Wildland Firefighter (Lead Firefighter) (Engines/Hotshot/Fuels/Veteran Crews)

Summary Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. We expect to fill many vacancies for positions located in the Central California District and Northern California District. This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship is required. Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections. You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands. Direct Deposit Required. Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination. Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume. This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work. This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status. You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position. You must pass a pre-employment physical. You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wildland fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications. You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions. An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position. May require a one year probationary period. Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. This is a Bargaining Unit position. This is a career seasonal position. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months, but less than 12 months per calendar year. When work and/or funds are unavailable, you will be placed into non-pay status. Qualifications Specialized Experience: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualifications - include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. All Crew Types - Specialized Experience: For the GS-4: You must possess 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-3 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trainee wildland firefighter. - OR - 2-year course of study above high school, from an accredited college or university, in Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Technology or in other related fields which included at least 12 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, or natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography). - OR - A combination of the education and work experience described above. All Crew Types - Specialized Experience: For the GS-5: You must possess 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-4. Examples of specialized work experience include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trainee wildland firefighter; or serving as a crewmember utilizing a variety of specialized fire tools, equipment, and techniques while actively suppressing wildfires. Performing basic fireline activities such as line construction, hose layout, operations of pumps and accessories, lopping and scattering of fuels using hand tools. -OR- 4 years of related education above the high school level. - OR - a combination of education and experience. Engine Specialized Experience - For the GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: 1) experience serving as a senior wildland firefighter on a wildland fire module or crew with on-the-line wildland fire experience in fire control, prevention or suppression work, and 2) utilizing and maintaining a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. There is no education substitution for this position at the GS-06 grade level. IHC Specialized Experience - For the GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required, serving as a GS-05 wildland firefighter on a handcrew, wildland or prescribed fire module, as chainsaw operator (including maintenance and minor repairs), preparing and hooking longlines and external loads. Performs preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collects fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Maintains and operates specialized equipment, including emergency repairs. Education cannot be used to qualify for this grade level. Veteran Crew Specialized Experience - For the GS-6: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-5 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Serve as a senior wildland firefighter on a handcrew, or on a wildland or prescribed fire module. Perform the duties of a chainsaw operator and performs chainsaw maintenance and minor repair. Prepare and hook longlines and external loads. Perform all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Collect fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records Fuels Specialized Experience - For GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required, Served as a wildland firefighter on a handcrew or prescribed fire crew. Performs the duties of a fully qualified chain saw operator and chainsaw repair technician. Certified in the use of helicopter long lines. Performs all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Collects fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records. Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents. Responsible for operation and maintenance of specialized equipment used to respond to wildland and prescribed fire situations. Accomplishes emergency repairs as necessary to permit continued use of equipment. Selective Placement Factor(s) GS-06 ONLY:This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified. Requirement: 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 Senior Firefighter and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at www.ifpm.nifc.gov. To meet IFPM requirements for this position, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required): Engine: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290 IHC: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) S-211 Portable Pumps & Water Use S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws S-270 Basic Air Operations S-290 Intermediate Fire Behavior Veteran Crew: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) FAL3 Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290) Fuels: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290) The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian 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 loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims. Education If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information. Additional information DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): 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, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee. This position is not eligible for Telework. Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in forest, range and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees F to below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Physical Demands: Essential functions require arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting. Duties involve fieldwork requiring above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. This is a career seasonal eligible position. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months, but less than 12 months per calendar year. When work and/or funds are unavailable, you will be placed into non-pay status. Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment. Read more Benefits 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. Review our 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.