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Wildland Firefighter (Aviation) (Assistant Tanker Base Manager)-Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Nevada
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans' preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.

These positions are located in, Battle Mountain, NV, Reno, NV and Las Vegas, NV. Information about these locations can be found by clicking on the location name listed.




Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/09/2025 to 05/19/2025
Salary
$57,098 to - $87,038 per year

See additional information section for additional details.

Pay scale & grade
GS 6 - 8
Locations
Battle Mountain, NV
1 vacancy
Las Vegas, NV
1 vacancy
Reno, NV
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Travel Required
50% or less - Travel is required to attend training, conferences, workshops, and/or field visits. Frequent travel may be required during peak fire activity.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent seasonal appointment. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months; but less than 12 months in a calendar year. When work/funds are unavailable, you will be placed in non-pay status.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
8 - This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-08 Please see "Additional Information" for more details.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
FADHA-25-12734336-AE
Control number
836764100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous federal service is required. This position is being advertised under an OPM government-wide Direct Hire authority. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

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Duties

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  • Performs day-to-day administration of aircraft contacts and signs for receipt of services.
  • Contributes to direction and oversight of airtanker base operations.
  • May function as COR or Project Inspector on large airtanker, SEAT and retardant contracts.
  • Provides as needed operational briefings, safety briefings, After Action Reviews (AAR’s), and evaluations for assigned personnel.
  • Manages mixing and loading of retardant chemicals ensuring aircraft limitations are not exceeded. Responsible for retardant quality assurance standards.
  • Assists in responsibility for overall efficiency and safety of ground and aviation operations.
  • Provides briefings, specific training, and practice for support staff assigned to each operation to ensure all positions are filled with trained, qualified personnel.
  • Performs administrative work, such as documentation, daily activity log, data entry and querying reports, answering phones, and utilizing base radios.
  • Coordinates and schedules staffing for ramp positions to meet expected activity levels and requirements.
  • Provides input and recommendations to manager in developing and maintaining various plans.
  • Participates in daily informational briefings.
  • Coordinates with dispatch to identify priorities and logistical needs.
  • Responsible for overall efficiency and safety of ground and aviation operations. Maintains training records and documentation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the HOW TO APPLY and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Background Investigation Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination. Failure to possess or obtain a favorable determination will result in the cancellation of the offer or will be grounds for termination.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
  • Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • May require completion of a one-year probationary period.
  • Applicants appointed to this position must POSSESS and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Driver’s License required – GSA Form 3607 will be required to be completed during onboarding process.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience Requirements: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement; please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled.

To qualify for the GS-06 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS/GW-05 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: experience with safety operations at an Airtanker Base, talking to aircraft over the radio or through radio headsets; consolidating and inputting data using computer programs; and assisting with recording and maintaining retardant and aircraft logs.

To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS/GW-06 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: experiencing performing RAMP duties for wildland fire aircraft, talking to aircraft over the radio or through radio headsets, receiving information from dispatch and delivering requests for aircraft; consolidating and inputting data using computer programs; and recording and maintaining retardant and aircraft logs.

To qualify for the GS-08 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS/GW-07 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: as assisting with scheduling resource flights as needed, updating aviation plans, monitoring and evaluating aviation operations in both fire and/or resource activities; mixing and loading retardant chemicals for aircraft weight limitations; assisting with review, and dissemination of aviation policy statements, safety bulletins, manuals and handbooks; administering or assisting with applicable aircraft and retardant contracts; assisting with performing day to day administration of the contracts in place and enforcing contract provisions.

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.

Substitution of Education for Experience: There is no substitution of education for experience for this position.

Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.

Requirement for the GS-08 level only-You must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management (qualifications to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required):
A.) Aircraft Timekeeper (ATIM) OR
B.) Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)

You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Long irregular hours are required, much of it occurring during periods of fire operations. Frequent standing, waling and long periods outside in high temperatures and direct sunlight may be required while working around multiple arriving and departing aircraft. Activities in and around moving aircraft and other equipment require constant monitoring and alertness for hazardous conditions and safety of personnel.

Work Environment: Majority of activities are performed in an airbase environment, both inside and outdoors. Extreme variations in temperature and climactic conditions are common. Work requires use of safety equipment including hearing and eye protection and high visibility clothing. The work involves exposure to operating aircraft that result in high noise levels and exposure to turning propellers, prop wash, jet intake areas and jet blast, and flying dues and debris.

This is a secondary/administrative firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position (3 years of service in primary/rigorous position(s)) and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION.

FACT SHEET for Fire Positions: Information on Special Retirement.

Education

See Qualifications Section.




Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify.

We expect to fill 3 vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

The new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025 was used to indicate the salary in this announcement. Salaries may vary dependent upon location selected. You can access the new pay schedule here.

This is a permanent seasonal appointment. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months; but less than 12 months in a calendar year. When work/funds are unavailable, you will be placed in non-pay status. Pay status may be less than 6 months upon initial appointment.

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-08. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they exceed minimum qualifications for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration.

Certain incentives, such as, Recruitment, Relocation, or Student Loan Repayment, may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentives (OPM.gov), or Relocation Incentives (OPM.gov), or Student Loan Repayment (OPM.gov)

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine your eligibility for Federal employment and your qualifications for this position specifically. Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All qualified candidates will be referred for consideration; the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis.

Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and/or job elements) in the following areas:

  • Operations Support
  • Technical
  • Planning and Evaluation
  • Administration and Management

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