These positions are located on a USDA Forest Service Unit within Region 6. This position serves as the Smokejumper Training Manager for a national shared resource smokejumper program. Responsible for all aspects of the smokejumper training program to include fire, parachute, safety, and EEO. For additional information regarding the duties of the position, please contact Charles McCarthy at [email protected].

Duties

Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-11 level. Participate in the development of smokejumper training policies. Perform the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Plan, schedule and coordinate all aspects of smokejumper training. Serve as an active smokejumper, smokejumper spotter, and parachute rigger. Responsible for overall training administration, including delegation of training assignments, prioritization, procurement, purchasing, inventory, and documentation. Prepare lesson plans, write manuals, develop smokejumper specific training courses, supervises and evaluates instructors involved in training and refreshing smokejumpers in parachuting procedures and fire suppression skills.

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.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• Currently licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger.
• Currently or have been previously qualified as a smokejumper on an organized wildland fire smokejumper crew. Currently or have been previously qualified as a smokejumper on an organized wildland fire smokejumper crew.
• 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 Requirements: For the GS-10: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal Service. Experience serving as a member of a smokejumper crew that parachutes into rugged terrain for fire management purposes. OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., (coursework must be directly related to the position being filled such as forestry, range management, agriculture). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester/54 quarter hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Examples of specialized experience are: Assisted with one or more program responsibilities such as, plan and coordinate smokejumper training, operations, and/or prescribed fire. Assisted in formulating and developing training plans, contract specifications, training programs and schedules. Directed initial and extended attack suppression actions such as determining incident needs, and dispatch/deployment of personnel and equipment, and assisted in training smokejumper pilots in smokejumper operations. For the GS-11: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level. Experience serving as a member of a smokejumper crew that parachutes into rugged terrain for fire management purposes. OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., (coursework must be directly related to the position being filled such as forestry, range management, agriculture). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester/54 quarter hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Examples of specialized experience are: Assisted with more than one smokejumper program responsibilities such as, planed, schedules and coordinated all aspects of smokejumper training. Anticipated and identified training and development needed for current and projected smokejumper operations and provides training to meet those needs. Responded to complex fire assignments, assessed probable fire behavior, and determined strategy of initial attack and suppression needs. Inspected and maintained smokejumper aircraft, aircraft accessories and equipment for fire readiness. Smokejumper duties present unusual hazards and require that personnel be in excellent physical condition and possess a high degree of emotional stability and mental alertness. The health of individuals must be such that they have the capacity to meet demands for performance in the position and for human reliability. Before entrance on duty, and periodically during employment, smokejumpers must undergo a medical exam, physical conditioning, and an adeptness test. Failure to meet any of the required standards will be considered disqualifying for employment or a basis of termination. See Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions. During the training period, incumbents are continually evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various aspects of parachute jumping and smokejumper-related tasks, including aircraft exit procedures, parachute landing falls, parachute maneuvering, timber let-down procedures, parachute and cargo retrieving, tree climbing, and chainsaw and hand tool use. Incumbents who cannot perform up to the required standards of proficiency will be terminated from the smokejumper program. Smokejumpers must perform safely and efficiently in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, often with severe smoke and dust. Terrain may be extremely steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with thick tangled vegetation. Conditions riding in aircraft may be hot, cramped, and extremely turbulent, which may promote airsickness. The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (jump suit, helmet, boots, gloves, fire resistant clothing, etc.) be worn and protective equipment, including fire shelters, be carried. Selective Placement Factors: A minimum 90 days 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. Must be currently licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger. Currently or have been previously qualified as a smokejumper on an organized wildland fire smokejumper crew. 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]