Clarification from the agency

-All current or formal federal employees employees with competitive/reinstatement eligibility; -CTAP/ICTAP eligible in the local commuting area; -Persons eligible under Special Hiring Authorities (VEOA, VRA, 30% Disabled Veterans, Schedule A and/or individual’s w/disabilities) - Current or former time-limited employees eligible under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)

* Serves as a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter on a wildland fire engine.

* Directs the operation of a wildland fire engine, ensuring the correct positioning, proper use and operation.

* Personally performs and directs others in starting pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, and laying hose.

* Control activities such as suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring, hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed burning.

* Provides technical and administrative supervision to wildland engine crews.

* Plans work to be accomplished. Sets and adjusts short term priorities.

* Completes administrative paper work, fire reports, interacts with public, conducts briefings, teaches fire training courses, and works with multi-agencies.

Physical Demands: Arduous duties involve rigorous fieldwork requiring above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. Work requires prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar strenuous activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.

Duties include demands for strenuous activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Operation of some specialized fire equipment can place extended physical stress on incumbent during fire activities.

Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in forest and range environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees F to below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Personnel must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor sleeping and eating conditions and unpredictable sets of circumstances. Incumbent may be required to live in back country camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (boots, hardhat, gloves, flame resistant clothing, etc.). Work may require travel by light fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.

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

We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, more than one position may be filled from this announcement.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Supervisory Fire Engine Operator (GS-06) and Engine Module Supervisor (GS-07), and requires selectee to meet current minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at IFPM.

This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements. The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran.

If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37^th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in a loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

Proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50’s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims. Applicants who fail to provide this evidence will not be considered eligible for the position. 

You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.

You must possess a valid state driver's license by the closing date of the announcement and at all times during your appointment in this position.

Responses to the online job-specific questions must be supported in your resume.

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. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade (GS-05/06) of the position to be filled.  

For GS-06: One year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as but not limited to: having experience in taking independent action to implement the strategies, tactics, and suppression methods used in containment and control of wildland fires.

For GS-07: One year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-06) in the Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as but not limited to: having leadership and supervision experience in the implementation of strategies, tactics, and suppression methods that are used in the containment and control of wildland fires.

Substitution of Education for the Specialized Experience Requirement:

For GS-06 or GS-07: One year (18 semester hours) of graduate level college education in a field related to range work such as a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a field directly related to this position.

Education and experience may be combined to meet the specialized experience requirement.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

You must meet all IFPM minimum qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Selective Placement Factor #1: You must have a current valid state driver’s license.

Selective Placement Factor #2: This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is covered under Special Fire Retirement. In accordance with Public Law 107-27, applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran.  If you are a preference eligible veteran, you MAY be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday.

Selective Placement Factor #3: To meet IFPM requirements for Supervisory Fire Engine Operator (GS-06 level), you must possess all of the following current National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:

1) Engine Boss (ENGB), and;
2) Incident Commander, Type 5 (ICT5), and;
3) Additional required training of S-211, "Portable Pumps and Water Use."

To meet IFPM requirements for Engine Module Supervisor (GS-07 level), you must possess all of the following current National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:

1) Engine Boss (ENGB), and;
2) Incident Commander, Type 4 (ICT4).

You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required NWCG qualifications for this IFPM position. Failure to provide this documentation by the closing dated of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified.

How you will be evaluated

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

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If qualified, your score may range from 70-100 points. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

KSA 1: Knowledge of strategies, tactics, and suppression methods used in containment and control of wildfires and wildland fires.

KSA 2: Knowledge of technical firefighting knowledge of fire engine and pump operations, hose lays, and handcrew operations.

KSA 3: Knowledge of supervisory policies, procedures and methods in order to manage a diverse workforce.

KSA 4: Knowledge of instruction techniques.

THIS IS A DRUG TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION. In accordance with Executive Order 12564, and under the Department’s Drug Free Workplace Program, 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.

Passage of pre-employment physical/medical examination is required. You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.