Fish and Wildlife Service will be filling two Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management), GS-0456-07 permanent full-time positions located at: Region 4, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Brooksville, MS Region 6, Great Plains Fire Management Zone, Madison, SD

Duties

Operations and Preparedness Participates with higher-graded fuels management staff, fire management officers, and/or specialists in fuels management planning, implementation and monitoring. Conducts on-the-ground inspections or visits to field units. Conducts routine field reconnaissance of prescribed fire/fuels treatment units, summarizes field findings, and makes basic recommendations on appropriate prescriptive criteria for meeting program objectives. Makes recommendations for fuels treatment plans. Administers routine technical aspects of the prescribed fire plans, ensuring that preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation are completed to the standards specified. Administers routine technical aspects of mechanical and biological fuels treatment plans, ensures preparation, project layout, implementation and rehabilitation are completed to the standards specified. Participates in all aspects of a fire management program including fuels management, fire suppression, fire prevention, planning, monitoring, and post-fire activities. Applies an understanding of firefighter safety, fire behavior, topography of the area, weather, fuels, and training in fire management work to direct suppression operations and to recommend and implement tactical strategy on attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires, monitoring fire activity, building or patrolling firelines, cleaning up burned areas within firelines, suppressing spot fires, felling snags or trees, and cutting brush. Prepares control lines for burnout operations and participates in ignition/firing operations. Coordinates with aircraft for aviation support missions. Planning Conducts routine project assessments to determine the condition presence or absence of wildland fuels. Collects data on fuel conditions and fire behavior through a variety of methods, including field surveys, computer modeling software, and prescribed treatment methods. Results are reported to the supervisor, or higher-level fuels staff, and used in the determination and prioritization of fuels management projects. Identifies fuels management objectives by reviewing various land management plans and recommends the appropriate treatment. Provides basic assistance in establishing study plots to assess fire and fire suppression impacts on the ecosystem. Participates in the development and refinement of plot characteristics, frequency of visits, subjects to be measured, and data storage and analysis techniques.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• Drug testing position
• Medical Requirements
• Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform required
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• You must meet specialized experience to qualify
• Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service

Qualifications

This key fire management position is a categorized under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard in a Low Complexity position. Minimum IFPM qualification standards must be met prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at https://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/. Prior experience in wild land firefighting is required in order to carry out the duties of this position. You will not be considered for this position if you do not have prior wild land firefighting experience in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience Note: The position is covered under the secondary/administrative category for special firefighter retirement provisions. You may meet qualification requirements but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system. Only experience and education obtained by 09/05/2024 will be considered. ***Your resume MUST include BEGINNING and END DATES specified in MONTH/YEAR to MONTH/YEAR format. In addition, your resume MUST reflect FULL-TIME/PART-TIME or total number of HOURS worked per week*** Minimum Qualifications for Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management), GS-0456-07: Possess one year of specialized wildland fire experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include performing fuels management activities and functions including prescribed fire, mechanical and biological fuels treatments, fire effects monitoring, fuels monitoring, smoke monitoring and preparing fuels treatment projects. Selective Factor IFPM Qualifications for Prescribed Fire and Fuels Technician (Low Complexity): Fully qualified ini Engine Boss (ENGB) or Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB) or Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB) or Helicopter Manager, Single Resource (HMGB) AND Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) NOTE: You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation. 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. The Work Capacity Test (WCT-Pack Test) as a method for assessing an employee's fitness levels for fire qualifications in the positions covered by this recruitment notice. Arduous fitness (WCT-Pack Test) will consist of completing a three-mile hike, within 45 minutes, while carrying a 45 pound pack. NOTE: Arduous Work Capacity Test (https://www.nwcg.gov/how-to-become-a-wildland-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. 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.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: 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.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: 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.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Contacts

• Address
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Email: [email protected]