Supervisory Wildland Firefighter

Clarification from the agency

ALL U.S. CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: These positions will be filled using Direct Hire Authority for this occupation. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

Serves as the Fire Management Officer Directing all phases of the assigned fire program unit to include fire management planning, aviation management, training and workforce planning, fire preparedness, fuels management and fire prevention, dispatching, suppression, post-suppression, and all hazard and emergency response activities. Performs/supervises administrative program management functions such as planning; budget formulation and execution; stewardship of physical facilities, equipment, vehicles, and accountable property; development and implementation of training and development programs; and implementation of cooperative agreements. Facilitates fire management planning activities; and develops local/annual operating plans and provides staff technical direction in the execution of master plans. Collaborates with unit/tribal leadership while also serving on and representing the units and BIA on various interagency teams, and work groups dealing with specific local, geographic, or national fire management issues. Works with a variety of complex technical problems relating to fire weather, smoke management, fire behavior, and computer fire modeling. Makes periodic inspections of the fire management organization and operations for compliance with approved plans, rules, regulations, and standards to ensure that an adequate and effective fire management force is being maintained. Establishes priorities for fire hazard reduction, prescribed burns and fuels management based on minimizing potential damage and maximizing multiple resource benefit and enhancement. Ensures the fuels management program is consistent with ecosystem management principles and land use plans. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; and evaluates work performance of employees.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship Required You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit You may be required to successfully complete a probationary period A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. This position requires the incumbent to possess and maintain a valid state driver's license. This position is subject to pre-employment and annual medical screening and physical fitness testing for employment purposes. This is a Testing Designated Position and is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. Completion of NWCG course M-581, Fire Program Management within one year of entrance on duty, if not obtained at time of hire.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) - Moderate Complexity and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position.

GS-11 : 1 year of specialized wildland fire management work experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service that includes directing multiple phases of fire management programs on Federally managed lands to include fire management planning, aviation management, training and workforce planning, fire preparedness, fuels management and fire prevention, dispatching, suppression, post-suppression, as well as all hazard and emergency response activities. Examples of specialized experience include work involving all phases of the fire program management including planning, program direction, coordination, evaluation; and assigning wildland firefighter crews. Providing leadership and supervision for fire management staff during preparedness and incident response assignments. Developing, reviewing and evaluating fire management plans for ecological soundness or consistency with land management goals and/or potentially adverse impacts to cultural and natural resources. Analyzing and/or applying fire management strategies in mobilization and/or dispatch coordination, fire prevention and education, training, logistics, equipment development and deployment, fire communication systems, suppression and preparedness or aviation/ Supervising administrative program functions such as planning, budget formulation/execution. Conducting field inspections before and after prescribed or wildland fires to determine if resource objectives were achieved and/or evaluating the effectiveness of actions taken. Analyzing fuel loadings and determining appropriate fuel treatment methods (i.e. prescribed fire, mechanical, chemical, or biological treatments). Evaluating prescribed burn plans or fire management plans to ensure fire containment is possible and identify appropriate suppression contingencies if fire containment is not obtained. Developing agreements to support fire management activities across multiple units. Participating in fire management review processes including program reviews, incident reviews, and/or fuels treatment reviews.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. This position is one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard categorized as a Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) - Moderate Complexity , and requires the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:
Moderate Pathway #1: Primary Core Requirement - Task Force Leader (TFLD), or higher. Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), or higher. -OR-
Moderate Pathway #2: Primary Core Requirement - Helibase Manager (HEBM), or higher. Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3), or higher. -AND-
Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience : 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. Wildland firefighting experience is required to meet qualifications for secondary (administrative) covered positions. The Department of Interior defines wildland firefighting experience as: On-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire. 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 fires as follows: 1) Wildfires - unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; 2) Prescribed Fires - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fireline 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.

Required Training: *Fire Program Management (M-581)
*This training requirement will be a condition of employment that must be completed within one year of entry on duty date.

NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration. You MUST provide a current copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other agency equivalent documentation which verifies you meet this required qualification for this position when submitting your application. Selectees for IFPM positions requiring currency will be required to obtain and maintain currency for the NWCG qualifications listed above.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE : This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the 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.

FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause).

Physical Demands: Normally the work is sedentary but often requires physical exertion while overseeing fire suppression activities including walking over rough, steep, uneven terrain in all types of weather. The incumbent is faced with emergency situations at all hours and must respond quickly. The position may require long shifts or multi-day assignments under primitive living conditions during emergencies. During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions.

Working Conditions: Although work is generally performed in an office setting. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire suppression work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn during fire assignments. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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