Aircraft Dispatch Coordinator, Wildland Fire Program Coordinator

Wildfire Aircraft Dispatch Coordinator

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coordination Center is searching for a Wildfire Aircraft Dispatch Coordinator (Wildland Fire Coordinator
1). During fire season, the DNR Coordination Center (DNR CC) can be very active as a Dispatch Center. The position will report to the DNR CC Center Manager but will also take direction from the Aviation Assistant Division Manager and coordinate directly with other Aviation Program staff to carry out programmatic duties. This position works under the guidance of state regulations, agency policies and procedures, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and agency strategic plans.

This position supports the mission and goals of the agency through the coordination of wildland fire mobilization, dispatching, regulation, contracting, and interagency agreements. This position will dispatch DNR and Contract aircraft to wildland fires, working with DNR, partner agency staff, and the private aviation sector. The position will track DNR Aircraft mobilization, demobilization, and response efforts. This position is an important link coordinating the fiscal accountability for aircraft billings with the operational use of DNR aviation assets.

The position will provide technical direction, coordination, and make recommendations to improve aviation dispatch procedures and protocols through pre-season preparedness efforts, AARs, aviation briefings, etc. The individual in this position ensures the DNR Coordination Center (DNR CC) aircraft desk is maintained in a constant state of readiness. To be successful in this role, the selected individual will need to be: service-oriented, calm under pressure, attentive to detail, and possess strong verbal and written communication skills.

Additionally, the person serving in this role will be required to learn established, complex procedures, tools, and technical programs. They will communicate and coordinate with the DNR Coordination Center Manager and the Aviation Assistant Division Manager to use their judgment and make decisions that align with those procedures and support the overall mission to protect the health of Washington's lands.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate with the DNR Air Operations Support Coordinator to obtain the Aviation Exclusive Use and Call When Needed Aviation Agreements, Amendments, and Contract Numbers.
• Transfer and/or accept or accept aircraft transferred in IROC between the Washington State DNR Coordination Center WA-WAC) and sending or receiving dispatch centers. Ensure that before transfer, the sending/receiving dispatch center has obtained the correct DNR aircraft agreement number(s) and dispatch center unit identifiers.
• The DNRCC aircraft desk in the DNR Coordination Center is the single point of ordering for additional aircraft. Surge resources that are staged at the Olympia Airport will be dispatched by DNRCC as state-wide assets. ACDP will clarify roles with WA State Dispatch Centers, ensuring parallel processes are eliminated.
• Communicate with statewide surge aircraft via radio console and log activity in WildCADe.
• Track aircraft resources during fire suppression and non-fire suppression activities using systems such as Automated Flight Following (AFF) and WildCADe. Relay status updates to region dispatch centers, fire managers, and incident commanders.
• Coordinate with aviation staff and region dispatch centers to ensure resource orders for aviation assets are properly executed statewide.
• Coordinate with Dispatch Centers or WFMD Aviation staff to obtain or create the Tactical Aircraft Request Orders (TARO) for DNR aviation resources dispatched to incidents. Ensure TAROs are attached to the IROC resource orders.
• Assist regions or the NW Coordination Center with ordering Service, Infrared Daytime (SIRD) and Service, Infrared Nighttime (SIRN) resource requests, if needed. When Western Washington dispatch centers request SIRD and SIRN, place the resource orders with the appropriate dispatch center.
• Fill fixed wing, rotor wing, equipment, and overhead aviation IROC resource orders sent to the DNR CC, and email resource orders to the necessary staff.
• Implement formal procedures requiring all region dispatch centers or the NW Coordination Center to submit detection flight requests through a unified process, either directly to the "HUB" or coordinated through the DNR CC Aircraft Coordinator.
• Coordinate with the Region dispatch centers to document aircraft dispatched to the NW Compact partners. Ensure the resource order indicates it is a Compact Request in IROC prior to filling or creating the resource order.
• Provide flight following when regional dispatch centers are not staffed, ensuring communication and coordination with pilots and air operations.
• Collaborate with helicopter managers, air attack, and other dispatchers and coordinators during initial attack to ensure efficient and safe dispatch of air resources.
• In coordination with state and partner dispatch…