Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper)

Forest Service (DOA); Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 31,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Forest Service is seeking a smokejumper on a National Forest fire crew. The role involves parachute jumps and a range of wildland fire suppression duties with responsibility for incident command and reporting when assigned.

The position requires completing annual training, operating jump gear, and coordinating with spotters. Location is negotiable after selection; duties may include travel to fire assignments and remote locations.

Qualifications

• GW-06: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-5 grade level in federal service or equivalent.
• GW-06: Education cannot be substituted for this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Serves as an experienced smokejumper, performing parachute jumps, and a variety of wildland fire suppression duties.
• Makes parachute jumps from various aircraft under many conditions while executing landings on rough terrain, open areas, mountain slopes, or timber.
• Performs wildland fire suppression duties using a variety of hand and power tools (such as Pulaski, shovel, chain saw, and McLeod).
• As assigned may jump as incident commander, determining fire strategy, making work assignments, reviewing work performance, completing fire and time reports.

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. Serves as a smokejumper, performing a variety of duties in the areas of parachute jumping and fire suppression.

Salary

: $27.63 – $27.63 per hour Salary is reflective of the new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for the General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective 3/23/2025.

Pay Scale and Grade

GW 6

Promotion Potential

None

Location

Redmond, OR; Winthrop, WA; Location Negotiable After Selection

Work Schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Occasional travel – Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment

Appointment Type

Temporary

Job Series

0456 Wildland Fire Management

Union

No

Drug Test

Yes

Security Clearance

Other

Position Sensitivity and Risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Background Check Type

Suitability/Fitness

Financial Disclosure Required

No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement Number

27-TEMPF3-R6-2PC036-6DH

Control Number

890779300

Open To

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Eligibility and Conditions of Employment

• 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.

Duties

• Serves as an experienced smokejumper, performing parachute jumps, and a variety of wildland fire suppression duties.
• Makes parachute jumps from various aircraft under many conditions while executing landings on rough terrain, open areas, mountain slopes, or timber.
• Performs wildland fire suppression duties using a variety of hand and power tools (such as Pulaski, shovel, chain saw, and McLeod).
• As assigned may jump as incident commander, determining fire strategy, making work assignments, reviewing work performance, completing fire and time reports. May also serve as single resource boss.
• Participates in and successfully completes annual refresher training in parachute jumping, parachute handling, firefighting, and use of specialized tools and techniques.
• Coordinates with spotter to select jump spot. Makes advanced tactical decisions, evaluates fire behavior and potential fire risk to determine resource needs.
• Plans logistical needs for multiple shifts. May obtain FAA certifications such as Senior or Master Parachute Rigger. Packs and maintains parachutes for intentional jumping for self and others, packs reserve parachutes as well.
• Constructs and maintains gear such as parachute harness, jump gear and other equipment to ensure jump program functionality.
• May participate in training new smokejumpers to become proficient with physical and mental requirements of smokejumper positions.
• Ensures airplane is loaded properly. Constructs and maintains cargo containers and cargo parachutes for paracargo operations.
• May serve as Assistant Spotter, during fire and paracargo missions, using CRM skills to assist with paracargo and smokejumper deployments.
• Travel to fire assignments may vary from parachute jumping to foot travel, truck, bus, helicopter, etc.
• May be assigned to other resource management activities such as recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fire suppression duties.
• May inventory fuel beds, prepare associated reports, perform hazard fuel reduction projects, monitor burning conditions, pile vegetation debris and act in assigned positions during fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire.

Qualifications

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.

GW-06: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-5 grade level in federal service or equivalent.

GW-06: Education cannot be substituted for this grade level.

Examples of specialized experience include: Performed parachute jumps under many conditions while executing landings on rough terrain, open areas, mountain slopes, and/or timber; Suppressed the full range of difficult and complex wildland fire using common and proven basic techniques; Served as a Squad boss on a Fire Crew, Helitack Crew, Pump Crew or served as Crew Boss, Fire Boss, or Sector Boss.

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.

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.” The Arduous fitness (Pack) Test consists of a three (3) mile hike, within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack.

In accordance with USDA Department Regulation 4430-792-2, this position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the USDA Drug Free Workplace Program and subject to pre-employment drug testing. All applicants selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Incumbents of this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis on an ongoing random basis, after appointment as directed.

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

Additional 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.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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.

Agency Contact Information

HRM Contact Center

Phone: [phone] X2

Email: [e-mail]

Address: USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center, Albuquerque, NM 87109, US