Wildland Firefighter (Training)

US Office of the Secretary of the Interior; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-9/11 positions at the Great Basin Training Center in Boise, Idaho, require documented primary wildland firefighting experience or 14+ days of on-the-ground fireline work. Training roles emphasize developing and delivering training programs, coordinating interagency logistics, and supporting instructors, with eligibility closing date 09/02/2026.

Applicants must meet selective placement factors and demonstrate related experience in planning, scheduling, and

Qualifications

• Prior primary wildland firefighting experience with federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector orgs.
• At least one full fire season in a primary wildland firefighting role or 14+ days on-the-ground fireline experience.

Skills

Wildland firefighting

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

These Wildland Firefighter (Training) positions are with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-9/11 assigned to the Great Basin Training Center in the following location:

• Boise, Idaho

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

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

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.

Prior Primary Wildland Firefighting Experience: 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 obtained by 09/02/2026 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

For the GW-09 level:

If you are a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-07 grade level. Examples of relevant work experience include but are not limited to: assisting with the development and delivery of training programs; collaborating with interagency partners to support firefighter qualifications, operational readiness, and/or incident performance; facilitating scheduled training by supporting instructors and coordinating logistics; assisting with planning, scheduling, and/or coordinating interagency wildland fire training activities.

If you have never been or are NOT a current federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-08 grade level. Examples of relevant work experience include but are not limited to: assisting with the development, delivery, and evaluation of training programs; collaborating with interagency partners to support firefighter qualifications, operational readiness, and/or incident performance; facilitating scheduled training by supporting instructors and coordinating logistics; assisting with planning, scheduling, and/or coordinating interagency wildland fire training activities.

For the GW-11 level:

If you are a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-09 grade level. Examples of relevant work experience include but are not limited to: developing and delivering training programs as well as providing recommendation on issues; collaborating with interagency partners to support firefighter qualifications, operational readiness, and/or incident performance; facilitating scheduled training by supporting instructors and coordinating logistics; planning, scheduling, and/or coordinating interagency wildland fire training activities; mitigating risks related to instructor and participant availability, interagency requirements, and/or delivery timelines.

If you have never been or are NOT a current federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-10 grade level. Examples of relevant work experience include but are not limited to: developing, delivering, and evaluating training programs as well as providing recommendation on issues; collaborating with interagency partners to support firefighter qualifications, operational readiness, and/or incident performance; facilitating scheduled training by supporting instructors, coordinating logistics, or helping ensure training objectives are met; planning, scheduling, and/or coordinating interagency wildland fire training activities; mitigating risks related to instructor and participant availability, interagency requirements, and/or delivery timelines.

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.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

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 involves prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer in an office environment, frequent interruptions, and participation in numerous meetings or other group activities. Standing and hiking in adverse climates may be required for fieldwork. Occasional travel may be required.

Working Conditions: The work environment varies from an office setting, where the incumbent is in contact with work associates, to field settings where the incumbent may work alone or in groups in remote and adverse conditions. The incumbent adheres to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in applicable manuals, supplements, or by the designated Safety Officer.