Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens – Open to Public, No previous Federal Service is required

- This position serves as a lead wildland firefighter on a wildland fire engine.
- Drives and operates a wildland fire engine, positioning the engine for proper use and operation.
- Personally performs and directs others in starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles and nozzle adjustment in effective use of water and additives.
- Ensures the engine is kept in a full state of readiness for emergency fire dispatch.
- Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.
- Makes initial evaluation of fire situations, determines rate of spread, potential hazards to property and other improvements, suppression method to use, hose lays, deployment of crew, point of initial attack, type of tools to use and application of water.
- Participates in wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression and in the safe, efficient operation and use of tools, equipment, and vehicles used in fire suppression activities, with emphasis on those used for the particular function assigned.

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.

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 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 Supervisory Fire Engine Operator, 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.

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 37^th 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.

Responses to the online job-specific questions must be supported in your resume.

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 to be filled.

GS-05: One year 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 having experience in taking independent action to implement the strategies, tactics, and suppression methods used in containment and control of wildland fires.

GS-06: One year 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 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:

GS-05: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study 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 those shown above. No more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable.

GS-06: One year (18 semester hours) of graduate level college education in a field related to range work such as a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a 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 minimum qualification 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: 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 2: To meet IFPM minimum qualification requirements for Supervisory Fire Engine Operator, 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) Engine Boss (ENGB),
2) Incident Commander, Type 5 (ICT5), AND
3) Additional required training of S-211, "Portable Pumps and Water Use".

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 minimum 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.

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.

KSA1:  Knowledge of fire behavior and fire suppression tactics sufficient to make decisions regarding initial attack suppression actions, crew safety, and deployment of assigned resources.

KSA2:  Skill in operating a Type 4 Engine during wildland fire suppression, prescribed fire, and resource management work.

KSA3:  Ability to communicate in person and in writing.

D.O.T. DRUG TESTING REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION.  This position requires possession of a Commercials Driver’s License (CDL). As such, it is a Drug and Alcohol Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991.  If the person selected for the position does not currently occupy a CDL Drug and Alcohol Testing Designated Position, he/she will be required to submit to and receive a negative test result prior to appointment. A positive drug or alcohol test result may be grounds for denying final placement into this position. In addition, the Act mandates that the incumbent will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing and that he/she may also undergo reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing.

You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.

You must possess a valid state driver's license (Twin Falls District and Idaho Falls District) OR Class B CDL (Boise District) by the closing date of the announcement and at all times during your appointment in this position.