Wildland Firefighter (Helitack)

U.S. Forest Service; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 63,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Forest Service is seeking a senior firefighter to join a helitack crew within the fire management organization. The role focuses on wildland fire suppression and hand-to-hand operations with specialized tools and equipment in challenging environments.

The position requires FFT1 certification and S-290 training, with responsibilities including load planning, helicopter operations, safety oversight, and on-site tactics to protect values at risk. Expect remote locations and possible travel.

Qualifications

• Must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit per Public Law 104-134 required.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Some Fire positions may require a CDL; pre-appointment and random drug testing; or medical examination.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations; travel may be required.
• Must pass Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters.
• FFT1 Core Requirement completed; S-290 completion noted.

Responsibilities

• Independently performs recurring fire suppression duties on a helitack crew as a senior firefighter.
• Loads helicopter personnel and cargo, considering weight, securing, and manifests.
• Inspects helicopter accessories, fire tools, and equipment; ensures availability for tasks.
• May exit helicopter to construct helispots or attack small fires and hot spots.
• May serve as certified rappeller or operate long-line loads.
• Gathers weather, topography, fuel data and fire behavior information to respond to incidents.
• Positioning resources and advising on best approaches to protect values at risk.
• Maintains specialized firefighting equipment and conducts emergency repairs as needed.
• Participates in training, safety sessions, and drills; ensures welfare and safety of crew.
• May inventory fuel beds and perform hazard fuel reduction projects.

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. The purpose of the position is wildland fire suppression/management/control as a specialized firefighter with responsibility for the operation and maintenance of specialized tools or equipment.

Major Duties

Independently performs recurring fire suppression duties on a helitack crew as a senior firefighter. Loads helicopter personnel and cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weight, etc., and completes manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work site. Inventories and inspects helicopter accessories, fire tools, and equipment. Assures that needed tools and equipment are available for firefighting tasks. May exit helicopter in remote areas to construct helispots, or to attack small fires, hot spots and spot fires. May be certified in the use of long-line external loads and the operation and maintenance of accessory equipment. May serve as a certified rappeller. Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents. When positioning and deploying personnel and equipment, recommend best approaches and practices to use in the protection of the values at risk. 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. In those instances when the apparatus cannot be used effectively in suppressing the fire, the incumbent takes aggressive control action in attacking the fire, using other means. Participates in wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression. Participates in the safe, efficient operation and use of tools, equipment, and vehicles used in fireline activities, with emphasis on those used in the particular function assigned. Participates in crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques. Ensures own and other's welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignment. Serves as an experienced firefighter on helitack or other related fire suppression modules performing fire suppression and/or fuels management duties under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain. May inventory fuel beds, prepare associated reports, perform hazard fuel reduction projects, monitor burning conditions, pile vegetation debris. Act in assigned positions such as ignition or holding specialist or other designated positions during actual fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire. May perform project work such as road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and miscellaneous equipment and facilities maintenance. May assist higher level workers in forestry/range research efforts; in the marketing of forest/range resources; or in the scientific management, protection, and development of forest/range resources. May be required to fill-in for other work leaders on established crews.

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. Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting. Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable). Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment. Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters. Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1). Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290).

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.

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. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates. 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.