Associate Fire Chief (Tribal Operations)

US Office of the Secretary of the Interior; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

US Office of the Secretary of the Interior—Direct-Hire advertisement for a Wildland Firefighter (Associate Chief (Tribal Operations)), GW-0456-13, with the US Wildland Fire Service. Location: Boise, Idaho.

Minimum qualifications include substantial service in a primary wildland firefighting role and documented experience; selective placement factors apply. Candidates must provide evidence of qualifying experience by 08/20/2026. Travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Substantial service in a primary wildland firefighting position.
• At least one full fire season in a primary wildland firefighting role or at least 14 days of fireline experience.

Job description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority

This Wildland Firefighter (Associate Chief (Tribal Operations)), GW-0456-13 position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, working in the following location:

• Boise, Idaho

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement Factor(s): 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.

Substantial service in a primary firefighter position. Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either:

• At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization;
  - OR -
• At least 14-days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).

Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume.

Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement.

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.

Only experience and education obtained by 08/20/2026 will be considered.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Minimum Qualification

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-12 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Advising leadership and staff on fire management policy and implementation strategies on Tribal lands; providing strategic long-range planning, leadership, guidance, coordination and evaluation of a fire program; formulating annual budgets; coordinating wildland fire protection on the public and Indian trust lands. Serve as wildland fire management program expert and technical advisor to managers. Participates in the development of policy and guidance, including work with interagency and intra-agency partners in at least 4 of the following responsibilities: Operations, Aviation, Fuels Management, Prevention, Planning, and Training.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting. Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, although a level of physical fitness is required which will allow for work during periods of extended stress and in the field when wildland fire situations arise.

Work Environment: The work is normally performed in an office; however, travel to field units and various meetings and conferences is required.