WILDLAND FIRE DISPATCHER - 42003084

Requisition No: 884846

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: WILDLAND FIRE DISPATCHER - 42003084

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42003084

Salary: $48,235.20 - $49,440.30

Posting Closing Date: 10/09/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

WILDLAND FIRE DISPATCHER

(CLASS TITLE: DUTY OFFICER)

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Tammy Molitor, View phone number on aiapply.co

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience in radio-teletype operations, sworn law enforcement, dispatching, forestry, firefighting or other public contact work; or

College education from an accredited institution can substitute at the rate of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours for the required experience.

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values
and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Occasional to moderate travel required.

Position may respond to emergencies, including natural disasters or other type incidents requiring travel, as needed.

Work shifts are on a rotating basis.

NOTES:

To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position.

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES:

This is work in direct support of fire suppression and other emergency response operations. The incumbent coordinates emergency response of firefighters, supervisors, pilots and law enforcement personnel through the use of a communication center. The Wildland Fire Dispatcher deals with critical situations requiring independent judgment. The incumbent has both operational fire control and other support duties. Work may be scheduled over a variety of shifts and the incumbent may frequently remain or be called to duty beyond the assigned work schedule. The Wildland Fire Dispatcher works in communication center that serves as a 24-hour center. All other communication centers divert their calls to this Center after hours. The Wildland Fire Dispatchers share 24-hour rotation with statewide responsibility. If emergencies are called in from other districts, the Wildland Fire Dispatcher on duty calls the Officer-In-Charge or On Call Wildland Fire Dispatcher in the affected unit and starts the emergency response action.

Receives radio and telephone information from law enforcement personnel, aircraft, fire crews, state lands and recreation personnel, supervisors, and public concerning wildfires and smoke obscuring highways. Determines action required, and dispatches emergency response personnel and/or aircraft if necessary. Operates a computer for the purpose of transmitting, receiving, and storing Center fire reports, burning authorizations, fire readiness report, and daily weather information. Keeps up-to-the minute knowledge of location of all crews and equipment including firefighters, state lands and recreation personnel, patrol aircraft directly engaged in fire suppression or on routine patrol. Approves or denies outdoor burning authorizations through a thorough knowledge of state laws and agency rules for open burning by telephone using informed judgment. Advises landowners of burning laws and safety precautions. Responsible for collecting accurate information on weather conditions, crew readiness and area supervisors’ readiness levels so that supervisory personnel can make informed judgment on setting the Center readiness levels. Maintains updated dispatch map that displays the location of fire crews, current wildfires, and daily authorized open burning. Acts as a weather observer and reports any unusual weather occurrences to all employees. Coordinates assistance with state, federal and local agencies in emergency situations. Makes landowner contacts, compiles landowner maps, and researches landowner information. Has a good general knowledge of the lay of the land (landmarks, highways, major roads, landowners, rivers, lakes, major power lines, etc.).

Relays administrative communications to proper personnel. Performs routine typing by use of a computer. Prepares reports for supervisor and other office staff. Handles routine correspondence. Uses computer for data collection, storing, transmitting and receiving Center records and reports. Responsible for maintaining communications office files. Assists in processing of recurring fiscal paperwork, permits and other administrative items as assigned. Updates information on all fire departments in area. Receives telephone calls, and radio messages, and routes to appropriate person or agency, keeps abreast of Federal Communication Commission Rules and Regulations.

Provides information to general public on Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service programs.

Performs other related work as assigned, which may include the handling of revenue.

The Following Special Benefits for this Position Include

• Annual Uniform Allotment

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

SPECIAL NOTES:

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center View phone number on aiapply.co). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.