Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. We expect to fill 1 vacancy at this time for El Cajon, CA. This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet

Duties

May serve as a fire investigator, if qualified, and provides training and guidance for new fire investigators. Conducts, documents, and submits fire investigations on public lands for review by an authorizing Fire Management Officer. Works with homeowners, community stakeholders, government officials, and the public about mitigating potential threats to communities from wildfire. Develops and incorporates products and programs based on latest wildfire educational concepts, applications, and material. Develops and implements a strategic messaging plan that efficiently promotes the overall fire prevention message and adjusts to changes in audiences and approach. Plans for disseminating fire prevention messages and information with local cooperators and surrounding public. Implements wildfire prevention and mitigation programs and activities with the local communities, news media, and general public in the form of meetings, newsletters, events, programs, social media, and posting in community facilities. Develops, writes, and implements wildfire prevention plans to reduce human caused ignitions. Implements an active patrol and public contact regime on high use public lands during special events, holiday weekends, or during times of high fire danger. Determines the cause and origin of a wildfire by observing, collecting, and preserving and/or examining evidence. Collects and obtains witness statements and prepares written reports which includes diagrams, maps, and photos as appropriate for a wildland fire investigation. Prepares fire trespass cases, coordinates with law enforcement, agency administrator, state/regional fire trespass coordinator, solicitor’s office, budget, and fire business specialists on cost-recovery efforts. Provides input to management for legal restitution for losses resulting from fire trespass as necessary.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
• This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
• You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• You must pass a pre-employment physical.
• You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wild land fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications.
• You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
• An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
• May require a one year probationary period.
• Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• Supervisory Probationary Period: If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one year supervisory/managerial probationary period if one has not previously been completed.

Qualifications

This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. For the GS-09: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-08 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Implementing wildland fire prevention (reducing unwanted human-caused ignitions) and mitigation (reducing damage and loss from wildland fires that do occur) programs as well as a fire investigation and trespass (cost recovery) program. Participate in public outreach and education programs to prevent or mitigate wildfires, working with communities and other organizations with a vested interest in loss from wildfire, and investigating wildland fires. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire: Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. This is a SECONDARY/Administrative fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, although a level of physical fitness is required which will allow for work during periods of extended stress and in the field when wildland fire situations arise. During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions. The incumbent must be in good physical condition in order to safety perform field activities. The incumbent must be able to perform duties in areas of uncontrolled wildfire where hazardous conditions exist. The incumbent must be able to fly as a passenger in helicopters and single engine fixed wing aircraft. Work Environment: Although work is generally performed in an office setting, intermittent field work is involved. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire investigation work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.

Education

Education may not be used to qualify for this position.

Contacts

• Address BLM California State Office BLM California State Office, CA-945 2800 Cottage Way Suite W-1623 Sacramento, CA 95825 US
• Name: Katherine Pomaville
• Email: kpomaville@blm.gov