Senior Wildland Fire Dispatcher

Senior Wildland Fire Dispatcher 3 (WFD3) 
Full-time, Career Seasonal, Represented position (WPEA)
Anticipated Career Seasonal appointment is May – October 
Salary: $3,643.00 – $4,865.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 2/15/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has some exciting job opportunities within our Southeast Region as a Senior Wildland Fire Dispatcher 3 (WFD3).

Are you a confident communicator, self-sufficient worker, and active listener? Do you want to develop lasting relationships with professional and volunteer emergency responders? Are you able to remain levelheaded in high-stress situations and guide people in the right direction? Then this is the job for you! This position interacts with interagency dispatch personnel as well as field personnel and the general public while supporting field resources for the Southeast Region DNR, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Spokane District Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Mid-Colombia National Wildlife Refuge.

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 and implement complex procedures and technical programs utilized in dispatching. They will use their judgment to make daily decisions that align with those procedures and support the overall mission to protect the health of Washington’s lands.

Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of a Wildland Dispatcher 4 or coordinator, communicate and dispatch via two-way radios and phones between field resources for the Southeast Region, US Fish & Wildlife, Spokane BLM, and the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, other government agencies, and private contractors.
• As a senior dispatcher, able to effectively cover all dispatch zones/repeaters in support of suppression activities. Able to maintain oversight of Wildland Fire Dispatchers 1/2 to ensure all frequencies and zones are being monitored, and radio traffic is not missed, and that information is captured timely in CAD. Provide support, assistance, and direction when necessary.
• Complete the documentation of communications and incident activities in WildCAD-E and monitor and update resource tracking.
• Fill resource orders in IROC, according to established CWICC procedures, as ordered by the Incident Commander or via channels of command as outlined by the Incident Command System (ICS).
• Dispatch and track state and national shared resources within our area of influence, including aircraft, teams, and fire crews. As directed keeps the Northwest Coordination Center and Wildfire Division informed concerning the status of these resources on a daily basis.
• Receive reports of incidents, evaluate and clarify the situation and location. Based on these reports, dispatch resources to incidents and support efforts of field units in managing and controlling the incident.

Required Qualifications: 

• experience with computer programs such as Microsoft Suite.
• One season as a Wildland Dispatcher 2;
  OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Effective verbal and written communications.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.