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Fire Management Specialist (Prescribed Fire/Fuels)

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. As a Fire Management Specialist (Prescribed Fire/Fuels) you will be responsible for prescribed fire, fuels management, smoke management, and wildland fire.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/22/2018 to 11/19/2018
Salary
$50,843 to - $66,097 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Titusville, FL
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
R4-19-10317941-NM-MP
Control number
514478100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Federal Employees, Current Federal Employees, Land Management, 30% disabled, Military Spouses, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Vista, Status Candidates, VRA, VEOA, ICTAP, Schedule A, Former Overseas Employees

Duties

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Develop and analyze fuels treatment alternatives to support management decisions while adhering to applicable laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines.
Coordinate with next higher organizational level, other agencies, cooperators, and stakeholders to develop interagency fuels strategies.
Maintain awareness of technological developments in wildland fire science and related disciplines.
Coordinate multi-disciplinary and interagency field studies related to fuels management program issues to determine effectiveness of treatments.
Responsible for smoke management program to ensure compliance with state air quality standards.
Develop and implement land management plans.
Prepare wildland fire risk assessments.
Plan, implement, and participate in prescribed fire activities, wildland fire, and fuels management activities.
Monitor fire behavior, evaluate fire effects, identify potential problems and take appropriate action.

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
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Drug testing position
  • Medical Requirements
  • Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform required
  • Time-In-Grade requirements apply to status candidates
  • LMWFA or Public Land Corps eligibles may apply
  • Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighting (6c) position or equivalent experience outside the Federal Government, is a mandatory prerequisite for incumbents of this position
  • Must meet IFPM Qualification requirements
  • The duties of this position are so rigorous that employment is limited to physically young vigorous individuals who must meet established age and physical qualification requirements

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by11/19/2018 will be considered.

Basic Education Requirements for the 0401 Occupational Series:
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to position. NOTE: Transcripts MUST be submitted to document your educational accomplishments.

OR

An appropriate combination of education and experience that included course work equivalent to a major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or at least 24 semester hours in biological sciences, natural resources, wildland fire management, forestry, or agriculture equivalent to a major field of study, PLUS appropriate experience or additional education that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in the biological science, agriculture, or natural resources. NOTE: Transcripts MUST be submitted to document your educational accomplishments.

Additional Qualification for the Fire Management Specialist (Prescribed Fire/Fuels) position at the GS-9 grade level:
One year of full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: performing analytical/evaluative work that includes experience demonstrating and understanding of fire effects on cultural and natural resources; prescribed fire/fuels management activities, fire management operations; mobilization and dispatch coordination; fire prevention; training; logistics; equipment development and deployment; fire communications systems; suppression and preparedness.

OR

Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in fire science, fire management, biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or a closely related discipline. One year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full- time graduate study.

OR

An equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

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.

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures:
Current appointees:
Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA.
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency.
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level.
Former appointees:
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency,
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
·Must apply for position within 2 years after separation,
·Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority:
Note: You must provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Compliance Hiring Based for Public Land Corps Service.
(1) In order to be eligible for PLC non-competitive status, a former member of the PLC must provide documentation, as part of their application, verifying their eligibility and meet the following criteria:
(a) Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC;
(b) Applied to a vacancy announcement for which applications are being accepted from individuals with non-competitive status;
(c) Meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification standards stated in the vacancy announcement for the position which you are applying; and
(d) Completed his/her most recent Corps service, which provided him/her with a total of 640 hours, inclusive of 120 hours on a PLC project as defined in 16 USC 1723(d), within the last two (2) years.
(2) Appointments must be effected within the two years requirement.
(3) The two year time-frame cannot be extended.
(4) Selectees will be subject to a probationary period.
(5) This authority may be used for General Schedule and Federal Wage System positions.
(6) Competitive service appointments may be made for temporary, term or permanent positions.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

FWS has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 11/19/2018; OR More than one position may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

A PCS Move is authorized as follows: travel and relocation expenses including reimbursable real estate expenses will be authorized in accordance with the Federal travel regulations excluding contractor-provided home sale. All moving expenses are taxable.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION: All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: You must pass a pre-employment medical examination. Also, you may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if you are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
DRIVER'S LICENSE: You must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during your tenure in order to operate Government-owned or leased vehicles.

This key fire management position is categorized under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard as a Fire Management Specialist (Prescribed Fire/Fuels)-High Complexity. Minimum IFPM qualification standards must be met prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at https://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/

Prior experience in wild land firefighting is required in order to carry out the duties of this position. You will not be considered for this position if you do not have prior wild land firefighting experience.

Note: The position is covered under the secondary/administrative category for special firefighter retirement provisions. You may meet qualification requirements but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Knowledge of natural resource management, fire ecology, fire behavior, and fire management theories.

Knowledge of the principles, practices, and concepts of wildland fire management.

Knowledge of accepted wildland fire safety practices and procedures.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

Career Transition Assistance Program Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) : These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP or CTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

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