Emergency Specialist 1 - Initial Attack Dispatcher

State of Montana • Billings, MT

2d

About The Position

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.
The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.
Core Values:
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.
We value and respect each other.
We create collaborative work environments.
We build and maintain strong relationships.
We practice accountability.
We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work.
Job Overview:
This position will generally and normally be assigned to the Billings Interagency Fire Dispatch Center and works under the guidance and direction of the SLO Fire Program and Billings Interagency Dispatch Center Manager. The position is expected to use initiative and judgment, under standard operating procedures, to dispatch resources for initial attack and support of wildland fires during complex and multiple incident occurrences that are beyond the scope of developed guidelines. This position may be responsible for planning for, organizing and supervising dispatch support staffing during high periods of dispatch activity and/or expanded dispatch operations.

Requirements

• Knowledge of fire management practices and techniques, agency regulations, policies, standards and procedures of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, individual counties in the Southern Land Office area, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, as related to dispatching of incident resources (personnel, aircraft, supplies, and equipment), fire protection systems, agency jurisdictions, land ownership, and affidavit protection.
• Thorough knowledge of the availability, capability, and limitations of resources within the Southern Land Office area.
• Thorough knowledge of aircraft types and capabilities, various ground implements (fire engine types and capabilities, dozer types and limitations, ground transportation types and capabilities, as well as various personnel types and capabilities).
• Requires awareness of the various agencies' legal requirements, obligations, and reporting methods pertinent to dispatch operations.
• Considerable knowledge and skills in both written and verbal communication, various computer application systems and integration, computerized radio systems, multi-key telephones, paging systems, FAX machines, and knowledge of fire management terminology are necessary.
• Must have the ability to plan for, coordinate and supervise dispatch activities frequently under stressful conditions for long periods of time often without complete information or guidance.
• Graduation from high school or equivalent.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
• A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent, completed 36 months.
• In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card"

Nice To Haves

• Experience in wildland fire suppression or dispatch desired but not required to apply for this position.
• Initial Attack Dispatcher qualification is preferred but not required. The incumbent must be capable of achieving this qualification as determined by the supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Mobilizing firefighting forces in order to provide initial attack fire suppression actions for wildland and wildland urban interface fires reported for the responsibility of areas including the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Southern Land Office Area and Billings Interagency Dispatch Center.
• Receives reports of wildland / Urban interface fires from aircraft, the public, and local/state/federal agencies. Evaluates and analyzes fire information and determines the appropriate initial action based on fire danger, resources at risk, availability of resources and dispatch action guides. Dispatches resources by radio, pager or phone, personnel, equipment, aircraft, and supplies to assure resources are dispatched in an efficient and cost effective manner. Processes requests for fire resources from the Incident Commander for suppression forces, logistical support, intelligence information, etc.
• Refers to and selects procedures specified in interagency cooperative agreements between state, local, and federal agencies.
• Continuously collects, analyzes, and disseminates fire situation information to provide up-to-date fire status information to Duty officers, Incident Commanders, local Fire Wardens, and others as designated. Documents radio traffic, fire related phone conversations and fire resource locations in the radio log to provide sequential historical information for fire reports, investigations, and lawsuits.
• Prepares formal fire reports using the related computer systems and tracking processes. Processes and forwards electronic mail, including all fire intelligence reports, and accurately completes fire business documentation to include Emergency Fire Fighter sign ups and time sheets, Emergency Equipment Rental Agreements, shift tickets, and prepare documents for final submission and payments. Updates and keeps current maps, operating plans, procedure guides, and personnel training records through IROC and IQS.
• Collects weather observations and notifies field personnel and duty officers of any hazardous weather conditions. Requests and disseminates spot weather forecasts to and from the Billings Weather Service.

Benefits

• Work/life balance
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts
• A vibrant Employee Assistance Program
• State of Montana employment may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED