Lead Wildland Firefighter (Hotshot/Handcrew)

United-States-Forest-Service; Acton (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The USDA Forest ServicePacific Southwest Region, Region 5 seeks a primary wildland firefighter to perform suppression duties, lead crews, and support prevention, fuels reduction, and prescribed burning.

Candidates must meet NWCG qualifications (FFT1, S290) and provide IQCS/IFPM documentation; currency in NWCG qualifications is required to be maintained after hire. This is a federal firefighting role with standard firefighting retirement coverage and WCT participation.

Qualifications

• Specialized fire suppression experience or equivalent.
• Ability to lead crew members in field operations.
• Knowledge of NWCG standards and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform wildland firefighting work and lead crews in suppression, prevention, and prescribed burning tasks.
• Coordinate training, safety, and operations for frontline crews.

Skills

Wildland firefighting

Crew leadership

Prevention & fuels reduction

Job description

This position is located at USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region, Region 5.

The primary purpose of this position is to perform wildland firefighting work and to lead crews performing work related to wildland fire suppression. Including but not limited to preparedness, prevention, monitoring, hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed burning.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Brian Grabowski at [e-mail]. In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GW-5: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-4 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as some of the following: Served as a skilled wildland firefighter on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) to suppress a full range of fires and/or independently, or with one or two other crew members, carried out specialized assignments such as tree felling, mop-up, patrolling and/or burnout and/or operated and maintained equipment such as a Pulaski, shovel, McLeod, ax, chainsaw, portable pumps or drip torches for fire suppression tasks.

For the GW-6 level:

You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-5 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as some of the following: Certifying in one or many technical specializations such as felling, saw repair, long line, rappelling, or water handling used in fire suppression and prescribed burning and/or directing and leading crew members in various technical operations on wildland fires and/or and serving as a wildland or prescribed fire crew member.

Selective Placement Factors

Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND- Successfully completed the NWCG Course (S290).

Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service - Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications must be met by the time of selection. Most recent IQCS master record and/or signed Agency Certified task book must be attached to your application. If you are selected, you may be required to submit an updated IQCS master record or signed Agency Certified task book as proof of attainment of IFPM requirements prior to a final verbal offer.

In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.

Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement -OR-currently occupy a permanent position with primary fire fighter retirement coverage.

For those who do not currently occupy a permanent Federal position covered under primary fire fighter retirement, you must be under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position; or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the requirement.

This position has been identified as (HIGH) or (MODERATE) or (LOW) Complexity under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy. IFPM or FS-FPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training. The applicant must possess these qualifications at the applicable complexity level to be considered eligible for this position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE:

This is a primary/rigorous position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters:

This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS, MODERATE, or LIGHT level is a condition of employment.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.