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Program Specialist (Operations Section Chief)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located within the Washington Office, Fire and Aviation Management (WO-FAM), AD Operations unit.

The incumbent serves as the Incident Operations Section Chief for the team and also as a key interagency technical advisor and consultant on incident management. In addition, oversees operational activities for wildland fire incidents of the highest complexity levels

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Jay Kurth at jay.kurth@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/08/2023 to 09/17/2023
Salary
$82,830 to - $128,043 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
50% or less - Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignments.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23-FIRE-WO1098418-1213DH-LM
Control number
748022600

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.

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Duties

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  • Serves as project manager for centrally managed activities, performing the full range of program/project management functions.
  • Implements all incident management objectives based on incident personnel and public safety, cost effectiveness, and values to be protected consistent with management and resource objectives.
  • Participates in briefings with the Agency Administrators and/or outgoing Incident Commander and acquires essential transfer of command information required for transition of incident responsibilities.
  • Personally observes and evaluates current operations, determining critical demands, and prepares tactics for the next operational period planning meeting.
  • Oversees and adjusts operations organization and tactics as needed, based on changes in incident situation and resource status.
  • Leads in the development of training academies, and participates as a technical advisor for wildland fire training.
  • Performs long-range planning and analysis of new substantive agency programs where precedents are scarce or nonexistent
  • Supports national level projects, training and strategic planning regarding fire management programmatic changes. Drafts policy for FAM.
  • Provides critical interagency all-hazard emergency planning and preparedness advice.
  • Evaluates fire and other emergency events from an interagency perspective and responds in a manner which assures appropriate communications and coordination.
  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-13 level.

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 drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.
  • 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.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

GS-12: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting in planning and developing integrated incident action plans for wildland fire incidents to achieve the Incident Commanders priorities, goals and objectives; Managed components of a fire program and assisted in the prioritization of wildland fire assets on incident situations with multiple objectives and jurisdictions; Providing input into the development and improvement of interagency training courses and materials.

GS-13: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: Planning and developing integrated incident action plans for wildland fire incidents to achieve the Incident Commanders priorities, goals and objectives; Managed complex fire programs and incidents and prioritized wildland fire assets on multiple incident situations with multiple objectives and jurisdictions; Providing technical expertise in the development and improvement of interagency training courses and materials.

Selective Placement Factors

Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1).

Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service - Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications must be met by the time of selection. Most recent IQCS master record and/or signed Agency Certified task book must be attached to your application. If you are selected, you may be required to submit an updated IQCS master record or signed Agency Certified task book as proof of attainment of IFPM requirements prior to a final verbal offer.

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.

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.

This position has been identified as HIGH Complexity 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.

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

There is no education substitution or requirement for this position.

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.

This is a permanent full-time position and may include weekend work.

This is a REMOTE position and the duty station will be confirmed at the time of job offer. 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.

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.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Forest Service daycare facilities and Government Housing are not 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/12121295

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