This is a Wildland Firefighter Hotshot position located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Region, Branch of Wildland Fire and Aviation Management, Operations - Hotshot Section in Fort Defiance, Arizona and will be filled from Standard PD Number: DX00400/DX00500. This announcement will be used to fill vacancies utilizing the Direct-Hire Authority (5CFR 337.201). Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy.

Duties

Serves as Squad Leader on Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations providing leadership and executing fire management activities in fire preparedness, fuels management and prevention, and fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire. Directs the work of firefighter crew in building firelines, burnout, mopping up, and patrolling firelines. Plans action and directs utilization of fire line resources. Directs assigned suppression operations and recommends and implements tactical strategies on fires. Directs the operation and use of special tools and equipment. Directs and ensures proper equipment and supplies needed for fire assignments. Manages fuels projects such as: prescribed fire, mechanical and biological treatments, inventorying fuel beds, and pilingvegetation debris. Gathers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
• You may be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• This is a Testing Designated Position and is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• This position is subject to pre-employment and annual medical screening and physical fitness testing for arduous duty.
• This position has been designated as an Incidental Operator under the Indian Affairs Motor Vehicle Safety Program, therefore, the incumbent will be required annually to acknowledge and certify possession of a valid state driver's license.
• This is a Permanent, Full-Time Seasonal Position and is subject to placement in Non-Pay Status when services are not needed do to lack of work, funds, or unforeseen circumstances.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: GS-7: 1 year of creditable specialized wildland fire management work experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to work as a lead wildland firefighter directing others in the use of a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment; directing and performing prescribed burning; leading the operation of a wildland fire engine or suppression efforts of a helicopter module. Independently performing technical methods and procedures associated with wildfire suppression to resolve a full range of irregular or problem situations when suppressing wildland fires. Communicating critical information pertaining to incident objectives, situations and tactics. Serving on a hand crew assigned to lead fire suppression under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain; OR one full year of graduate level education in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position. GS-6: 1 year of creditable specialized wildland fire management work experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, on-the-line wildland fire experience as a senior wildland firefighter in forest or range fire control, prevention or suppression work, prescribed burning; operating and maintaining specialized wildland fire tools, equipment, vehicles, and may include leading the work of crew personnel. Provided on-the-job training to personnel in use of wildland fire control equipment, methods and safety procedures. Performed technical specializations such as felling, saw repair and water handling. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. The applicant must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications requirements under the Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations to be considered eligible for this hotshot position identified as a Squad Leader. Crew Boss (CRWB) Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration. You MUST provide a current copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other agency equivalent documentation which verifies you meet this required qualification for this position when submitting your application. MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE (MEA) AND FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) (FERS). The maximum entry-age (MEA) for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement or firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants over the MEA of 37 MUST have enough prior covered service under the Firefighter Special Retirement benefit in order to be eligible for re-entry into a primary firefighter position. 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. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Applicants are responsible for submitting all supporting documentation prior to the closing date of a vacancy for an MEA determination. Acceptable forms of documentation consist of SF-50's showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable Federal civilian appointments or copies of agency approved certification letters based upon individual claims for coverage. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date. The duties of this position are so rigorous that employment is limited to physically vigorous individuals who must meet established maximum age and physical qualification requirements. Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing)

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the 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. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Contacts

• Address BIA Strategic Recruitment - Trust 301 NW 6th Room 311 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 US
• Name: Strategic Recruitment-Trust
• Email: [email protected]