Job opening: Forestry Technician (Fire)
Salary: $44 117 - 63 733 per year
Relocation: YES
Published at: Feb 08 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit within the Intermountain Region, Region 4.
The incumbent serves in a key fire management position in a field fire management organization.
For additional information regarding the duties of this position, contact Celeste Hancock at
[email protected].
Duties
Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-07 level.
Serves on prescribed fire and fuels projects in positions for which qualified. Provides routine technical guidance on fire protection and prevention issues.
Responsible for operating tracked equipment treating hazardous fuels utilizing multiple attachments to meet fuels treatment specifications.
Provides for training needs to support prescribed fire and fuels management programs. Participates in wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression and in the safety.
Operates a variety of motor vehicles to transport equipment, supplies, crew members, etc. Must possess a valid state drivers license.
Operates and positions the equipment in appropriate locations in consideration of safety of personnel and equipment.
Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
- Must be 18 years of age.
- This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
- Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
- Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.
- Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
- Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
- There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
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.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-6 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service; 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 A 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.
Examples of specialized experience include: Participating in prescribed fire operations including line preparation, igniting, and/or holding strategies. Collecting and compiling fuels management field inventory data where a variety of fuel variations were involved. Inventorying fuel beds, preparing associated reports, performing hazard fuel reduction projects, monitoring burning conditions, piling vegetation debris and/or acted in assigned positions such as ignition or holding specialist or other designated positions during actual fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire. Operated a variety of motor vehicles to transport equipment, supplies, crew members. Positioned equipment in appropriate locations in consideration of safety of personnel and equipment. Balances workloads, checks on progress, corrects unsafe or incorrect procedures, and ensures that tools and equipment are available, and ensures equipment/transport/tender are maintained routinely.
For the GS-7 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service; 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 A 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.
Examples of specialized experience include: Participating in routine aspects of inventorying and monitoring for wildland fire, prescribed fire, and/or natural resource activities. Planning and directing field resource data collection for fuel hazard management program. Assisting in developing and implementing specific plans for fuels treatment projects. Assisted with inspections, checks, services, and adjustments to tracked loader, instruments, and related equipment, had equipment always ready for immediate use. Operated the tracked loader treating hazardous fuels utilizing multiple attachments to meet the treatment specifications. Operates and positions equipment in appropriate locations in consideration of safety of personnel and equipment.
Selective Placement Factors:
This position requires the selectee to possess a Valid State Driver's License.
This position requires the selectee to obtain or possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
A minimum 90-day experience performing on-the-line (Primary/Rigorous) wildland fire suppression duties as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression, containment or control techniques and practices under various conditions. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.
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.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees 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.
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
See QUALIFICATIONS section for education requirements.
Contacts
- Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US
- Name: HRM Contact Center
- Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
- Email: [email protected]
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