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Forestry Technician

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 Essex, CA, Onyx, CA and Yucca Valley, CA.  Information about the surrounding areas can be found at:

Essex Chamber of Commerce 

Onyx, CA Livability

Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/05/2019 to 03/11/2019
Salary
$46,815 to - $60,857 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 07
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Essex, CA
Onyx, CA
Yucca Valley, 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
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
07
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
CA-Merit-2019-0033
Control number
526299000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All current federal employees or former federal employees with competitive/reinstatement eligibility; CTAP and ICTAP eligibles within the local commuting area; Veteran Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), Veterans more than 30% disabled eligibles; persons eligible under Special Hiring Authorities, Schedule A and/or individuals w/disabilities.

Duties

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  • Responsible for operation of a fire engine module in responding to wildland fires.
  • Drives the engine to the fire location and positions with consideration of safety of crew and equipment.
  • In the absence of the Engine Captain, the Fire Engine Operator is responsible for the day-to-day operation and supervision of the module.
  • In the absence of the Engine Captain, the Fire Engine Operator may serve as Initial Attack Incident Commander on wildland fires and all risk incidents.
  • Directs the crew in project work in support of ecosystem management and fuels management projects.
  • In the absence of the Engine Captain, assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective considerations, and capabilities of employees.

Physical Demands: The work requires arduous physical exertion, such as regular and recurring running, walking, or bending; walking or climbing over rocky areas, or other uneven surfaces, through dense vegetation, and in mountainous terrain. Physical exertion includes carrying 30-50 pounds of gear while operating power saws or hand tools for long durations. 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 performed in a range/forest environment in steep terrain, where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick, tangled vegetation, etc. Temperatures are frequently extreme, both from the weather or from fire. Smoke and dust conditions are frequently severe. The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (boots, gloves, rubber and leather), hard hats, face masks, nomex pants and shirts, etc., be worn. Additional equipment to be used include a self-contained breathing apparatus.

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.

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.

This position is subject to the Interagency Fire Program (IFPM) Standard and Guide selective placement factors for an Engine Module Supervisor. This position requires the following qualifications - currency not required:

1.  ENGB (Single Resource Boss, Engine)

2.  ICT4 (Incident Commander Type 4)

3.  Commercial Driver's License, Class B with Tank and Air Brake Endorsements

4.  Prior on-the-line firefighting:  The Department of the Interior defines wildland firefighting experience as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland.  Wildland firefighting experience is gained through work on the fireline in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal, or equivalent private sector fire position for no less than 90 days. Wildland fires are categorized into two distinct types: (1) Wildfires - unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; and (2) Prescribed Fires - Planned Ignitions. This description includes only fireline experience on a prescribed fire. It does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

You must submit 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 date of the announcement may result in your being rated as not qualified.

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.  

Examples of Specialized Experience to qualify for a GS-07: One year of GS-06 experience serving as a skilled firefighter leading the operation of a fire engine, ensuring correct positioning, proper use and operation. This includes 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; ensured the engine was kept in a full state of readiness for emergency fire dispatch.

Substitution of Education: One full year of graduate education with a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position meets the requirements for the GS-07.
 
You will need to clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and submit your college transcripts or a listing of your college courses that includes hours and grades.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.  Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

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.

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 receive a minimum score of 90 based on the rating criteria used 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.

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

This position is not eligible for Telework.

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; you must be able to obtain and maintain a valid 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 of fire engine and pump operations, hose lays, etc. to function in assigned capacity or instruct or supervise others.

KSA #2:  Knowledge of strategies, tactics, and suppression methods of fire management.

KSA #3:  Knowledge of supervisory methods, personnel practices, and procedures.


To preview questions please click here.

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