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Lead Range Technician (Fire) (Senior Firefighter- Helitack)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

For additional information about the BLM, please visit our website.

These positions are located in Boise, Idaho and Twin Falls, Idaho. Information about the surrounding area may be found here Boise and here Twin Falls.

Physical Demands: Duties involve rigorous fieldwork requiring above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. Work requires prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar strenuous activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.

Passage of a pre-employment physical is required. You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.

Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in forest and range environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees F to below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling materials.

We expect to fill a FEW vacancies at this time; however, more than a few positions may be filled from this announcement.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Senior Fire Fighter, and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at IFPM.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 10/02/2017
Closed date: 04/30/2018
Location
Work site options
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$32,318 - $46,831 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 05 - 06
Promotion potential
06
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Travel Required
50% or less - Frequent travel will be required during times of peak fire activity.
Appointment type
Permanent - These are permanent Long Term Career Seasonal positions.
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Service
Security clearance
Not Required
Announcement number
ID-DEU-2018-0002
Control number
480952900

This job is open to

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Duties

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  • Serves as a lead wildland firefighter on a helitack crew.
  • Leads the fire suppression efforts of the helicopter module.
  • Directs the loading of helicopter personnel and cargo considering weight and balance, securing cargo, etc.
  • Completed manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work sites.
  • Inventories and inspects helicopter accessories, fire tools, and equipment.
  • Assures that needed tools and equipment are available for fire fighting tasks.
  • Serves as Helispot and Dipsite Manager on incidents requiring the establishment of these sites.
  • Certified in the use of long line external loads and the operation and maintenance of accessory equipment.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you
  • have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land
  • Direct Deposit Required
  • Background Investigation Required

This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements. The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran.

If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in a loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

Proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50’s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims. Applicants who fail to provide this evidence will not be considered eligible for the position.

THIS IS A DRUG TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION. In accordance with Executive Order 12564, and under the Department’s Drug Free Workplace Program, applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

You must possess a valid state driver's license.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience Requirements:
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position.

For GS-05: One year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as but not limited to, having experience in taking independent action to implement the strategies, tactics, and suppression methods used in containment and control of wildland fires.

For GS-06: One year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as but not limited to, having leadership experience in the implementation of strategies, tactics, and suppression methods that are used in the containment and control of wildland fires.

Substitution of Education for the Specialized Experience Requirement:
For GS-05: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study (120 semester hours) leading to a bachelor’s degree (a) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position; or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable. Undergraduate/graduate degree(s) submit your college transcripts, and/or clearly list all of your college courses that includes hours and grades.

For GS-06: Six months (9 semester hours) of graduate level college education related to range technician work such as a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a subject-matter field directly related to this position.

Education and experience may be combined to meet the specialized experience requirement.

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.

You must meet all IFPM requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Selective Placement Factors:
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.

Selective Placement Factor 1: (GS-05) you must be qualified as Incident Commander, Type 5 (ICT5) and Helicopter Crewmember (HECM).(GS-06): you must have Helicopter Manager, Trainee (HMGB-T).

Selective Placement Factor 2: This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is covered under Special Fire Retirement. In accordance with Public Law 107-27, applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you MAY be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday.

Selective Placement Factor 3: You must possess a valid current State driver’s license.

Selective Placement Factor 4: To meet IFPM requirements for Senior Firefighter, you must possess all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:

1) FFT1, AND 2) S-290 “Intermediate Fire Behavior”

You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required NWCG qualifications for this IFPM position. Failure to provide this documentation by the closing dated of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified.

Additional information

May require completion of a 1 year probationary period.

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.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (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 or 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 Well or Best 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 have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a Reemployment Priority List, you may be given priority consideration.

If the position is filled at a lower grade level, subsequent promotion to the next grade level will be processed without further competition dependent upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under Announcement# ID-Merit-2018-0003 for current and former federal employees serving under a competitive service career or career-conditional appointment or reinstatement eligible. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

This is a Long-Term Career Seasonal appointment; it is expected you will work at least 6 months, but less than 9 months a year. When work or funds are not available, you will be placed in non-pay status.

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 website.

This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

This is a Bargaining Unit position.

FACT SHEET FOR FIRE POSITIONS: FIREFIGHTERS CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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 Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If you meet the qualification requirements, you 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.

KSA 1: Knowledge of fire behavior and fire suppression tactics sufficient to make decisions regarding initial attack suppression actions, crew safety, and deployment of assigned resources.

KSA 2: Specific technical firefighting knowledge in Helicopter operations to enable the incumbent to function in assigned capacities and to instruct or lead others in those duties, if necessary.

KSA 3: Ability to communicate in person and in writing.
To preview questions please click here.

Bureau of Land Management

Agency contact information

HR Office
Phone
208-373-3921
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
BLM_ID_HR_Vacancies@blm.gov
Address
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Idaho State Office, ID-953
1387 South Vinnell Way
ID-DEU-2018-0002
Boise, Idaho 83709-3904
United States

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Learn more about what it's like to work at Bureau of Land Management, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://jobs.monstergovt.com/blm/vacancy/preview.hms?orgId=3&jnum=118636#overview

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