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Forest Assistant Fire Management Officer

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located on the Mt Hood National Forest in Sandy, OR. The incumbent serves as a Forest Assistant Fire Management Officer (FAFMO) with responsibility for assisting the FFMO to provide leadership and program direction for the unit's fire and aviation management program.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Dirk Shupe at 503-668-1755, dirk.shupe@usda.gov

** The closing date of this announcement has been extended from July 27 to July 31 **

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/13/2020 to 07/31/2020
Salary
$64,009 to - $99,741 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Sandy, OR
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignments.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
20-FIRE-R6-10857527-G-TW
Control number
573270000

Duties

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  • Provides administrative supervision to a group of highly skilled subordinate fire program managers and specialists. Plans work to be accomplished, set and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedule for completion of work.
  • Performs the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff members.
  • Assists the Forest Fire Management Officer (FFMO) in directing a fire management program with a high complexity level. Develops new techniques and methods or modifies existing procedures to solve unprecedented or critical fire management problems.
  • Is responsible for coordinating the accomplishments of the unit's fire management activities, program direction, coordination and evaluation of the fire management program.
  • Assists in providing leadership, coordination and direction in the formulation of standards, methods, and guides for all fire and aviation management program elements on the unit.
  • Coordinates the development of the unit's annual fire management budget to assure balance in organization at varying levels of funding and recommends changes to the FFMO as appropriate.
  • Evaluates and analyzes need for fire facilities and equipment and recommends allocation of funding to meet needs. Uses regional guideline to ensure unit staffing levels (FFPC) are met and requests additional funds if shortfalls are expected.
  • May serve as the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) on fire and aviation contracts for the forest. Coordinates the preparation of contract specifications for suppression and personnel contracts for the forest.
  • Coordinates the involvement of fire management input into the development of land management plans and analyses. Accepts input from resource specialists in related fields and refines or develops more specific guidelines.
  • Assists in coordinating complex operations with cooperating agencies on serious incidents and all phases of the fire and aviation management planning on the Unit.
  • Responsible for the review of planned suppression actions, tactical plans, and strategies for the management of complex wildland fires and other wildland urban interface/intermix situations.
  • Negotiates complicated cooperative suppression agreements and resolves difficult and controversial public relations problems. Develops and recommends alternative fire suppression strategies by taking into consideration total values at risk and cost.
  • Coordinates suppression action on large, complex wildland fires. Provides advice and counsel to Line Officers on the development of strategies and appropriate course of actions for all incidents consistent with direction in the Forest Plan.
  • Responsible for coordinating complex operations with cooperating agencies on large fires with great potential for damage to resources and improvements and high risk to human safety. Serves as Duty Officer/POC for the unit during periods of fire.
  • Provides leadership and program oversight of the unit's Fire Prevention Program and integration with other fire management activities. Ensures that the fire prevention program is effective and meets short-term objectives and long-term goals.
  • Provides program oversight to the unit or interagency Dispatch Center. Coordinates with interagency partners to develop integrated pre-planned responses to local wildland and all-risk incidents.
  • Coordinates the use of fire and aviation management personnel and funding to accomplish the unit's annual targets in fuels and vegetation management, such as, but not limited to, prescribed fire or mechanical fuels treatments.
  • Coordinates and provides technology transfer of new and current research data to Forest programs. Duties listed are at the full performance level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
  • This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
  • Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
  • A minimum of 90 days wildland fire fighting experience is required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled); or combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semesters hours leading to a Ph.D. OR One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 grade level.

Examples of specialized experience include: Managing or assisting with a component of a wildland and/or prescribed fire management program. Developing, coordinating and implementing a partial fire program budget. Implementing agreements with cooperators. Maintaining relationships with entities external to the organization regarding fire management program issues.

GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-11.

Examples of specialized experience include: Managing, directing and evaluating a fully integrated wildland and/or prescribed fire management program. Developing, coordinating and implementing a full fire program budget. Negotiating and managing agreements with cooperators. Maintaining liaison with entities external to the organization, and spoke for the organization on fire management program issues.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS:

  • A minimum 90 days experience performing on-the-line (Primary/Rigorous) wildland fire suppression duties as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression, containment or control techniques and practices under various conditions. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.
  • Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Division Group Supervisor (DIVS) - AND- Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) -OR- Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 RXB2) -AND- Successfully completed the NWCG Course # M-581 Fire Program Management.
-OR-
  • Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS) - AND - Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) -AND- Successfully completed the NWCG Course # M-581 Fire Program Management.
In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.

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.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336© (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). At least 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See Qualifications section.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status (such as LWOP) is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

Government housing and Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

This position may be eligible for situational or limited telework.

Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period (unless prior service is creditable). New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program before the end of their probationary period.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a "condition of employment." The Arduous fitness (Pack) test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Fire Management
  • Oral Communication
  • Project Management
  • Supervision
  • Decision Making
  • Work Environment
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10857527

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