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Forestry Technician (Smokejumper Spotter)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Close Date Extended to 5/16/2022 from 01/18/2022.

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 applications are due for these locations can be found on theForest Service website..

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/02/2021 to 05/16/2022
Salary
$43,683 to - $62,894 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 8
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Redding, CA
Grangeville, ID
McCall, ID
Missoula, MT
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
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
8
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
22-FIRE-NOCR-SMKSPTR-78DH
Control number
609456400

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-08 level.
  • Serves as flight crew member/Spotter on smokejumper aircraft with flight duties assigned involving smokejumper preflight gear checks, preflight aircraft inspections, navigation, agency communications and flight checklist responsibilities.
  • When assigned as Incident Commander, independently manages complex fire operations, directing a variety of fire fighting resources including air tankers, helicopters, hand crews, and engines.
  • Completes reports for time and attendance, fire time, crew time, accident/injury, fire action, individual fire, training, fire replacement requisitions.
  • Where contracted aircraft are assigned to the base, performs the duties of a Project Inspector when so designated by the Base Manager for day-to-day administration of aviation contracts.
  • Serves as an instructor on Forest and Regional training cadres providing expertise in wildland fire suppression, smoke jumping, Incident Command System and air operations.
  • Serves as smokejumper Spike Base Manager as required and manages all activities of the base as designated by the Base Manager.
  • Ensures all flight-following policies and procedures are adhered to including full responsibility for aircraft navigation and radio communication.

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Must meet job-related medical, fitness, and/or physical standards as determined by an examination or test.

Qualifications

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

To receive consideration for this position, you must apply and update required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the following applicant submission date of this announcement: 15 September 2021; 15 November 2021; 18 January 2022; 11 February 2022; 15 March 2022; 16 May 2022(Closing Date).

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-07: Must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level. Experience serving as a member of a smokejumper crew that parachutes into rugged terrain for fire management purposes. 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). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR a combination of successful completion of graduate level education and experience

Examples of specialized experience are: Assisting in planning and coordination of aviation operations to supervise smokejumper operations; assisting with directing the loading of air cargo for parachute drops, aircraft inspections, evaluating safe flight routes, and selecting safe jump spots for the smokejumper crew; assisting in instructing jumpers on problems and techniques

For the GS-08: Must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level 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). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR a combination of successful completion of graduate level education and experience.

Examples of specialized experience are: Assisting in planning and coordination of aviation operations to supervise smokejumper operations; assisting with directing the loading of air cargo for parachute drops, aircraft inspections, evaluating safe flight routes, and selecting safe jump spots for the smokejumper crew; assisting in instructing jumpers on problems and techniques

Smokejumper duties present unusual hazards and require that personnel be in excellent physical condition and possess a high degree of emotional stability and mental alertness. The health of individuals must be such that they have the capacity to meet demands for performance in the position and for human reliability. Before entrance on duty, and periodically during employment, smokejumpers must undergo a medical exam, physical conditioning, and an adeptness test. Failure to meet any of the required standards will be considered disqualifying for employment or a basis of termination.

See Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions.

During the training period, incumbents are continually evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various aspects of parachute jumping and smokejumper-related tasks, including aircraft exit procedures, parachute landing falls, parachute maneuvering, timber let-down procedures, parachute and cargo retrieving, tree climbing, and chainsaw and hand tool use. Incumbents who cannot perform up to the required standards of proficiency will be terminated from the smokejumper program.Smokejumpers must perform safely and efficiently in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, often with severe smoke and dust. Terrain may be extremely steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with thick tangled vegetation. Conditions riding in aircraft may be hot, cramped, and extremely turbulent, which may promote airsickness. The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (jump suit, helmet, boots, gloves, fire resistant clothing, etc.) be worn and protective equipment, including fire shelters, be carried

Selective Placement Factors

  • Be qualified as an Incident Commander T4 (ICT4) and obtain Task Force Leader (TFLD) within three years.
  • Must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger.
  • Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 year 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.

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 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.

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.

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 4: Intermountain Region - Matt Nielsen, matthew.nielsen@usda.gov
Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - Ann Loeffler, ann.loeffler@usda.gov
Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region - Brian Ebert, brian.ebert@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.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

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 neither implied or guaranteed.

Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible - Coverage is dependent upon unit location.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing may be available.

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.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

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/11175362

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