MN Interagency Coordination Center Lead

Job Summary

MN Department of Natural Resources—Division of Forestry is hiring a Minnesota Interagency Coordination Center Lead Technician, whose position will be based at the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center (MIFC) in Grand Rapids, MN.

The MN Interagency Coordination Center Lead Technician position exists to support and facilitate statewide and national movement of fire suppression aircraft, personnel, and equipment for incidents in and out of the State of Minnesota by performing aircraft dispatcher duties, mobilizing resources, and coordinating with other dispatch units and organizations on the reassignment and demobilization of resources.

Job Responsibilities:

This position is part of the MN Interagency Coordination Center (MNCC) and collaborates with Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) intelligence and public information staff to gather and distribute wildland fire and hazard intelligence for all MNICS agencies.

Primary position responsibilities include:

• Assist in all aspects of the coordination center including the maintenance of interagency mobilization plans, dispatch procedures, and daily operating guidelines.
• Provide technical assistance, guidance, orientation and training on dispatch operations.
• Assist in the implementation, administration, integration and oversight of information flow across various units of the coordination center.
• Execute general dispatching duties common to Logistics (EDSD), Operations (IADP) and Aircraft (ACDP) dispatch.
• Assist MNCC intelligence and information to gather and distribute information.
• Attend and participate in wildland fire and dispatch workshops, meetings and training.
• Receive aircraft requests for rapidly evolving incidents, develop Tactical Aircraft Resource Orders and dispatch aircraft to initial attack and extended attack incidents.
• Flight follow (monitor) assigned aircraft while communicating effectively using radio, phone, and electronic methods.
• Process resource order requests for personnel, equipment, supplies, and aircraft for all types of incidents; coordinate with MNICS agencies and other dispatch organizations to mobilize, assign, and demobilize resources. Create accurate incident documentation.
• Complete special projects, reports, and activities that may be assigned to support the coordination center and MNICS organization as needed.
• Act as duty officer for MNCC and MNDNR.
• Perform all job responsibilities in a manner that supports a healthy, safe, and productive work environment for all employees.
• Support the overall mission of the DNR by encouraging a diverse workplace, treating others with respect, and contributing to work groups.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• One year of experience conducting dispatch functions that include wildland fire suppression activities, processing resource orders, coordination with other dispatch organizations, mobilizing and determining status of available resources OR 1 year of natural resource, emergency manager or wildfire experience.
• Must have successfully completed ICS-100, Introduction to the Incident Command System and ICS 200, Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
• Knowledge of wildland fire dispatch procedures and guidelines used in dispatch of personnel, aircraft, equipment and supplies for wildland fire management activities and other incidents sufficient to update guidelines, propose changes to guidelines, issue internal instructions to other dispatchers and resolve dispatch problems.
• Knowledge of maps, legal descriptions and GPS sufficient to quickly locate fires and access routes by section, township, range, and latitude/longitude.
• Knowledge of computer systems and software programs sufficient to support daily fire response operations and access and distribute fire and weather data (word, spreadsheet, database).
• Communication skills sufficient to ensure accurate and effective transmission of information through internal and external communications for routine and crisis situations.
• Time management skills sufficient to make decisions and meet deadlines sometimes with incomplete information, under tight deadlines, and pressure by unforeseeable events and/or emergencies.
• Leadwork skills sufficient to provide direction in administrative procedures and/or office functions.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Organizational and interpersonal skills sufficient to work as a productive member of a team.
• Conflict resolution/human relation skills sufficient to negotiate, resolve issues, read situations and settle disputes equitably by finding common ground and cooperation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Qualified as an Expanded Support Dispatcher (EDSD)
• Qualified as an Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP)
• Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC), and
• Aircraft Dispatcher (ACDP) or Aircraft Dispatcher Trainee

Training Completed: 

• A-100, A-103, A-110, A-115, A-202, A-203, A-204, A-205, A-208, A-303, A-305, A-307, A-310  – Interagency Aviation Training (IAT)
• D-110—Expanded Dispatch Recorder
• S130/190/L180 –Basic Firefighter Course
• S-260—Interagency Business Management
• S-270—Basic Air OperationsS130/190/L180 –Basic Firefighter Course
• D-311—Initial Attack Dispatcher
• D-312—Aircraft Dispatcher
• M-410—Facilitative Instructor
• Knowledge of Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Incident Command System Agency policies, procedures and operating guidelines for resource sharing, resource ordering, and associated programs.
• Knowledge of Incident Command System, Incident Support Organization, National & Canadian Fire Danger Rating Systems, and National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Knowledge of aircraft flight planning, including but not limited to scheduling flights, pilots and aircraft; duty limitations, ordering procedures, procurement and cost comparison analysis.
• Knowledge of aircraft mishap response plans and the impacts on fire response with aircraft caused by aircraft and airspace status, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s), Notices to Airmen (NOTAM’s), and activity in Military Training Routes (MTRs) or Military Operating Areas (MOAs).
• Knowledge of the administrative processes so that information in regard to aviation resources is available by updating daily plans, recording daily aviation activity, obtaining cost coding information for aviation managers, and maintaining statistical fiscal and calendar year reports using data recorded throughout the year.