DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Manage and reduce fire risk to protect Arizona's people, communities, and wildland areas to champion the health of Arizona's natural resources. The Department of Forestry and Fire Management provides services through strategic implementation of cooperative natural resources and fire assistance programs, development and support of statewide fire policies, and coordination of resources across all-lands and jurisdictions.

FIRE AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER

Job Location:

Address:  

2901 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85027

Salary: $25.8720 - $28.4592 Hourly 

Grade: 19

Closing Date:  Open Until Filled

Job Summary:

The Wildland Fire Aircraft Dispatcher for the State of Arizona Dispatch Center is responsible for the daily operations of the aircraft functional area. These duties pertain to all aircraft, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations, aviation support resources and overdue or downed aircraft associated with prescribed fire, wildfire, aviation hazmat, and incident medivac on Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management controlled lands and incidents as needed. The land area protected from wildland fire by this office encompasses a complex combination of State Trust lands and private lands through the State.

The Aircraft Dispatcher must maintain situational awareness on a statewide level as it pertains to local, state, military and federal fire aviation resources, i.e. location, status, qualification, special requirements/limitations. This situational awareness includes the US/Mexico border and Border Patrol resources. Assist Duty Officers in determining the best aviation resource for their needs. Coordinate with local, county, and federal dispatch centers, FAA air traffic controllers, and news media to ensure safe movement and interaction of aviation resources and airspace throughout the state of Arizona.

 

Job Duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Monitors numerous aircraft on multiple incidents across various frequencies, maintaining clear and effective communication throughout. Track assigned aircraft to and from incidents. Deconflict airspace prior to launching of aircraft and make proper notifications.

• Keep multiple agencies informed of all ongoing aircraft operations and locations. Maintains aviation availability and departing response locations of aircraft.

• Shares information with assigned lead initial attack dispatcher and cooperates with other agency dispatch centers. Provides critical aircraft information to supervisor and makes recommendations concerning efficient use of available resources. Records and maintains communication logs.

• Maintains IT resource status and tracking systems and operates telecommunications and radio equipment. Inputs data into a number of fire related computer applications. Maintain current information of aircraft within Southwest Geographic Area in tracking logs and distribute to appropriate groups throughout the state.

• Collects, processes, collates and submits incident aircraft information to support fire operations. Processes and interprets weather information to pass on to aviation resources before and during operations.

• Organizes and reviews records of all orders placed or filled for completeness, and adherence to established operating procedures and ensures are given to aviation resources according to procedures.

• Responsible for maintaining and/or updating SOP’s, guides, plans and policies, as they relate to aviation. Assist the State Aviation Officer with policy updates and training of State, Military and contracted aviation resources.

• Participates as an Initial attack/Extended attack dispatcher during times of staff shortages or low to zero aircraft support efforts. Position will also rotate into Dispatch Duty Officer efforts as scheduled or assigned.

• May act in a lead dispatcher role and be assigned to oversee a specific area of the dispatch center or may be assigned to oversee a shift of dispatchers during a period of reduced fire activity.

• Drive on State business.

• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire strategies, tactics, methods, procedures, fire behavior and weather interactions.

• Fire management operations, dispatch procedures and resources (e.g., guidelines, initial attack, expanded dispatch, NIIMS Incident Command System terminology and resou