This position is part of the Alaska Fire Service (AFS), BLM located in Fairbanks, Alaska. AFS is responsible for providing fire suppression and related support services on Federal and Native Corporation Lands; the interagency responsibility involves 192 millions acres. For more information regarding AFS please visit our webpage. Information about locations within Alaska can be found at: State of Alaska.
Summary
This position is part of the Alaska Fire Service (AFS), BLM located in Fairbanks, Alaska. AFS is responsible for providing fire suppression and related support services on Federal and Native Corporation Lands; the interagency responsibility involves 192 millions acres. For more information regarding AFS please visit our webpage. Information about locations within Alaska can be found at: State of Alaska.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Initial tour of duty will be full-time.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a career seasonal permanent position. It is expected that the incumbent will work at least 6 months per year, but not more than 50 weeks or 25 pay periods on a full-time basis.
This Forestry Technician (Smokejumper) position is located in the Alaska Fire Service (AFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The incumbent of this position serves in a wide variety of technical roles in the direct suppression of wild fires in Alaska, Canada, and the Western States. The incumbent of this position serves as a Smokejumper in initial attack (IA) of wildfires by parachuting into fires and mountainous terrain and landing in timber or on open ground.
Physical Demands: The incumbent must be in good physical condition and regularly pass a strength and aerobic fitness test. The work involves extreme physical exertion, including carrying 110 pound packs for several miles through rugged terrain and working with a backpack of 35 pounds in addition to working with hand tools that weight 5 pounds or power tools that weigh 10 to 15 pounds. Work shifts are generally 12 to 16 hours, but can be up to 19 hours a day, seven days a week while working in fireline. Click here for detailed information about Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions.
Work Environment: Most work is outdoors in a variety of weather and terrain conditions. The incumbent risks death or serious injury during parachute jumps, cargo dropping, and helicopter take-offs and landings from temporary landing sites. Life threatening hazards on the fireline include intense heat, falling trees, tumbling debris, smoke, and other hazards.The remote work areas increase exposure to natural elements.
Special Retirement Coverage: This position is approved for coverage under Firefighter and Law Enforcement (FF/LEO) Retirement. The Category of Coverage is Primary-Rigorous (FF/LEO).
This position has a maximum entry age requirement. The date immediately preceding the incumbent's 37th birthday is the maximum entry age for original appointment to a position as a law enforcement officer or firefighter position as defined in title 5 U.S.C. 8331(20)(21) or in 5 U.S.C. 8401(14)(17). This age restriction does not apply to those who have previously served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position or firefighter position covered by title 5 U.S.C. section 8336(c) provisions, or to veterans eligible for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
This is a testing designated position (TDP) under the Department of the Interior Drug-Free Workplace Program; the incumbent is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. The incumbent is subject to medical examination and must pass the work capacity test for arduous fire positions.
This is a career seasonal permanent position. Initial tour of duty will be full-time. The incumbent's services will not be required at certain times due to lack of work, lack of funds, weather conditions or for other reasons. During these periods the incumbent will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status. It is expected that the incumbent will work at least 6 months per year, but not more than 50 weeks or 25 pay periods on a full-time basis.
Security Clearance/Background Investigation is required
Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents)
Participation in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program is required.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
May require completion of a 1 year probationary period.
Qualifications
We must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. 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. To be creditable, this experience must have been for 1 year and equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled. (If the position was seasonal, your resume must show periods worked.
You may qualify at the GS-07 level, if you fulfill one of the following minimum qualification requirements:
Experience: One year of specialized experience in forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal Service performing the following duties: Execute jumps from high-performance fixed-wing aircraft with specialized parachutes into rugged timber and mountainous terrain; AND Serve as a squad leader for one or more inexperienced smokejumpers; OR
Education: One full year of graduate level education in fire science, fire management or closely related discipline. One year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis; OR
Combination: A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above which meets the total experience requirement. To compute, first, determine your experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determine your graduate education as a percentage of the education required; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100%.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".
Education
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
In addition, when reviewing applicant's transcripts, assumptions will not be made. Applicants MUST state which coursework is relevant.
Additional information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of 03/11/2020
Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
This position is not eligible for Telework.
Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx
Career Transition Assistance (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP/ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they fall within the Best and Well Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position.
Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration.
BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, Alternate Application
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.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Upon receipt of your complete Application Package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. Answers submitted in the questionnaire must be supported on your resume. If you meet qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.
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.
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.
The following documents are required and must be received by the close of this announcement on: 03/11/2020
1. Your Résumé which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week.If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education, that includes your name, college/university information, major, type of degree, date degree confirmed, coursework, semester/quarter hours, grades, GPA, etc.
Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications for this position. Failure to provide this documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified.
Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified, 90 or above, on the rating criteria for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position: You must complete the Assessment Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. To receive consideration, the complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/11/2020. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.
Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.
Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
Select documents you want included in this application.
Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
Select if you want to include your demographic information.
After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
Review and Submit Application.
While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
The eligibility portion of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this announcement. You may choose more than one eligibility. You must provide proof of your eligibility and will only be considered for the questions that you answer "yes".
Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated in this section. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered. You may choose more than one eligibility in this section.
BLM Alaska
222 W 7th Ave #13
Anchorage, AK 99513
US
Next steps
Once the Assessment Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required and must be received by the close of this announcement on: 03/11/2020
1. Your Résumé which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year format, and indicate hours worked per week.If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education, that includes your name, college/university information, major, type of degree, date degree confirmed, coursework, semester/quarter hours, grades, GPA, etc.
Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications for this position. Failure to provide this documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified.
Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified, 90 or above, on the rating criteria for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position: You must complete the Assessment Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. To receive consideration, the complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/11/2020. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.
Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.
Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
Select documents you want included in this application.
Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
Select if you want to include your demographic information.
After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
Review and Submit Application.
While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.
The eligibility portion of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this announcement. You may choose more than one eligibility. You must provide proof of your eligibility and will only be considered for the questions that you answer "yes".
Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated in this section. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered. You may choose more than one eligibility in this section.
BLM Alaska
222 W 7th Ave #13
Anchorage, AK 99513
US
Next steps
Once the Assessment Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
