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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 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
09/16/2020 to 08/23/2021
Salary
$31,208 to - $56,222 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 4 - 7
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Craig, CO
Durango, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Grand Junction, CO
Telework eligible
No
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
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-FIRE-NOCR-IADISP-4567DH
Control number
578965600

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-07 level.
  • Operate and/or directs the operation of various dispatch telecommunication systems. Anticipate fire suppression needs and determines resource allocation.
  • Coordinate aviation dispatch operations (e.g., aircraft capabilities and limitations, flight planning, aviation safety).
  • Review internal operating procedures and systems, makes recommendations for improvement, and updates/develops operating plans and mobilization guides.
  • Organize and reviews completed records of all orders placed and actions taken to ensure adherence to established operating procedures.
  • Perform, and direct others, in inputting data into a number of fire-related computer applications (e.g., incident qualification records, fire reporting systems, and automated dispatch systems) and makes assessment of outputs.
  • Plan and provide critical logistical support information to the supervisor for successful implementation of fire management program activities.
  • Develop and implement fire program management project work plans. Provide information and consult with cooperators and other interested entities.
  • Coordinate and may assist with fire training and orientation. Provide assistance on problems encountered by lower level dispatch personnel.

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
  • Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
  • 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-4: 6 months of general experience. Examples include: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding/tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities; worked in a greenhouse, nursery or landscaping e.g., planting, moving, watering, and tending plants; animal caretaker in a laboratory, zoo or pet store; volunteer work at a park, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc. AND Have at least 6 months of specialized experience. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisted in filing and retrieving documents in a dispatching office. Assisted in receiving and processing requests for equipment, personnel, and supplies in conjunction with wildland fire and emergency incidents.


For the GS-5: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Filing and retrieving documents in a dispatching office. Assisting in preparing various maps, plans, guides, analyses, and special reports for dispatch use. Receiving and processing requests for equipment, personnel, and supplies in conjunction with wildland fire and emergency incidents.

OR

A bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or that included at least 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, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable);

OR

A combination of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

For the GS-6: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Serving as a dispatcher, receiving, filling, and tracking resource requests for fire and other emergency incidents. Arranging for ground and air transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment in support of emergency and project activities. Collecting, processing and disseminating weather and smoke management information into computer programs or databases.

OR

One full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture);

OR

A combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

For the GS-7: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Determining the appropriate personnel and resource composition to respond to wildland fires or emergencies, as the situation demands. Reassigning resources to address changing needs, such as in cases of multiple wildland or prescribed fires. Coordinating aviation dispatch operations (e.g., aircraft capabilities and limitations, flight planning, aviation safety). Operating and/or directing the operation of various dispatch telecommunication systems.

OR

One full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture);

OR

A combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

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.

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 4: Intermountain Region - Matt Nielsen, matthew.nielsen@usda.gov
Region 9: Eastern Region - Chris Lundgren, chris.lundgren@usda.gov

Duty location at GS-06 Full Performance Level (FPL) position: Boise, ID, Draper, UT.
Duty location at GS-05 Full Performance Level (FPL) position: Libby, MT.

Positions may be filled as career ladders or could be filled at the full performance level dependent upon the individual units needs. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

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.

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 fulltime employment).

Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities 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.

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/10895700

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