Wildland Firefighter - Direct Hire Authority

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

To Qualify for the GS-04 grade level you must meet one of the following:
A. Six (6) months of general work experience and six (6) months of specialized work experience. The 6 months of general experience is work experience or military service that demonstrated the ability to follow directions and to read, understand, and retain a variety of instructions, regulations, and procedures and that otherwise demonstrates the ability to perform or learn to perform the duties of the position. And the 6 months of specialized experience must be equivalent to at least the GS-3 grade level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience duties may include, but are not limited to (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) forest fire control, prevention, or suppression work; (3) rescue operations; (4) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (5) operation of fire communications equipment when it requires specialized knowledge of firefighting techniques, equipment, and procedures to prevent and manage fires; (6) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (7) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention.
-OR-
B. Successful completion of a two (2) year course of study in an accredited college or university (60 semester hour or 90 quarter hours) in Fire Training, Fire Science, Fire Technology or other directly related fields of study, such as forestry, range management or conservation, or natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography).
-OR-
C. Combination of education and work experience that when combined meet 100% of the qualification requirements. For example, 3 months of general experience and 3 months of specialized experience as described in A above (50% of the experience requirement), and 30 semester hours of the required college coursework as specified in B above (50% of the education requirement).

To Qualify for the GS-05 grade level you must meet one of the following:
A. One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience work include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention, or suppression work as a skilled wildland firefighter, utilizing a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. In addition, such duties may include, but are not limited to (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) forest fire control, prevention, or suppression work; (3) rescue operations; (4) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (5) operation of fire communications equipment when it requires specialized knowledge of firefighting techniques, equipment, and procedures to prevent and manage fires; (6) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (7) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention.
-OR-
B. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in an accredited college or university (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) with major study in Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Technology, or other related fields of study which included 24 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography).
-OR-
C. Combination of education and work experience that when combined meet 100% of the qualification requirements. For example, 6 months of specialized experience as described in A above (50% of the experience requirement), and 60 semester hours of the required college coursework, which included at least 12 semester hours of related coursework as specified in B above (50% of the education requirement).

MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement or firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in lost eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a Primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) (FERS). date immediately prior to reaching an individual's 37th birthday is the maximum entry age (MEA) at which an applicant can be initially appointed into a primary firefighter position. Applicants initially appointed to a primary position MUST NOT have reached their 37^th birthday. Applicants over the MEA of 37 MUST have enough prior covered service under the Firefighter Special Retirement benefit in order to be eligible for re-entry into a primary firefighter position.

Temporary primary/rigorous covered service will only be credited if performed prior to January 1, 1989 (temporary service performed beginning 1/1/89 or later is not creditable for retirement). Applicants are responsible for submitting all supporting documentation prior to the closing date of a vacancy for an MEA determination. Acceptable forms of documentation consist of SF-50's showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable Federal civilian appointments or copies of agency approved certification letters based upon individual claims for coverage. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

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

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date.

The duties of this position are so rigorous that employment is limited to physically vigorous individuals who must meet established maximum age and physical qualification requirements.

Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.

Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing)