Wildland Fire Dispatch Coordinator 1 - Assistant Center Manager (PCN 10-9708)

About the Department

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for an Assistant Dispatch Center Manager in Palmer, Alaska.

What You Will Be Doing:  

The Alaska Coastal Dispatch Center (ACDC) Assistant Center Manager plays a critical role in wildfire response, providing technical direction, coordination, and leadership to dispatchers while ensuring seamless operations in resource mobilization and logistics.

In this role, you’ll assist in managing daily dispatch functions, including coordinating personnel, crews, equipment, and supplies, as well as handling transportation, meals, lodging, and flight following.  Depending on fire activity, you may directly or indirectly oversee 20+ seasonal employees, ensuring a well-coordinated and effective team.

As the ACDC Assistant Center Manager, you will play an active role in regional and statewide logistics operations, assisting with setting priorities and providing direction to staff to ensure the timely mobilization of critical resources in support of large incidents, Area Offices, and cooperating agencies.

Collaboration is essential — you’ll work closely with Fire Management Officers (FMOs) to coordinate multiple simultaneous fire responses and allocate resources where they are needed most.

Mission and Values/Culture:  

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is dedicated to serving Alaskans through wildland fire suppression, management, and control. Our mission is to safely manage wildland fires that pose a threat to life, property, and critical infrastructure across 150 million acres of land throughout Alaska, providing cost-effective and efficient fire protection and aviation services on State, private, municipal, and contracted lands. Protecting life, property, and the safety of both the public and firefighters remains our top priority

Benefits of Joining Our Team:  

We offer extensive training, travel opportunities, and career advancement to help you grow as a dispatcher. At the Alaska Coastal Dispatch Center (ACDC), we strive to foster a supportive culture that promotes a strong dispatch organization, work-life balance, and clear career pathways for incoming dispatchers. Our consolidated dispatch center enhances training and mentorship opportunities, provides in-state and out-of-state assignments, and helps dispatchers develop leadership skills. Teamwork and camaraderie are at the heart of ACDC, where dispatchers support one another and grow together.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:  

Our Dispatch Center, located in Palmer, Alaska, fosters teamwork and camaraderie, creating a supportive environment that builds friendship and loyalty. Located in the Matanuska Valley, Palmer offers breathtaking mountain views, a small-town feel, and easy access to outdoor recreation like hiking, fishing, and skiing. This close-knit team, made up of individuals with diverse skills and strengths, motivates one another to work harder, collaborate, and grow together in a dynamic, scenic setting.

We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.  

Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.

Position Duties

Three years of experience in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field 
And 
Certification from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) in any three of the following:
Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD) 
Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher (EDSP)
Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP) 
Aircraft Dispatcher (ACDP)
 
Substitution: 
Three years in any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field will substitute for the required experience (2.67 semester hours or 4 quarter hours of post-secondary education are equal to one month of experience). There is no substitute for the required certifications. 

Special Note:? 
Wildland Fire Dispatch Coordinators must receive red card training and certification under the National Incident Qualification System.

Minimum Qualifications

** Please read the information below carefully. **

At the time of the interview, please ensure that you provide the following materials.  Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration.  Required documents include: 

SPECIAL NOTICES

Certification from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) in any three of the following certifications is required:

Application Notice

You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application. Instructions for applying are available on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage.  Your application must be received by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.  

Supplemental Questions

For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions.  The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s competence in applying specific behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.

Education

If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application. If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. 

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S. education programs. Alternatively, an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula. It is your responsibility to provide this evidence when applying. 

Work Experience

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether the minimum qualifications are met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase. 

Note: Attaching a resume does not substitute for completing the application in full. Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.  

Bargaining Unit

If you are a current state employee, please indicate the union to which you belong at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee. 

Driver’s License Requirement

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.  

Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class. 

EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Other Qualifications

If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure that your email address is correct on your application and that your spam filter will permit emails from the governmentjobs.com domain.

Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to [email protected].

For assistance with your password, please visit the password reset page.

For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

Teresa Rose

Wildland Fire Dispatch Coordinator 2

Phone: 907-761-6220

Email: [email protected]

Benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State:   See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
  • The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts.  Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
    • General Government
    • Labor, Trades and Crafts
    • Public Safety Employees Association
    • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note:  The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of AlaskaAddress PO Box 110201

Juneau, Alaska, 99811 Phone(800) 587-0430 (Statewide toll-free number)
(907) 465-4095 (Juneau and out-of-state callers)Website http://workplace.alaska.gov/