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FS
Forest Service
Lead Wildland Firefighter (Hotshot/Handcrew)
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What they do
A Firefighter responds to fire alarms and other emergency calls. Puts out fires and rescues people from buildings. Responds to medical emergencies and assists with search and rescue efforts and industrial or hazardous waste accidents. Provides fire prevention programs or inspections in the community. May be specially trained to fight forest fires.
$61,679 / year median in Arizona
+10% projected growth
Job Description
Lead Wildland Firefighter (Hotshot/Handcrew) Department of Agriculture Forest Service Summary This position is located will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit.. The primary purpose of this position is to perform wildland firefighting work and to lead crews performing such work. These crews perform work directly related to wildland fire suppression and control activities including suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring, hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed burning. See
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
section for the specific contact information. This job is open to The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Clarification from the agency Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. Duties Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-06 level. Serve as a lead wildland firefighter on a handcrew on a prescribed/suppression fire crew. Performs prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop up. Constructs handlines in various vegetative types. Make initial evaluation of fire situations, determine rate of spread, potential hazards to property and other improvements, suppression method to use, hose lays, deployment of crew, point of initial attack, and application of water. Provide daily leadership and training for the crewmembers. Serves as a working leader over 3 or more crewmembers, at least one of which is a GS-05. May also lead additional technicians and detailers. Use a variety of specialized tools, equipment and techniques to actively suppress fires and firing equipment. Perform the duties of a fully qualified chainsaw operator. Perform chainsaw maintenance and makes minor repairs. Provide training in wildland fire and safety techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression. Requirements Conditions of employment 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. 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. Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable). 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. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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 Requirement:
For the GW-5 level : Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-4 grade level OR; a bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable); OR an appropriate combination of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.Examples of specialized experience include:
Served as a skilled wildland firefighter on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) to suppress a full range of fires and/or independently, or with one or two other crew members, carried out specialized assignments such as tree felling, mop-up, patrolling and/or burnout and/or operated and maintained equipment such as a Pulaski, shovel, McLeod, ax, chainsaw, portable pumps or drip torches for fire suppression tasks. For the GW-6 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-5).Examples of specialized experience include:
Certifying in one or many technical specializations such as felling, saw repair, long line, rappelling, or water handling used in fire suppression and prescribed burning and/or directing and leading crew members in various technical operations on wildland fires and/or and serving as a wildland or prescribed fire crew member. Selective Placement Factors Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of FireFighter Type 1 (FFT1)- AND•Successfully completed the additional training requirement of
NWCG Course:
Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290). Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service- Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications must be met by the time of selection.
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. 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•OR-currently occupy a permanent position with primary fire fighter retirement coverage.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE
This is a primary/rigorous 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) forWildland Firefighters:
This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at 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 SeeQUALIFICATIONS
section for education requirements. Additional information For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov) Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region- Timothy Griffin at timothy.e.griffin@usda.gov Region 3: Southwestern Region
- Tobe Haught at tobe.haught@usda.gov Region 8: Southern Region
- Russ Marchion at russell.marchion@usda.gov Region 9: Eastern Region
- Brian Hicks at brian.
Job Corps Center:
All Region- Dirk Huber at dirk.
- 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97.
PROMOTION POTENTIAL
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position. Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.Note:
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13027350 Required Documents The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.Resume that includes:
Personal Information:
name, address, contact information; Education ; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications . Resume cannot exceed 2 pages . If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. If requesting maximum entry age (MEA) waiver, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. For additional veteran information visitFEDSHIREVETS
. 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. Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education . Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. How to Apply Please view Tips for Applicants- a guide to the Forest Service application process. Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (7:00 a.m.
- 3:30 p.m., Mountain Time Zone, Monday
- Friday).
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Albuquerque, NM 87109 US Next steps Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS to check your application status. We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Under the Fair Chance Act , agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to sm.fs.hrm_elr@usda.gov , subject line: Fair Chance Act. Additional locations Fredonia, AZ Globe, AZ Happy Jack, AZ Hereford, AZ Lakeside, AZ Mesa, AZ Overgaard, AZ Payson, AZ Prescott, AZ Springerville, AZ Williams, AZ Bayfield, CO Boulder, CO Canon City, CO Collbran, CO Del Norte, CO Dolores, CO Durango, CO Fort Collins, CO Granby, CO Grand Junction, CO Gunnison, CO Lake George, CO Monte Vista, CO Montrose, CO Monument, CO Nederland, CO Pagosa Springs, CO Red Feather Lakes, CO Rifle, CO Salida, CO Shawnee, CO Silverthorne, CO Steamboat Springs, CO Walden, CO Woodland Park, CO Yampa, CO Chatsworth, GA Mammoth Cave, KY Morehead, KY Whitley City, KY Wellston, MI Cassville, MO Potts Camp, MS Asheville, NC Chadron, NE Albuquerque, NM Glenwood, NM Magdalena, NM Mimbres, NM Quemado, NM Reserve, NM Ruidoso, NM Sacramento, NM Santa Fe, NM Silver City, NM Taos, NM Truth or Consequences, NM Clemson, SC Custer, SD Nemo, SD Spearfish, SD Unicoi, TN Augusta Springs, VA Blacksburg, VA Edinburg, VA Hot Springs, VA Sugar Grove, VA Buffalo, WY Cody, WY Douglas, WY Dubois, WY Greybull, WY Lander, WY Laramie, WY Saratoga, WY Forest Service A career with the Forest Service will challenge you to manage and care for more than 193 million acres of our nation's most magnificent lands, conduct research through a network of forest and range experiment stations and the Forest Products Laboratory, and provide assistance to State and private forestry agencies. It's an awesome responsibility- but the rewards are as limitless as the views.