Wildfire Dispatch Supervisor

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Wildfire Operations Officer, the Wildfire Dispatcher Supervisor is accountable for providing safe and effective emergency call taking as well as dispatching for wildfire through established guidelines, evaluating and processing emergency and non-emergency calls, responsible for relaying key decisions and contributing to the wildfire dispatch process as well as strategies. This will include planning and development of processes and systems as well as the facilitation of internal and external working relationships.

As the Wildfire Dispatcher Supervisor, you will be responsible for:

• Recruiting, scheduling, training and supervising up to 5 seasonal dispatchers.
• Providing training and support for out of area resources and support Incident Management Teams working in the Forest Area.
• Receiving and reporting 310-Fire calls or smoke detections transmitted on the radio.
• Monitoring all aircraft and fire activities to ensure related regulations, policy and procedural guidelines are followed and maintaining an aircraft position log, manifests, daily flight log and daily flight reports.
• Multitasking, problem solving, organizing and managing workplace priorities in changing conditions.
• Utilizing and trouble-shooting radio equipment, computer equipment and other applications.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, any others are an asset.
• Utilizing maps, including GPS coordinates, as well as the Alberta Third System of Survey to determine locations of wildfires, detections, permits, aircraft, personnel and site locations.
• Processing aircraft requests for all agencies within the department and auditing of aircraft flight reports.
• Ensuring timely and accurate data entry into FIREs and Dispatch, through regular auditing and live evaluations to ensure Standard Operating Procedures and Business Rule requirements are met.
• Developing course material including powerpoints, binders, exams, activities, simulations and assignments for the Wildfire Dispatch Orientation course and the Wildfire Dispatcher Refresher Workshop.
• Support Wildfire Apps Lead and Emergency Services Business Analyst lead with information gathering, meetings, providing feedback and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for future development. 

Do not miss this opportunity to become a part of our dedicated team that is committed to fostering positive change and ensuring the safety of our communities to preserve of our unique natural resources. Apply now to make a meaningful contribution to Rocky Mountain House Forest Area.

Please click on this link to view the job description.

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.

• Creative Problem Solving: Anticipates, assesses, and readily adapts to changing priorities, maintains resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively works in a changing environment.
• Drive for Results: Strives to exceed objectives and maximizes resources to achieve results aligned with the goals of the department, considerate to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Takes a collaborative approach with work to foster open communication and leverage team skills.
• Agility: Identifies alternative approaches in uncertain, complex situations while supporting others in determining and assessing strategy.
• Systems Thinking: Considers the changing environment, recognizes how the work impacts a vast network of stakeholders.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement:

One-year certificate in a related field such as emergency management, aviation or air traffic control, emergency medical dispatch, radio operator or Train Alberta Dispatching plus two (2) years of related experience in wildfire operations and prevention; or equivalent as described below. 

Equivalency: Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of: one year of experience for one year of education or one year of education for one year of experience.

Assets:

• Preference given to candidates with 3 or more years of experience as a Wildfire Dispatcher, ICS 200, and Radio Operator 2 Level Certification.  Must be very well versed in the English language.
• Effective time management skills including being organization, effective time/task management; ensuring critical tasks are accomplished within requested time frames; the ability to set priorities and be adaptable to change; the ability to meet stringent deadlines; ability to multitask.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills are required along with strong technical and analytical skills.
• Excellent production and reporting database knowledge is required.
• Willing to work on wildfire incidents as radio operator.

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

This is a permanent, full-time role with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday. The incumbent may be requested to work overtime, including evening and weekends due to the emergency nature of wildfires.

Travel throughout the province on occasion will be required as part of your responsibilities and you will have frequent contact with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients as well as external stakeholders province wide.

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. 

Application Information:

• In your application, please include a cover letter detailing your interest and role-related experience. 
• In your resume include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Foreman (PT three 8-hour shifts/week).
• Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.

What the GoA has to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.