Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatching) (Emergency Operations Coordinator-Assistant)
What you'd do
This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatching) (Emergency Operations Coordinator-Assistant), position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-11 working in the following location(s): Boise, Idaho
Major duties
As a Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatching) (Emergency Operations Coordinator-Assistant) your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Independently plans, organizes and coordinates total mobilization of wildfire and emergency response resources in advance of and during emergency incident activity, following national priorities. First level decision maker for all requests received, regardless of agencies involved. Incumbent implements requests for assistance, cognizant of cost and ensures the disposition of resources is consistent with Directorate decisions. Provides guidance and technical advice to various fire protection and emergency response agencies to obtain maximum utilization of emergency response resources in relation to values threatened. Serves on national working committees to improve the coordination system. Monitors and reviews daily fire weather forecasts, probable risk and fire danger. Incumbent must interpret and use forecasts as a planning tool for determining national priorities, anticipating problems and resolving competition for critically short resources. Serves as the focal point for assigned functional area (ie; aircraft, overhead/crews, equipment) ensures that desk operations comply with appropriate contract specifications and agency policies. Provides training to employees assigned to functional area. Ensures that all desk reference materials are organized and up to date.
What you need to qualify
In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. 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. 1.) Prior Primary Wildland Firefighting Experience: 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. 2.) You must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required): Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD) In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required. Only experience and education obtained by 08/24/2026 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-11 level: For current or prior federal employees: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-09 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: assisting coordinators or center managers with planning and coordinating total mobilization of wildfire and emergency response resources; implementing fire planning, wildland fire behavior, fire protection concepts and organizations; utilizing meteorology, fire behavior, fire suppression and aviation equipment for difficult fire situations; involvement with emergency response systems, intelligence operations, and severity projections. OR At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-10 level, or higher, outside of the Federal service; Examples of specialized experience include: Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: planning and coordinating total mobilization of wildfire and emergency response resources; implementing fire planning, wildland fire behavior, fire protection concepts and organizations; utilizing meteorology, fire behavior, fire suppression and aviation equipment for difficult fire situations; involvement with emergency response systems, intelligence operations, and severity projections. 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. *Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements and selective placement factors for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement. Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting. Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. 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 fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: 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. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office or coordination center environment with no special physical demands beyond normal office activities. Field visits and other administrative travel require vehicle and/or aircraft travel. Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office or operations center environment with minimal physical hazards. Stress may occur during periods of high national incident activity due to time-sensitive operational reporting requirements. Occasional travel for meetings or coordination activities may occur, but the position does not routinely involve hazardous field environments.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.