Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management)

United-States-Forest-Service; Quemado (NM); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Forest Service unit in the Southwestern Region (Region 3) seeks personnel for a field fire management role focused on prescribed fire and fuels management.

Qualifications include NWCG core requirements and IFPM/FS-FPM standards. Applicants must show required certifications and be able to provide IQCS Master Records or equivalent documentation to support eligibility by the closing date.

Qualifications

• One year specialized experience equivalent to GW-04 in the federal service or successful completion of a 4-year college with major in Fire Science/Fire Technology or related fields.
• GW-05 requires either experience at GW-04 or education/experience combination.
• GW-06 requires one year at GW-05 level; GW-07 one year at GW-06 level.

Responsibilities

• Participation in prescribed fire operations including line prep, ignition, and holding strategies.
• Fuels management duties: inventory, reports, hazard reduction projects, monitoring conditions.
• Ensure compliance with NWCG core qualifications and IFPM/FS-FPM requirements.

Job description

These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit, Southwestern Region, Region 3.

These positions serve in a key fire management position in a field fire management organization performing Prescribed Fire/Fuels Management work.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Tobe Haught 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-05

One year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-04 grade level in the Federal service; - OR- Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields of study is qualifying for GW-05 -OR- a combination of education and experience.

Examples of Specialized experience include:

Served as an advanced trainee performing specific wildland fire suppression duties, such as extinguished burning materials by moving dirt, and/or applying water by hose or retardant; Used a variety of hand and power tools, including chainsaws, firing equipment, and/or portable pumps to suppress fires; preformed standard fuels management duties involving broadcast burning, hand and machine piling, helitorch, and/or other brush disposal techniques.

For the GW-06

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-05 grade level in federal service or equivalent.

Examples of specialized experience may include

Participated in prescribed fire operations including line preparation, igniting, and/or holding strategies; Collected and compiled fuels management field inventory data where a variety of fuel variations were involved; Inventoried fuel beds, prepared associated reports, performed hazard fuel reduction projects, monitored burning conditions, piling vegetation debris and/or acted in assigned positions such as ignition or holding specialist or other designated positions during actual fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire.

For the GW-07

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-06 grade level in federal service or equivalent.

Examples of specialized experience may include

Participated in routine aspects of inventorying and monitoring for wildland fire, prescribed fire, and/or natural resource activities; Planned and/or directed field resource data collection for fuel hazard management program; Assisted in the development and/or implementation of specific plans for fuels treatment projects.

Selective Placement Factors:

For the GW-06 and GW-07 Grade Levels Only: Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirements of Firefighter 1 (FFT1) and Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5).

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.

This position has been identified 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 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. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.

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 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.