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Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management)
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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.
$67,017 / year median in Washington
+9% projected growth
Job Description
Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) Department of the Interior Office of the Secretary of the Interior US Wildland Fire Service Summary This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position. To learn more about Direct-Hire authority, go to: OPM.
GOV Hiring Information:
Direct Hire Fact Sheet 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 This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.Duties Major Duties:
Directs all aspects of the fuels management program including planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation. Develops and implements short-term fire management objectives and strategies based on the effects and behavior of prescribed fire. Analyzes, evaluates, and makes recommendations on all sections of the Fire Management Plan pertaining to prescribed fire and fuels treatments. Plans, designs, and conducts project assessments which determine the condition of wildland fuels. Plans and administers the technical and administrative aspects of the prescribed fire/fuels plan, ensuring that preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation comply with applicable standards, regulations, policies, and guidelines. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation Drug testing position. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Official U.S. Wildland Fire Service uniform required A condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a [1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period] during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.DRIVERS LICENSE
Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license throughout their employment in this position. May require additional specialized training and certification to operate specialized vehicles and equipment. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. You may be expected to travel overnights on fire suppression or fire related assignments for this position as needed. Direct Deposit Required. Qualifications This key fire management position is a categorized under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard as a Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist-Moderate Complexity. 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/ .The following qualifications are required:
Primary Core Requirement:
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)Secondary Core Requirement:
Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3),- OR•Task Force Leader (TFLD),•OR•Helibase Manager (HEBM) Once Qualified, Currency not required.
Basic Qualification Requirements:
Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization;- OR•At least 14-days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).
Note:
an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement. Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage- Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.
Wildfire:
Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.Prescribed Fires:
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. Only experience and education obtained by 08/25/2026 will be considered. You may qualify at the GW-11 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-09 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include Developing, reviewing and evaluating fire management plans for ecological soundness and consistency with fire management goals and objectives; analyzing fuel loadings and determining appropriate fuel treatment methods. Work that involved directing a prescribed fire/fuels management program that includes a full range of fuels management activities and functions at the unit level. These functions include prescribed fire, mechanical and biological fuels treatments, fire effects monitoring, fuels monitoring, and smoke monitoring. Served as the technical expert on fuels management and identifies and analyzes multiple variables such as weather, fuels, topography, fire behavior, smoke impacts, employee, and public safety, in strategically developing and implementing fuels management projects. 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.- Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.
Physical Demands:
Work in the office is primarily sedentary. Field work does require frequent physical exertion, involving walking over rough terrain, sometimes for extended periods, and working under occasionally inclement (hot, cold, snow, wind, etc.) weather 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:
Work is performed in both an office and field setting with field work. 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 management 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. Additional information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claimingCTAP/ICTAP
eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.For more information visit:
http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.Reasonable Accommodation:
The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspxAdditional Vacancies:
One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.Telework:
This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.PCS INFORMATION
- No PCS entitlements authorized
Probation/Trial Period Con't:
The [probationary or trial] period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.
- OR•trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
- You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required NWCG minimum qualifications for this IFPM position.
CTAP/ICTAP
Documentation:
documentation verifying yourCTAP/ICTAP
eligibility- this includes a copy of the agency notice and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location.
- particularly the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
- as well as non-federal agencies, state foresters, tribes, and a variety of stakeholder groups representing volunteer firefighters.