Wildland Fire Management Trainee

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. DIRECT HIRING AUTHORITY will be used to fill this position.

Responsibilities

As a participant in the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program, you will take on the role of a registered apprentice, developing your skills as a wildland firefighter trainee. This entry-level position involves working within a wildland fire module or crew, engaging in fire management tasks that encompass fire preparedness, fuels management, prevention, and suppression, as well as monitoring and post-fire activities. Responsibilities may also extend to all hazard and emergency response operations. Fire modules or crews consist of Hand Crews, Engine Crews, and Helitack Crews, with specific areas of focus including aviation, fire engine operation, fire management planning, fuels management, helitack, and prevention. The duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Function as a registered apprentice in a developmental capacity as a wildland firefighter trainee. Combat wildland fires under extreme heat conditions. Operate pump engines, prime pumps, adjust engine speeds and pump valves, lay hoses, and utilize appropriate nozzles and adjustments for effective water and additive use. Conduct minor repairs and maintenance on engines; inspect, check, and service accessories such as pumps, water lines, tanks, reels, or pump power plants; and ensure fire readiness. Inspect, clean, and store hoses. Make emergency repairs and adjustments to pumps while in operation. Perform line construction and mop-up tasks. Execute chainsaw operations and perform basic chainsaw maintenance. Additional apprenticeship training assignments may include trail maintenance; may be assigned to a fire lookout for fire reporting; and, with training, may serve in a wildland fire dispatch center communicating weather and resource status. Collect and analyze information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in response to wildland fire incidents. Responsible for the operation and upkeep of specialized equipment utilized in wildland and prescribed fire situations. Duties listed are at the full performance level of the position. Responsibilities may include serving on one or more of the following module types: hand crew, helitack, or engine. Will combat wildland fires in extreme heat conditions.

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Full-Time, Career Seasonal
This is a Career-Seasonal position. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. Selectee is guaranteed to work at least 6 months per year but not more than 50 weeks per year, with the work schedule determined upon appointment. Work schedule and periods of non-pay status are contingent upon funding and operational needs. On an annual basis, employee signs a "career-seasonal" agreement with the supervisor which defines the work schedule for that year. After 90 days in this position, employee's work schedule may be changed to a permanent non-career seasonal position. In which case they will work 12 months per year.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. High School or GED Certificate. Incumbents are required to sign the US Department of Labor apprentice agreement and adhere to the standards established by the National Interagency Joint Apprentice Agreement Committee. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training. As part of the apprenticeship program, you will travel and attend compulsory training in a residential academy setting. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. 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. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotorwing aircraft. You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. Government housing may be available. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Subject to frequent extended travel up to 14 or more nights per month particularly during fire season and you must obtain a government charge card for travel. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. You will also be required to periodic medical examinations throughout employment. 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. *Learn more in Next Steps Section .

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Selective Factor:
This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C c) and 5 U.S.C d) as a Primary/Rigorous 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.

-AND-
To Qualify for the GS
You must possess 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience.
OR
Successful completion of 1 year of study above high school in an accredited college or university that included at least 6 semester hours in a combination of courses such as range management or conservation, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences.
OR
An appropriate combination of education and experience that equals 100%.
To Qualify for the GS
6 months general experience; AND 6 full months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 level in the Federal Service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: forestry aid or technician work; farming or ranching work that provided a basic understanding of land use and management practices; forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work.
OR
Successfully completed two years or more of education above high school (60 semester hour or 90 quarter hours) that included at least twelve 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 (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science.
OR
A combination of the education and work experience described above. For example, I have three months of general experience and three months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 45 semester hours or 68 quarter hours of college study that included at least 9 semester hours courses as described above (50% of the education requirement).

To Qualify for the GS
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal Service demonstrated by performing range or forest fire control, prevention, or suppression work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include assisting firefighting crews in prescribed burning and wildfire suppression field operations and assisted in wildland fire suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring, hazardous fuels reduction and prescribed fire as wildland firefighter crewmember.
OR
Completed least a full 4-year course of study above high school (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a subject-matter field directly related to the position (e.g., fire science, suppression and prevention), or that included at least 24 semester hours of course work 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 (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable toward the 24 hours.
OR
Combination of education and experience that when combined meet 100% of the qualification requirements. For example, I have 6 months of the specialized experience described in A above (50% of the experience requirement), and three years of college study from an accredited institution, which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified in B above (50% of the qualifying education). NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must submit a legible copy of your transcripts (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).

Volunteer 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.

Education

When submitting college transcripts, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

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