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Forestry Aid

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Job Corps graduates are encouraged to apply.

These positions are located on a fire crew within the USDA Forest Service fire management organization.

These positions serve as firefighters on an engine, hotshot, helitack, or hand crew, with responsibility for wildland fire suppression/management/control. Other fire related duties involve fire prevention, patrol, or detection.

For additional information about the duties of these positions, please see the Additional Information section below.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/04/2021 to 05/13/2021
Salary
$28,078 to - $36,500 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 3
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Springfield, CO
Elkhart, KS
Custer, SD
Ratcliff, TX
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position on a frequent basis for fire suppression related activity or training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Multiple - This announcement may be used to fill positions with a seasonal work schedule where full-time work is guaranteed for a specified number of pay periods, and when not working, you will be placed in non-pay/non-duty status.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4
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-EHT-JCM-FS4885-3DH-ED
Control number
599945400

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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  • Performs assignments to develop knowledge of fuels management and fire suppression techniques such as fireline construction, use of pumps and engines, hose lays, foam and retardant, working around aircraft, safety rules, and fire and fuels terms.
  • Moves dirt, chops brush, or fells small trees to build firelines using various hand tools such as axe, shovel, Pulaski, McLeod and power saws to control spreading wildland fire and to prepare lines prior to prescribed burning.
  • Patrols the fireline to locate and extinguish sparks, flareups, and hot spot fires that may threaten developed firelines.
  • Cleans, reconditions, and stores fire tools and equipment.
  • May be assigned to other resource management activities such as recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fire suppression or fuels management duties.

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.
  • Direct Deposit: 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 at least 18 years of age.
  • Under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the requirement.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
  • Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters. See Additional Information.
  • Subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Qualification Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting.
  • These are Test Designated Positions. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • 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.

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.

General Experience Requirements:

Applicants must have 6 months of general experience that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Experience is defined as any work experience, paid or unpaid. Unpaid experience, for example, may be regular volunteer work, such as at a park, youth camp, scouting organization, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.; Worked with tools and equipment used in laboratories or at field sites; Observed field work projects and recorded data; Identified plant or wildlife species; Collected data and used computers to input data and generate reports; Identified and cataloged artifacts and/or cultural resources;

OR

Successful completion of 1 year of study above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in a combination of courses such as range management or conservation, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences;

OR

An appropriate combination of general experience and education above high school as described above;

OR

Completion of an intensive, specialized course of study of less than one year at a technical school or through a military or government sponsored training program that was designed specifically as career preparation for the work of the position being filled. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, technical school, junior college, college or university.

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 that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Additional information

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".

Final determination of duty station will be made by the selection official at the time of the job offer.

Salary range as shown is the locality pay area of Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary depending on location and may be higher or lower than the amount shown. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information.

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).

PRIMARY FIREFIGHTER AGE REQUIREMENTS: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous 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.

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.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 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.

Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, telework, and other flexible work arrangements 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.

For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact:
We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

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/11093674

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