Alberta Wildfire Coordination Centre (AWCC) Aircraft Logistics

Role Responsibilities

The Alberta Wildfire Coordination Centre (AWCC), located in Edmonton, works with the 10 Forest Areas in the Province to coordinate suppression and pre-suppression efforts. The AWCC is open 7 days a week during the peak fire season to assist the forest areas and has a team of seasonal and full-time staff that facilitate wildfire operations across the province.

Do you want to be a key part in the AWCC and have what it takes to perform the following tasks? 

• Thrive in a fast-paced environment with consistently changing priorities and high level of multi-tasking. 
• Communicate accurately and efficiently within a team environment. 
• Intake and document information received through multiple mediums such as phone calls, radios, emails, and face to face conversations.  
• Available to work through evenings, weekends, and possible overnight shifts.

Do you thrive in fast-paced environments with diverse priorities and high levels of multi-tasking? Are you passionate about effective and accurate coordination? If this resonates, this may be the position for you!

Operating out of the Alberta Wildfire Coordination Centre (AWCC), the AWCC Aircraft Logistics works closely with the Provincial Aircraft Coordinator to process provincial, national, and international requests for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. In addition, they work with the 10 Forest Areas to acknowledge Airtanker requests, hire and release aircraft, complete data entry accurately, and gather information for statistical purposes.

AWCC Aircraft Logistics fill a vital, technical role that involves: 

• Coordinating the provincial, national, and international dispatch of aircraft resources. 
• Working with the Provincial Aircraft Coordinator and Forest Areas to ensure communication is distributed and received in a timely manner applicable to the dispatch of resources. 
• Working with the Provincial Aircraft Coordinator and Forest Areas to ensure Airtanker requests are actioned in an efficient manner.   
• Maintaining and updating data entry for managing aircraft contracts. 
• Actively troubleshoot aircraft tracking issues, utilizing and trouble-shooting radios, computer equipment, and other applications. 
• Dispatch aviation fuel, refueling containers and retardant as required.  
• Maintain regular communication with aircraft companies to hire and release aircraft.  
• General reporting and gathering of statistical aircraft and equipment information.  
• Answer incoming phone calls on the AWCC and 310-FIRE phone lines. Direct calls to the appropriate person or forest area and/or provide appropriate information to the caller. 
• 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.
• Initiating emergency response procedures for overdue or missing aircraft, overdue staff or other emergency situations as required.
• Maintaining radio check-ins with night vision (NVIS) crew in accordance with safety protocols, immediately reporting any irregularities as they occur.
• Be available for export to other Forest Areas and/or out of province and assisting in completing the duties as outlined in AWCC Support and AWCC Logistics when those staff are not available.

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

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: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

• Agility - Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Creative Problem Solving - Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Develop Self and Others - A commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of yourself and others.
• Build Collaborative Environments - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Develop Networks - Proactively building networks, connecting, and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements: 

• High school diploma.
• Plus, two (2) years of related experience (i.e. 24-months).

*All candidates must be 18 years of age or older as of March 1, 2025, or prior to their start date.

• Position start dates range from March 1 to April 30, 2025.

Equivalencies will be considered and candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary.

Directly related experience or education may be considered on the basis of:      

• one year of experience for one year of education or      
• one year of education for one year of experience.

Additional Requirements: 

• Demonstrated organization, multi-tasking, and planning skills to distribute communications and timely dispatch of resources. 
• Experience coordinating amongst various stakeholder groups, such as government and other aviation clients to maintain regular reporting. 
• Experience adapting to changing priorities and learning new procedures, processes, and software, such as the Wildfire Management software. 
• Valid First Aid Certificate with CPR .
• Valid Class 5 Drivers License.
• Valid Defensive Driving Certificate.
• Current Driver’s Abstract - A Driver’s Abstract, showing a record of seven (7) demerits or less. Your driver’s abstract is required to be obtained and presented to management prior to your commencement. 
• Completion of a Par-Q and/ or fitness test.
• Certificate of Proficiency in Radio (Aeronautical) from Industry Canada.

Assets Include: 

• Experience using Wildfire Management software: Fire Information Resource System (FIRES) and Dispatch.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, and or other applications.
• Knowledge of the Wildfire Management program, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Knowledge of aircraft equipment capabilities and manpower resources used in wildfire suppression.

​​​​​​​Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.
 

Notes

About Your Work Environment:

This requisition is recruiting for seasonal wage AWCC Aircraft Logistics positions that work rotational shifts, with 7.25 hours workday, up to approximately 36.25 hours per week. Evening, weekend, overnights, and holiday shifts are required.

The estimated commencement date for these positions is in April, with estimated employment end dates ranging from August to October, dependent on operational needs.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in. 

What We Offer:

Wage employees receive 11.2% in addition to regular wage earnings in lieu of paid holidays and vacation leave:

• 5.2 % of regular wage earnings instead of paid holidays.
• 6 % of regular wage earnings instead of annual vacation pay.

Application:

Include terms of employment (i.e., Month/Year) in timespans on your resume, detailing applicable duties and achievements for each role listed. Those selected for an interview are requested to bring three work-related references.

The following conditions are not required at time of application, but must be provided prior to start date:

• A valid, unrestricted Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License, or equivalent.       
• See the following links for more information on exchanging a non-Alberta license or licensed driver training.      
• A minimum 3-year Driver's Abstract, showing a record of seven (7) demerits or less (obtained within 30 days of your commencement date and presented to management prior to commencement).     
• A current Defensive Driving certificate.      
• A valid Standard First Aid certificate with CPR certification.