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Forestry Technician (Dispatch)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the Forest Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied. Information on specific locations where jobs are being filled and the dates when applications are due for these locations can be found on the Forest Service website.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for details.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/24/2020 to 08/23/2021
Salary
$47,899 to - $68,777 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8 - 9
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Montgomery, AL
Hot Springs, AR
Flagstaff, AZ
Mesa, AZ
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnights on fire suppression or fire related assignments for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—, relocation expenses may be authorized. You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-FIRE-NOCR-IADSP-89DH
Control number
576933500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-09 level.
  • Set priorities and directs the movement of personnel, equipment, supplies, and aircraft to respond to wildland fires.
  • Dispatch and/or order aircraft for emergency situations
  • Issue flight plans and performs aircraft flight following to ensure safe arrival.
  • Maintain daily records on the availability of Forest, Regional, and National Fire control resources for anticipated and unanticipated fire needs.
  • Develop and maintain a unit mobilization plan and complex dispatch operating plans and guides.
  • Prepare and implement fire management plans governing the supply and use of resources such as smokejumpers, food and supplies, and fire retardant.
  • Participate in the development of recurring and special regional fire wildland and law enforcement and other incident reports (i.e., annual fire narratives, aircraft use report)
  • Schedule air transportation for personnel, equipment, and supplies. Integrates proper law enforcement dispatching, documentation and required security procedures into the overall operation of the communication center.
  • Represent the Forest Service, as delegated, in meetings with Federal, state and local agencies for the purpose of planning response.
  • Assure that current resource availability and use information is exchanged, daily, with the appropriate Geographic Area Coordination Center, adjoining forests, state, and local agencies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service 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.
  • 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.
  • Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
  • There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.

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:

For the GS-8 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-7; OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Examples of specialized experience include: Prioritized distribution of aid, supplies, and equipment in cases of simultaneous wildland fire incidents. Maintained and assisted in developing dispatching guides, staffing and action guides, mobilization plans, Haz-Mat response/spill plans, fire management plans, directives, and/or reference materials. Coordinated exchanges of information with other federal agencies as well as municipal and state fire and law enforcement agencies.

For the GS-9 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-8; OR have two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR a combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Examples of specialized experience include: Performed dispatch duties such as coordinating ground and air transportation and determining the nature of the resources needed including personnel, equipment, and services required to respond to varying levels of crisis. Assisted in preparing cost and budgetary data for comparative analysis, flight justification, payment documents, and flight plans for contract and on-call personnel. Assisted in implementing and maintaining mobilization plans, emergency and disaster plans, and dispatch policies and procedures. Assisted in evaluating and coordinating operational situations to ensure the distribution of adequate resources.

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, to include, specific duties and specific dates must be documented in your work history/resume.

Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD).

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: CURRENCY IS NOT REQUIRED. See Wildland Fire Qualifications System Guide (PMS 310-1) for definition of "currency". PMS 310-1 is the parent NWCG qualification document that defines "currency", and is supported by the FSH 5109.17. 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.

This position identified under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy. IFPM or FS-FPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training. The applicant must possess these qualifications at the applicable complexity level to be considered eligible for this position.

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 position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

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 for education requirements.

Additional information

For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative:
(To see the different locations within the Forest Service Offices/Locations.)

Region 1: Northern Region - Lily Huskey, lily.huskey@usda.gov
Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region - Scott McDermid, scott.mcdermid@usda.gov
Region 3: Southwestern Region - Karin Frost-Madrid, karin.frost-madrid@usda.gov
Region 4: Intermountain Region - Matt Nielsen, matthew.nielsen@usda.gov
Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region - Brian Ebert, brian.ebert@usda.gov
Region 8: Southern Region - Russ Marchion, russ.marchion@usda.gov
Region 9: Eastern Region - Chris Lundgren, chris.lundgren@usda.gov

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.

These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment).

Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, and telework may be available. Some positions filled via this announcement are bargaining unit positions represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW. This is dependent upon unit location.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.

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

How you will be evaluated

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

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. 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 up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10877735

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