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Student Trainee (Fire)

Department of the Interior
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Central Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles. For more information about Indian preference or to obtain BIA Form 4432 application instructions, please see https://www.bia.gov/jobs.

This position is located with Bureau of Indian Affairs, Deputy Director, Trust Services, Division of Wildland Fire Management in Location Negotiable After Selection, United States. The Pathways Internship Program provides opportunities to students who wish to explore careers in wildland fire program management as paid Federal employees working during the summer for BIA. Upon successful completion of the Pathways Internship Program, students may be non-competitively placed into career-conditional positions within the BIA.
This internship opportunity will start mid to late May 2018.

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2018 pay charts here https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2018/general-schedule/ , select the duty station from the Location Negotiable After Selection, United States and find that pay chart. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart.

AMENDMENT: This amends the vacancy to read as follows:
THIS IS TO EXTEND THE CLOSING DATE AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS, THE POSITION NOW CLOSES ON 04/09/18.

To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s). Application cut-off dates are 03/02/18 and 04/09/18.

Former Federal Employees are required to indicate whether they received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) buyout in their previous employment with the Federal government, and are required to submit a copy of the applicable Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) regarding the VSIP. The majority of individuals, who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/09/2018 to 04/09/2018
Salary
$24,367 to - $38,798 per year

SALARY WILL BE SET IN ACCORDANCE WITH PAY SCALE FOR SELECTED LOCATION.

Pay scale & grade
GS 2 - 4
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection, United States
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required for summer rotational assignments and other developmental activities.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Upon successful completion of the pathways program, relocation expenses may be authorized for conversion, in accordance with Chapter 302 of Federal Travel Regulations
Appointment type
Internships
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Promotion potential
4
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
CO-18-16
Control number
491125400

Duties

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As a Student Trainee (Fire), GS-0499-2/3/4 your typical work assignments and/or responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

As a student trainee, you will:

  • Serve in a developmental role performing tasks such as constructing fire control lines using hand tools, removing brush and/or falling small trees with chainsaws, and performing work with hand crews, fire engines, helicopters, and fuels management crews, and fire prevention.
  • Become familiar with wildland fire management activities.
  • Receive orientation pertaining to the organizational structure of the BIA and its methods of managing wildland fire on trust lands.
  • Undertake other assignments to broaden the student's knowledge of the BIA activities in related program areas.
The full performance level of this position is GS-4. Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed.

TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Indian Preference applies
  • Eligibility Documentation Required (DD-214, BIA Form 4432, etc.)
  • You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
  • Background security investigation will be required of all new hires.
  • Must complete and maintain a Pathways Program Participant Agreement
  • Must be enrolled full-time or accepted for enrollment full-time
  • Selective Service: Male applicants who were born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986, or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
  • A background security investigation is required. Appointment will be subject to successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.

Qualifications

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university seeking a bachelor's degree that is directly related to the program field, such as forestry, natural resources management, and biological sciences related to forestry including agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, animal husbandry, animal science, biological sciences, geographic information systems, horticulture, range management, and soil science.

Basic qualification requirements include:
-For the GS-2 grade level: Completion of high school or GED diploma.
-For the GS-3 grade level: Completion of 1 academic year of post-high school study.
-For the GS-4 grade level: Completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study or associate's degree.

NOTE DOCUMENTATION OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT STATUS: If this is your first year or you do not have a transcript, you must upload and attach a copy of your degree plan/curriculum and any other acceptable proof to verify currently accepted or enrolled. Examples of acceptable proof are enrollment course schedule or plan, registration of current course work, advisor approved degree checklist, or letter of acceptance that is on college or university official letter head.

Students who have not declared a major or are enrolled in an unrelated degree program, may be selected and hired. However, their continued employment is contingent upon meeting the educational degree program eligibility requirements listed below within a prescribed timeframe. Students enrolled in an unrelated degree program will be required to sign a statement agreeing that they will change their degree program.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements for Pathways positions, including general and/ or specialized experience as defined by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or by the BIA. Any positive education requirements and selective placement factors must be obtained prior to applicant consideration. In addition, the applicant must meet any additional conditions of employment following appointment.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

The incumbent of this position may be noncompetitively converted to a term or career conditional position upon successful completion of the Pathways Internship Program requirements. In order to be eligible for a non-competitive conversion, you must:
-Complete at least 640 hours of work experience in accordance with 5 CFR 362
-Have completed their academic degree requirements with at least a 2.0 an overall GPA
-Meet OPM's qualification standards for the position to which the student will be converted. See qualification requirements at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs0400/0499.htm
-Received a "Fully Successful" or above performance evaluation, and favorable recommendation from your supervisor.

In addition, firefighters must also meet the following requirements to be converted:
-Incumbents who were converted to a term appointment, pending full attainment of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Position Qualification(s), that may apply for subsequent noncompetitive conversions.
-Meet agency-specific requirements for position, such as the DOI Policy on Qualification Requirements for GS-0401 Fire Program Management.
-Ability to meet job specific requirements, such as MWCG qualifications as a Fire Fighter Type 1
Firefighter retirement coverage and maximum entry age limit: This position is pending final approval by DOI for primary firefighter coverage under the special retirement provisions of U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS) subject to maximum entry age and mandatory retirement at age 57, or any time after 57, upon reaching 20 years of covered service. Applicants for this position must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position. An exception is allowed if there is prior federal service in a covered firefighter position. 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 you application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Medical Exam: You must pass an initial pre-employment arduous medical examination and the arduous work capacity physical fitness test (Must carry a 45 lb pack for 3 miles within 45 minutes).
Drug Testing: This is a Testing Designated Positions (TDP) under the DOI Drug Free Workplace Program. You are subject to a pre-employment drug test and random testing.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position described above. Qualified candidates will then be further evaluated to assess the quality, depth, and complexity of your accomplishments, experience, and education in relation to the competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position as demonstrated by your responses to the assessment questions. Competencies measured include:

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If your responses to the assessment questions cannot be supported by your resume, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your experience.

Qualified Indian preference candidates will be referred to the hiring manager in order of veterans' preference.

You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10138904. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date.

Students will be placed on LWOP while attending school or completing academic requirements. The LWOP is a temporary nonpay and nonduty status (or absence from a prescheduled tour duty), which is granted based upon a student's educational needs (5 CFR 630.101).

Students will be required to provide a copy of up-to-date transcripts and upcoming class schedule (unofficial may be acceptable) at the end/beginning of each academic semester for verification of enrollment and academic standing as proof of continuing eligibility for participation in the Pathways Program.

To qualify for the GS-4 grade level: The selectee or student must have a safe driving record within the 3-year period immediately preceding submittal of the GSA Form 3607, Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record and be able to meet the safe driving requirements of the Agency.

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