Wildfire Dispatcher

**Job Information**:
Job Requisition ID: 37162

Ministry: Forestry, Parks and Tourism

Location: Various

Full or Part-Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Temporary Wages

Scope: Wage Opportunity

Closing Date: January 31, 2023

Classification: Administrative Support 3

**About Us**:
The Wildfire Management Branch inspires public confidence in wildfire and forest management, sustaining operations and preventative practices, and leading collaboration that enables safe and resilient communities. For more information about the Wildfire Management Branch:
**Role**:
The Wildfire Dispatcher role resides within all ten of our Forest Area Offices in Alberta, assisting with elevating the communication links between the Area Duty room, aircraft, and crew staff working within the field. Reporting to the Duty Officer's direction, the Wildfire Dispatcher takes appropriate actions to move, place, or direct wildfire resources as requested. The Wildfire Dispatcher oversees radio transmissions and operates a variety of communication equipment, including; computers, printers, phones and radios.

Upholding a calm and focused demeanor, the Wildfire Dispatcher effectively manages multiple tasks while ensuring accurate written documentation and verbal communication skills to effectively navigate work teams of all sizes. Wildfire Dispatchers will see changes in pace throughout the day, and at times the job can involve multiple demands, interruptions, and time-specific requests. Attention to detail is paramount, as are professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.

Dispatchers fill a vital, technical role that involves:

- Receiving and responding to 310-Fire calls or smoke detections transmitted on the radio.
- Monitoring all aircraft and fire activities to ensure related regulations, policy and procedural guidelines are followed, maintain an aircraft position log, manifests, daily flight log and daily flight reports.
- Multitasking, problem solving, organizing, and managing workplace priorities in changing conditions
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, any others are an asset.
- Utilizing maps, including GPS coordinates, as well as legal land descriptions is also an asset.
- Processing aircraft requests for all agencies within the department.
- Initiating emergency response procedures to overdue or missing aircraft, overdue staff or other emergency situations as required.
- Maintaining check-ins with staff in accordance with safety protocols, immediately reporting any irregularities as they occur.
- Function in the Incident Command System as assigned in the office and on wildfires.

Successful applicants will receive training in the Alberta Wildfire Dispatcher Orientation Course, training in recording and conveying radio transmissions to and from aircraft, crews and lookout observers in the field or on wildfires, and training in wildfire-specific computer programs utilized in the day-today work.

**Qualifications**:
The minimum requirements for this role are a high school diploma plus one (1) year of related experience are required. Directly related education or experience is considered on a one-for-one basis. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Word, Outlook and Excel is required. Demonstrated computer and organizational skills, and verbal and written communication skills to document and convey information. Directly related education or experience is considered on a one-for-one basis.

**Additional Requirements**:

- Valid First Aid Certificate with CPR
- Valid Class 5 Driver's License
- Valid Defensive Driving Certificate
- Current Driver’s Abstract, showing a record of seven (7) demerits or less, obtained within 30 days prior to your commencement date. Driver’s Abstracts must be presented to management prior to your commencement for the above-stated position.

A certificate of Proficiency in Radio (Aeronautical) from Industry Canada is a requirement prior to working in the position (this can/will be received in the Alberta Wildfire Dispatcher Orientation Course).

**Assets**:

- Previous experience with forestry or Forestry division
- Knowledge of the Incident Command System, 24-hour clock, and phonetic alphabet

**APS Competencies**:
Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
**About Your Competencies**:

- Creative Problem Solving: Develops solutions to complex problems conscious of the development, conservation, and use of resources;
- Drive for Results: Strives to exceed objectives and maximize resources to achieve results aligned with the goals of the department, considerate to both internal and external stakeholders;
- Develop Networks: Maintains close relations with all stakeholders, ac