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AMENDED - Forestry Technician

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

Summary

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING AMENDED TO EXTEND THE CLOSING DATE

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

These positions are located in Cedarville, CA; Susanville, CA; and Whitethorn, CA.  Information about these locations and the surrounding areas can be found at:

Surprise Valley Chamber of Commerce (Cedarville, CA)

Lassen County Chamber of Commerce (Susanville, CA)

Whitethorn Chamber of Commerce (Whitethorn, CA)

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/26/2019 to 03/26/2019
Salary
$37,223 to - $48,385 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 06
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Cedarville, CA
Susanville, CA
Whitethorn, CA
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - Frequent travel will be required during times of peak fire activity.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Career Seasonal
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
06
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
CA-DEU-2019-0017
Control number
525564600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - Open to the Public. No previous Federal Service is required.

Duties

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  • 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 full state of readiness for emergency fire dispatch.
  • 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.
  • Ensures own and others welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignment.
  • Instructs crewmembers in specific tasks and techniques; and conducts on-the-job training.

Physical Demands: Essential functions require arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting. Duties involve field work 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. Duties include demands for activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Operation of some specialized fire equipment can place extended physical stress on employee during fire activities. The duties of this position require that the incumbent meet the arduous level of physical fitness as measured by the current physical fitness testing standards.

Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in forest, range and desert 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 material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor sleeping and eating conditions and unpredictable sets of circumstances. Employee may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (boots, hardhat, gloves, flame resistant clothing, etc.). Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.

These are Career Seasonal positions.  You will be in a pay status for at least six months, but less than 12 months a year. When work or funds are not available, you will be placed into a non-pay status.

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 position is subject to the Interagency Fire Program (IFPM) Standard and Guide selective placement factors for a Senior Wildland Firefighter (SFF).  This position requires the following qualifications - currency not required:

(1) FFT1 - Firefighter Type 1

(2) S-290 - Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior

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.  

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.

Examples of Specialized Experience to qualify for the GS-06:  One year of experience which included serving as a skilled firefighter on an engine module, which included duties such as driving and maneuvering a wildland fire engine, starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, using and adjusting appropriate nozzles for the dispensing of water and additives; served as a fully qualified chainsaw operator, or maintained specialized wildland fire equipment and tools. 

Substitution of Education:  You may use one year of directly related graduate level education that included 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. to qualify for the GS-06.

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



Education



Additional information

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.

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.  NOTE: This will continue to be put in the Other Information section since information can’t be put in the PCS block in Step 1 when Relocation Authorized is checked as “No.”

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.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under CA-Merit-2019-0056 for current and former federal employees. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

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 maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience 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 loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

This position is subject to drug testing; passage of a pre-employment physical may be required; may be required to obtain and maintain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

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 qualified, your score may range from 70-100 points.  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/(for WG) job elements required to do the work of this position.


KSA #1:  Knowledge such as, but not limited to, fire engine and pump operations, hose lays, hand crew operations and/or helicopter operations.

KSA #2:  Knowledge of strategies, tactics, and suppression methods used in containment and control of wildfires and wildland fires.

KSA #3:  Knowledge of instruction techniques; skill in coordinating training sessions and presenting wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire training material.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.


To preview questions please click here.

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