Job opening: Forestry Technician (Fire) - Direct Hire Authority
Salary: $42 022 - 60 703 per year
Relocation: YES
Published at: Jul 12 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located in Grand Canyon National Park; Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) Division in Grand Canyon, AZ.
The incumbent of this position serves as a senior technician located on a wildland fire module/crew providing leadership and oversight of wildland fire suppression as a seasoned firefighter on an engine, helitak, prescribed fire, or wildland fire module, or on a handcrew.
For additional questions about this position contact Jeremiah Boyd at
[email protected].
Duties
Provides for crew safety and welfare and implements a training program in compliance with applicable requirements.
Evaluates onsite conditions, makes tactical decisions, and determines appropriate responses.
Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.
Performs daily helicopter inspection, inventories and inspects helicopter accessories, specialized fire equipment, and tools.
Provides technical and administrative supervision to wildland fire helitack crews.
Serves as a manager/spotter of a helicopter on a regular and recurring basis and has aviation responsibilities including helitack, helitack/short-haul operations, reconnaissance, aerial ignition, and search and rescue.
Performs wildfire suppression support as directed within training and physical capabilities.
Responsibilities listed are at the full performance level of the position.
Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
- This is a Test Designated Position. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
- Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Fire Program Management (FPM) positions.
- Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and pass a medical examination given by an authorized government physician.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Must be 18 years of age at time of close date of announcement.
- Under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the requirement.
- If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
- Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
- You will be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.
- You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service fire uniform standards.
- You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
- Subject to frequent extended travel up to 14 nights a month particularly during fire season, and you must obtain a government charge card for travel.
- Incumbent will be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
- Government housing may be available, is on a bid system and is NOT guaranteed.
- This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement.
For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
For the GS-06 level:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Served on a fire suppression crew under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain; Performed many technical specializations such as felling, saw repair, long line, rappelling, or water handling used in fire suppression and prescribed burning; Performed wildland fire suppression activities with an emphasis in helicopter support on wildland fire incidents; Implemented strategies, tactics, and suppression methods that are used in the containment and control of wildland fires.
For the GS-07 level:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Independently practiced methods and procedures associated with wildfire suppression to resolve a full range of irregular or problem situations when suppressing wildland fires; Certified in one or many wildland firefighting technical specializations such as tree felling, helicopter operations, crew boss, incident commander type 5 which are used in fire suppression and prescribed burning; worked as a skilled lead wildland firefighter with on-the-line wildland fire helitack experience in fire control, prevention or suppression utilizing a wide variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment; Served on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) or assigned to lead fire suppression under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain; Performed in and lead others in wildland fire suppression activities with an emphasis in initial attack helicopter operations and helicopter support management on wildland fire incidents.
OR
One full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture);
OR
Combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must submit a legible copy of your transcripts (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).
This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program management (IFPM) Standard. This position requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. For more information on IFPM, click here.
SELECTIVE FACTORS: For this Forestry Technician (Fire) position you must also meet the following selective placement factors:
Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirements of:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) AND
Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) AND
Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) AND
NWCG Course S-211 Portable Pumps and Water AND
NWCG Course S-212 Wildfire Power Saws AND
Successfully completed at least one season as a fire helicopter crewmember AND
Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements:
Under age 37 -OR-
Less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR-
A veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.
In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.
This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system.
WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a "condition of employment." The Arduous fitness (Pack) test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
When submitting college transcripts, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Contacts
- Address Grand Canyon National Park
PO Box 129
20 South Entrance Road
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
US
- Name: Lisa Salazar
- Phone: 505-917-5189
- Email: [email protected]
Map