripts must be attached to application package.

Minimum Qualification For the GW-07 level

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-06 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, is required. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: performing lead wildland fire dispatch duties such as

• performing and directing others in wildland fire dispatch office functions;
• providing incident logistical support information and making recommendations for efficient use of available resources;
• and determining appropriate resource responses to incidents.
• -OR- 1 full year (18 semester hours) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position.
• -OR- An equivalent combination of experience and education. Transcripts must be attached to application package.

Volunteer Experience

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable trainin