Department of the Interior

Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)

Bishop, California, Porterville, California, Susanville, California Full time

Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): Bishop, California, Porterville, California, Susanville, California

Salary Range: $57098 - $80947 Per Year

Job Summary: Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. We expect to fill three (3) vacancies at this time in the following locations: One (1) vacancy: Bishop, CA One (1) vacancy: Porterville, CA One (1) vacancy: Susanville, CA This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet

Major Duties:

  • Coordinates aviation dispatch operations (aircraft limitations, flight planning, aviation safety).
  • Determines appropriate resource response to incidents and dispatches appropriate personnel, equipment, aircraft, and/or supplies.
  • Anticipates fire suppression needs and determines resource allocation.
  • Operates or directs the operation of various dispatch telecommunications systems.
  • Processes and interprets weather information (spot weather forecasts, lightning detection, and fuel moisture levels) to determine burning indices, preparedness levels, and staffing levels for suppression and aviation resources.
  • Performs and directs others in inputting data into a number of fire-related computer applications (incident qualification records, fire reporting systems, and automated dispatch systems).
  • Provides information and consults with supervisors, multiple state, county, and/or local agencies and other interested entities.
  • Provides critical logistical support information to supervisor and makes recommendations concerning the efficient use of available resources.
  • Makes initial and extended attack decisions in response to fire reports and orders for additional support by arranging and coordinating transportation of personnel, equipment, aircraft, and supplies.
  • Provides liaison between the unit and other dispatch offices and the geographical coordination center.
  • Coordinates fire training and orientation.
  • Provides technical guidance and on-the-job training for other dispatchers.

Qualifications: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. GW-06 Grade Level Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS/GW-05 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: 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- Education: One (1) full year of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to the work of the position. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education DIRECTLY related to the work of the position. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. GW-07 Grade Level Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS/GW-06 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: 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- Education: One (1) full year of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to the work of the position. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education DIRECTLY related to the work of the position. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. 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 training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire: Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience. This is a SECONDARY/Administrative fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits(normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION. Physical Demands: The work involves long hours of sitting, intense concentration, and working at peak proficiency/intensity levels with irregular breaks and mealtimes. Must be able to cope with the pressure of meeting timeframes and changing priorities. Mental concentration and accuracy are required. Vehicle and aircraft travel associated with field visits and other administrative travel may be required. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in an office setting. During peak activity, long hours, increased radio traffic, numerous ringing phones, and conversations result in high noise levels, which require a high level of concentration to perform duties. The duties of this position create a highly stressful environment during peak activity, requiring the ability to keep calm in emergency situations.

How to Apply: THIS IS AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS THROUGH USAJOBS. Your application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time by 01/02/2026. If you need assistance in applying on-line, please contact the HR Office at kpomaville@blm.gov. If applying on-line poses a hardship for you (i.e. you do not have access to the Internet) you must contact us prior to the closing date of the announcement for an alternative method of applying. PLEASE NOTE: If you have access to a public library, State Job Service Office, etc., you should use these resources to apply online. You must follow the steps described below to complete the application process: YOU MUST HAVE OR CREATE A PROFILE IN USAJOBS. Your profile must contain a current resume for submission. See Required Documents section for what to include in your resume. INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION COULD RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. The USAJOBS Resume Builder was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is an available tool when you login to your USAJOBS account. Review the Appointment Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility section of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the appointment eligibilities that you selected. You must provide proof of your eligibility to be considered. You must submit a resume and also complete the online application and assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. The eligibility portion of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this announcement. You may choose more than one eligibility. You must provide proof of your eligibility and will only be considered for the questions that you answer "yes". Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated in this section. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered. You may choose more than one eligibility in this section. To view the assessment questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12855373 To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (Welcome | Login.gov), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. FOLLOW UP. Check your application status before the announcement closes. It is your responsibility to ensure that a complete application (including a resume, on-line questionnaire, and applicable supplemental documentation) is received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 01/02/2026. NOTE: Technical problems may take at least 1 business day to resolve; therefore, you are highly encouraged to complete the application process prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-01-02