Wildland Firefighter (Aviation)

U.S. Forest Service; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Forest Service is seeking a crewmember on a fire crew to support airtanker base operations within a National Forest.

The incumbent will maintain airtanker facilities, the aircraft ramp, and related equipment to ensure safe and efficient firefighting activities. Primary duties include operating airtanker systems, performing aviation and ground support tasks, and delivering retardants per specifications.

Qualifications

• Must be a US citizen or US national.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
• Subject to background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit required for federal employment.
• May require a valid state CDL or other licenses as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Operates complex airtanker equipment systems with multiple components requiring precise coordination.
• Performs aviation and ground support duties, including servicing and operating batch mixers, tanks, pumps, valves, and hoses.
• Mixes, stores, inspects, tests, and delivers fire retardants per specifications.
• Parks, positions, and launches firefighting aircraft at the base.
• Assists in airtanker hot loading and simultaneous loading operations.
• Compiles data for recurring and special Forest Service reports and records.

Skills

Wildland firefighting experience

Airtanker base ops

Job description

Summary

This position is located within a National Forest. The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization. This position is established on a Forest unit to serve as an Airtanker Base Support. The incumbent maintains airtanker base, aircraft ramp, facilities, vehicles and equipment.

Major Duties

• Operates complex airtanker equipment systems with numerous components that must be carefully synchronized or calibrated.
• Performs various aviation and ground support activities, such as servicing and operating batch mixers, tanks, and related components including pumps, valves, and hoses.
• Mixes, stores, inspects, tests, and delivers fire retardants to various specifications.
• Performs duties of parking and launching firefighting aircraft to/from base.
• Assists in airtanker "Hot Loading and Simultaneous Loading" operations.
• Computes, compiles, and summarizes data for preparation of recurring and special Forest Service reports and records.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.gov.
• Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result.
• This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.
• This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336© (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS).
• Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
• There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions.

Evaluations

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the selecting official. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Required Documents

• Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
• If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty.
• Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards.
• There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

Other Information

• PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2027 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between April 18, 2027 to June 13, 2027.
• By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement.
• Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.
• This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition.
• The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds.
• Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement.
• Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.
• The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement.
• Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.
• If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay.
• This position is not eligible for telework.
• Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location.
• Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.