Job opening: Wildland Firefighter - Direct Hire Authority
Salary: $39 576 - 57 354 per year
Published at: Mar 29 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located in Mesa Verde National Park; Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) Division in Mesa Verde National Park, CO.
Incumbent serves as an experienced member of a wildland fire module or crew executing fire management activities in fire preparation, fuels management and prevention, and fire suppression, monitoring and post-fire; Work may also include all hazard and emergency response activities.
Duties
Coordinate module or crew logistics and placing suppression and other equipment and supplies at strategic points.
Use and operate special tools and equipment such as power saws, portable pumps, firing devices, radio, and/or other communication equipment.
Lead fuels management projects that include gathering data for monitoring programs, implementing prescribed fire, mechanical and biological treatments, inventorying fuel beds, and piling of vegetation debris.
Serve as situational leader on wildland fires by directing work of small crew(s) in building firelines, burning out, mopping up, and patrolling firelines.
Perform administrative responsibilities such as maintaining records (e.g.: receipts for supplies, travel and credit card purchases), ensure work is carried out safely, report on work accomplishments, and reporting employee concerns to higher level supervisors.
Duties listed are at the full performance level of the position.
Requirements
- This is a 20/6 position; meaning there is a guaranteed 20 pay periods in pay status, and can be up to 6 pay periods in non-pay status within a year.
- This is a are Career-Seasonal position. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis.
- 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.
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-05 level:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Performed forestry aid or technician work; engineering, range, or soil conservation technician work to include application of cultural, resource conservation, or land management practices; farm or ranch work that provided a basic understanding of land use and involved the application of cultural and soil and water conservation practices; forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work; on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a skilled wildland firefighter, utilizing a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment.
OR
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a subject-matter field directly related to the position that includes at least 24 semester hours of course work in related course work such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable. (Transcripts must be attached to application package).
OR
A combination of specialized experience and directly related education that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as those shown above (No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable) that qualifies me for the position. (Transcripts must be attached to application package).
For the GS-06 level:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Performed and directed others in starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose appropriate nozzles and nozzle adjustment in effective use of water and foam application; Performed prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop up; Evaluated initial fire situations, determining rate of spread, potential hazards to property and other improvements; Ensured the engine and fire equipment has been kept in full state of readiness for emergency dispatch.
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
NWCG Course S-211 Portable Pumps and Water AND
NWCG Course S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior 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.
The DOI is hosting an on-site Fire Hire and Career Event in Denver, CO on April 6-7 (9am to 5pm daily) at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center, 15500 E 40th Avenue. There will be opportunities to speak to and may be interviewed by agency management officials. It is preferred you apply online prior to attending. For more information: https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfire/wildland-fire-hiring-event.
Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area.
Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.
Contacts
- Address National Park Service
call toll free number for address information
Bosie, ID 83705
US
- Name: Lisa Salazar
- Phone: 505-917-5189
- Email: [email protected]
Map