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Forestry Technician (Fire)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

­THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the Forest Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied. Information on specific locations where jobs are being filled and the dates when applications are due for these locations can be found on the Forest Service website.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for details.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/14/2020 to 08/23/2021
Salary
$47,899 to - $68,777 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8 - 9
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Bayfield, CO
Boulder, CO
Canon City, CO
Carbondale, CO
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnights on fire suppression or fire related assignments for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses may be authorized. 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
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-FIRE-R2OCR-DFUEL-89DH
Control number
578632400

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.

Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-09 level.
  • Assist in planning, implementing and coordinating all aspects of the prescribed fire and fuels management program.
  • Provide assistance in program direction, short- and long-range planning; budgeting; and, managing the wildland fire use, fuels management, and prescribed fire programs.
  • Formulate and develops plans, budgets, and schedules for well-precedented fire management operations.
  • Evaluate prescription treatments, monitoring methods, and new technologies and makes refinements as appropriate to improve the organization's effectiveness.
  • Develop and recommend plans to perform a wide variety of limited operational projects, such as evaluating existing or developing new regional or forest-wide plans for fuels management, fire prevention, and fire protection programs.
  • Plan, conduct surveys and evaluates data to develop prescriptions for prescribed fire and wildland fire use.
  • Review project plans and makes recommendations on appropriate levels of monitoring.
  • Implement/Administer technical aspects of the prescribed fire/fuels plan, ensuring that preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation are completed to the standards specified and in accordance with regulations, policies, and guidelines.
  • Monitor fire behavior, evaluates fire effects, identifies potential problems and makes recommendations.
  • Conduct fuels management surveys to document presence, amount, and types of hazardous fuels. Utilizes this information to prioritize prescribed fire and fuels management projects.
  • Conduct field reconnaissance of prescribed fire/fuels treatment units, summarizes field findings and makes recommendations on appropriate prescriptive criteria for meeting program objectives.
  • Participate in wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression and in the safe.
  • Efficient operation and use of tools, equipment, and vehicles used in fire suppression activities, with emphasis on those used for the particular function assigned.
  • Support wildland fire suppression activities.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

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.
  • Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
  • This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
  • Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
  • Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • 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.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

GS-08:
Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience include: Serving as burn boss using various methods in broadcast burning, pile burning, and under burning operations and/or Performing fire pre-suppression or suppression duties on a fire line controlling wildfire and using fire to accomplish fuel treatment prescriptions and/or Assisting in monitoring fire behavior, evaluating fire effects, identifying potential problems and making basic recommendations.
OR
Two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
OR
A combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

GS-09: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 grade level in Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting in developing and executing prescribed burning plans for complex burn projects and a wide variety of fuel types and/or Addressing a broad range of technical fire management problems, such as analyzing on-the-ground fuel conditions and weather and/or Assisting in developing specific plans for burning projects after analyzing fuels and/or Recommending direction on priorities, objectives and deadlines for prescribed fire, wildland fire and/or other natural resource activities.
OR
Two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
OR
A combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Selective Placement Factors
Successful completion the Primary NWCG Core Requirements of Prescribed Fire Burn Boss (RXB2) -AND- Secondary NWCG Core Requirement Engine Boss (ENGB) -OR- Crew Boss (CRWB) -OR- Helicopter Manager Boss (HMGB) -OR- Felling Boss (FELB) -OR- Heavy Equipment Boss (HEQB).

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 or Moderate or Low 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.

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.

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.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a condition of employment.

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

See QUALIFICATIONS section for education requirements.

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.

There may be availability of government housing and federal day care facilities. Telework may be available on an adhoc basis. Some positions filled via this announcement are bargaining unit positions represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW. This is dependent upon unit location.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. 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.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov.

For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region - Scott McDermid, scott.mcdermid@usda.gov.

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.

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/10899386

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