The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Wildland Fire Dispatcher 1/2/3 in Fairbanks, Alaska.
What You Will Be Doing:
Are you seeking a high-paying opportunity that spans just a few months? Does the idea of getting paid to travel across Alaska and the nation excite you? If so, here's your chance to do both while providing critical intel and logistics support to protect your community from wildfires! The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, and Northern Forestry Dispatch Center (NFDC) are recruiting for Wildland Fire Dispatcher 1/2/3 positions.
As a Wildland Fire Dispatcher, you will play a pivotal role in coordinating resources and information for both Initial Attack and Logistics operations, depending on fire activity and staffing needs. This seasonal position is ideal for students, teachers, or winter sports enthusiasts, allowing you to serve your community during the summer while enjoying winters free to pursue your passions. Join a dedicated team providing vital support to the brave men and women who fight wildfires in Alaska and across the nation!
Mission and Values/Culture:
The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection proudly serves Alaskans through wildland fire suppression, management, and control. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to join the men and women who serve to protect millions of acres of our forests, communities, and natural resources. The Northern Forestry Dispatch Center is a fast-paced section of Wildland Fire with a high value on safety. The selected candidate will work as part of a dispatch team to provide firefighters and associated personnel with the support they need to fight wildland fires safely. The experience gained as a dispatcher can form the foundation for a successful career with the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection or other fire suppression organizations. This position provides great opportunities for training, travel, and career advancement.
Benefits of Joining Our Team:
We provide extensive training with opportunities to travel and advance your dispatch career. Our goal is to create a culture at Northern Forestry Dispatch Center that offers a comprehensive dispatch organization, a work-life balance, and a better ‘end-to-end’ career path for incoming dispatchers. Our consolidated dispatch center has proven to provide increased opportunities for training and mentorship, as well as in-state and out-of-state assignment opportunities, helping dispatchers build leadership skills. We offer health and life insurance benefits, including employer contributions toward medical, vision, and dental coverage.
The Working Environment You Can Expect:
The Northern Forestry Dispatch Center is a state-of-the-art facility in Fairbanks, Alaska. With ever-evolving technologies, NFDC strives to keep its center ahead of the game with both equipment and staff. We encourage teamwork and camaraderie, which fosters a sense of friendship and trust within the Dispatch Center. These close-knit relationships motivate our employees in parallel and align them to work harder, cooperate, and be supportive of one another. Our team is made up of individuals with diverse talents, weaknesses, communication skills, strengths, and habits.
We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.
- Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
- Customer Service: Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
- Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high-stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, or dangerous situations).
- Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.
Wildland Fire Dispatcher 1 – Starting Salary $22.34
High School diploma or GED
And either:
Six months of wildland firefighting, radio dispatch, or forestry field experience.
Or
One year of general office clerical, warehouse, supply, or storekeeper experience.
Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 – Starting Salary $25.21
Six months of wildland fire dispatch experience
And
Certification from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) as an Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC)
And
Additional NWCG certification as either: Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD) or Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP)
Wildland Fire Dispatcher 3 – Starting Salary $28.78
One year of wildland fire dispatch experience
And
Certification from the NWCG in any three of the following:
Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD)
Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher (EDSP)
Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP)
Aircraft Dispatcher (ACDP)
Special Note:
Wildland Fire Dispatchers must receive red card training and certification under the National Incident Qualification System.
** Please read the information below carefully. **
At the time of application, the applicant must attach as individual documents the following items (If unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below):
- IQS Master Record or current Incident Qualifications Card.
At the time of the interview, please ensure that you provide the following materials:
- A list of two professional references with current contact information, with at least one being a current or former supervisor.
- A copy of your two most recent performance evaluations, or a letter of reference if evaluations are unavailable.
SPECIAL NOTICES
- This position may require frequent travel within and out of Alaska. Item
- This position requires working shifts that vary between 8-16 hours a day, up to 21 consecutive days, during weekends and on holidays, with little notice, depending on fire activity.
Application Notice
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or a hard copy application. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska “How to Apply" page. Your application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.
Supplemental Questions
For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s level of competence in applying certain behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.
Education
If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the post-secondary institution. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
Work Experience
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and the minimum qualifications are met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.
Note: Attaching a resume is not an alternative to filling out the application entirely. Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
Bargaining Unit
If you are a current state employee, please mark the union you are a member of at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.
Flexible Staffing
This position is flexibly staffed. The level of the job offer will be based on the selected candidate’s eligibility. If hired at the lower level, you will be promoted to the higher-level job class after completing the training plan and meeting the minimum qualifications.
Driver’s License Requirement
Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.
EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau, or use the TTY: Alaska Relay at 711 or 1-800-770-8973, or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
Please check your junk folder for any messages related to this recruitment that may have been sent to you.
Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.
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For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:
Name: Teresa Rose
Title: Dispatch Center Manager
Phone: 907-451-2664
Fax: 907-451-2763
Email: teresa.rose@alaska.gov