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Forestry Technician

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

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.

This position is located in Placerville, CA.  Information about Placerville and the surrounding area can be found at El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/08/2019 to 03/29/2019
Salary
$40,285 to - $58,196 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 06 - 07
Location
Placerville, CA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - Frequent travel will be required during times of peak fire activities.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Career Seasonal
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
07
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
CA-Merit-2019-0068
Control number
526679500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All current federal employees or former federal employees with competitive/reinstatement eligibility; CTAP and ICTAP eligibles within the local commuting area; Veteran Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), Veterans more than 30% disabled eligibles; persons eligible under Special Hiring Authorities, Schedule A and/or individuals w/disabilities; Current or former time-limited employees eligible under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)

Duties

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  • Serves as a supervisory wildland firefighter on a handcrew. 
  • During initial attack fire suppression activities, locates fireline, directs and participates in fireline construction, backfiring and burnout operations, engine and pump operations, tree falling and holding/patrol/mop-up operations. 
  • Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.
  • Makes initial evaluation of fire situations: determines rate of spread, potential hazards to property and other improvements, suppression method, tools to use, hose lays, deployment of crew and point of attack.
  • Provides leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish a multi-cultural organization.
  • May assist fire management staff in developing and revising annual operating plans, annual budget request, fire management planning and operating procedures pertaining to wildland fire management activities.
  • May assist in the preparation of hazardous fuels treatment plans and burn plans based on predicted fire behavior and risk assessment. 

Physical Demands:  Essential functions require arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting. Duties involve field work 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 activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Duties include demands for 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 employee during fire activities. The duties of this position require that the incumbent meet the arduous level of physical fitness as measured by the current physical fitness testing standards.

Work Environment:  The work is primarily performed in forest, range and desert 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. Employee may be required to live in backcountry 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 fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.

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.

Selective Placement Factors:

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 - currency not required:

1.  Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5)

2.  Single Resource Crew Boss (CRWB)

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

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 of the position to be filled.

To qualify for the GS-06:  To be creditable, experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade (GS-05) of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include: chainsaw operator or chainsaw repair technician; certified in the use of helicopter long lines; performed preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding and mop up operations.

To qualify for the GS-07:  To be creditable, experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade (GS-06) of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include: serving as a lead during initial attack by locating and constructing fire line, backfiring, and burnout operations; engine and pump operations; tree falling and holding/patrol/mop up operations.

Substitution of Education: One full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) with a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position meets the requirements for the GS-06 and GS-07.

Education and experience may be combined to meet the one year 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.

Additional information

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.  To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

May require completion of a one year probationary period.

If you are selected for this position, you may be required to serve a one year supervisory probationary period, if one has not previously been completed.

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.

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 Reemployment Priority List, you may be given priority consideration.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

More than one vacancy may be filled from this announcement.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

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 maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience 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.  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 loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

This position is subject to drug testing; passage of a pre-employment physical is required.

You must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license/CDL.

FACT SHEET FOR FIRE POSITIONS:  FIREFIGHTERS CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.

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 wildland fires.

KSA #2:  Knowledge of supervisory policies, procedures and methods.

KSA #3:  Knowledge of the organization and the function of cooperative interagency fire organization such as federal, state, and local government.


To preview questions please click here.

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