This announcement has a cut-off date of 02/08/2022. See below for specific details.
The National Park Service is looking for temporary employees to work as a Fire Effects Monitors (Biological Science Technicians). For more information on Crew Types, click here.
For contacts and information regarding housing availability visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES Jobs website and select the state you are interested in.
This announcement has a cut-off date of 02/08/2022. See below for specific details.
The National Park Service is looking for temporary employees to work as a Fire Effects Monitors (Biological Science Technicians). For more information on Crew Types, click here.
For contacts and information regarding housing availability visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES Jobs website and select the state you are interested in.
Applications will be accepted from all qualified U.S. Citizens.
A Fire Effects Monitor (GS-04 Biological Science Technician) follows instructions and standardized procedures to collect and organize field data. Ensures adequate quality control of data collected and performs routine and recurring testing of collected samples. Makes field observations of natural resource conditions. Provides results to higher-level specialists for analysis. Provides logistical support and area orientation for contract or cooperating scientists. Installs, operates, maintains, inventories, and calibrates resource management equipment. Orders replacement parts, new equipment, and supplies. Utilizes a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, and report data and other resource management information, including natural science research and long-term monitoring projects. Prepares a wide variety of recurring correspondence, internal reports, and other documents from information obtained from office staff, files and other sources and reviews and finalizes documents prepared by others.
A Fire Effects Monitor (GS-05 Biological Science Technician) establishes monitoring plots in a variety of vegetation/fuel types in accordance with established guidelines and directions. Monitors plots and makes field observations of resource conditions. Prepares fire behavior monitoring documentation on forms for prescribed burns. Identifies grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees to species. Catalogs, labels and stores plant materials collected during the season. Prepares field maps and photographs from the ground. Enters natural resource field data into a personal computer. May be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4s.
A Fire Effects Monitor (GS-06 Biological Science Technician) establishes monitoring plots in a variety of vegetation/fuel types in accordance with established guidelines and directions. Monitors plots and makes field observations of resource conditions. Prepares fire behavior monitoring documentation on forms for prescribed burns. Independently identifies grass, herb, shrub and tree species. Prepares field maps and photographs of natural features from the ground. Enters natural resource field data into a personal computer. May be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4s. May be required to occasionally supervise field crews. Assists the lead monitor in data management and coordination.
A Fire Effects Monitor (GS-07 Biological Science Technician) serves as the program lead for the fire monitoring program. Trains and leads technicians to establish and monitor monitoring plots in a variety of fuel/vegetation types. Examines existing fire monitoring programs, data and documentation at the park, identifies and prioritizes needs within the context of broader goals and objectives. Independently identifies grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees to species. Prepares field maps and photographs of natural features from the ground. Enters natural resource field data into database. Operates 4X4 vehicles with manual transmissions.
Cut-off Date: The following locations will begin to consider applicants prior to the closing date of the announcement. You must apply on or before the date indicated below to receive first consideration. Thereafter, applications may be considered as needed, during the open period of the announcement:
02/08/2022
Denali Park, AK (Denali NP&P)
Fairbanks, AK (Yukon-Charley Rivers NP)
Grand Canyon, AZ (Grand Canyon NP - South Rim)
North Rim, AZ (Grand Canyon NP)
Orick, CA (Redwood NP)
Three Rivers, CA (Sequoia NP)
Yosemite, CA (Yosemite NP)
Estes Park, CO (Rocky Mountain NP)
Porter, IN (Indiana Dunes NP)
Wellfleet, MA (Cape Cod NS)
Van Buren, MO (Ozark NSR)
West Glacier, MT (Glacier NP)
Hot Springs, SD (Wind Cave NP)
Fritch, TX (Lake Meredith NRA)
Van Horn, TX (Guadalupe Mountains NP)
Springdale, UT (Zion NP)
Luray, VA (Shenandoah NP)
Marblemount, WA (North Cascades NP)
Mammoth, WY (Yellowstone NP)
Moose, WY (Grand Teton NP)
*In addition to the base salary, you will receive a 4.01% cost of living allowance for Denali, AK or a 2.48% cost of living allowance for Fairbanks, AK. This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and gradual decrease.
During the application process, you may select up to SEVEN (7) locations from the list of available locations in this announcement.
For more information about temporary fire positions with DOI, go to the following link: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TESTING: The work involves walking, running, climbing and backpacking with a load over rough terrain, sometimes for extended periods; lifting moderately heavy items; bending and stooping for long periods; and working under occasional inclement weather conditions.
Positions may require a valid state driver's license.
You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment.
To qualify for a GS-04, you must meet at least one of the following:
- 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-03 level duties. Examples of specialized experience includes performing tasks such as recording, updating and maintaining data collected; assisting with the collection of fire effects vegetation monitoring data; and assisting with the collection of wildland fuels data. You must include hours per week worked. OR
- 2 years of education above the high school level which included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled. OR
- a combination of the education and work experience described above.
To qualify for a GS-05, you must meet at least one of the following:
- 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04 level duties. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes tasks such as collecting fire behavior data in support of vegetation and wildland fire monitoring programs; assisting in establishing vegetation plots for a variety of fuel types; and collecting data to assess burn severity after prescribed or wildland fire. You must include hours per week worked. OR
- successful completion of a 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with either 1. a major study in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture or mathematics; OR 2. at least 24 semester hours (junior/senior level) in any combination of the following courses listed above. And 6 semester hours must have been directly related to the position being filled. The level of the course work must have been equivalent to at least the junior- or senior-year levels of a baccalaureate program; OR
- a combination of education and experience as described above.
To qualify for a GS-06, you must meet at least one of the following:
-1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-05 level duties. Examples include reading vegetation monitoring plots by identifying immature grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees to species; making and documenting field observations of glades, woodlands, and fens to determine live and dead fuel loadings; and collecting and reporting fire behavior and weather data relating to spread rate, flame length, and other fire prescription elements. You must include hours per week worked. OR
-1 year of graduate level education directly related to the position. OR
- a combination of education and experience that is directly related to the work of this position.
To qualify for a GS-07, you must meet at least one of the following:
- 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level duties. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include serving as a Fire Effects Monitor on wildland fires or prescribed burns; leading installation of fire effects vegetation monitoring plots; and leading collection of vegetation or ecological field data or wildland fuels data.OR
- 1 year of graduate education directly related to the position. You must include hours per week worked. OR
- a combination of education and experience that is directly related to the work of this position.
**All locations may not be hiring for all grades; check with each location.**
For more information regarding basic qualifications and combining education and experience click here.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement.
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 will be made to ensure basic qualification requirements are met. Ratings are determined by your responses given to the job specific questions and validated with the information stated in your resume. If qualification requirements are met, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. An applicant's category level could be changed due to competencies not being supported in one's resume. Additionally, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The job specific questions relate to the following competencies and are required to do the work of this position and must be supported in your resume.
GS-04
Biology - performing tasks such as recording, updating and maintaining data collected.
Manages and Organizes Information - assisting with the collection of fire effects vegetation monitoring data.
Technical Documentation - assisting with the collection of, and updating and maintaining, wildland fuels data.
GS-05
Technical Competence - knowledge of plant and fire ecology principles and techniques and vegetation sampling procedures; knowledge of data collection and recording procedures for processing fire behavior, effects, and weather data; ability to use computer automation to enter and manipulate data, and prepare reports.
GS-06
Research - establishing fire effects monitoring plots in a variety of vegetation/fuel types according to established guidelines.
Biology - making and documenting field observations of glades, woodlands, and fens to determine live and dead fuel loadings.
Fire Management - collecting and reporting fire behavior and weather data relating to spread rate, flame length, and other fire prescription elements.
GS-07
Fire Management -serve as a Fire Effects Monitor on wildfires or prescribed burns.
Manages and Organizes Information - leading collection of vegetation or ecological field data or wildland fuels data.
Research - leading installation of fire effects vegetation monitoring plots.
You MUST upload "Required Documents" PRIOR to Cut-off Date/Closing Date.
**Please note that documents selected to transfer from your USAJOBS profile are NOT automatically added to your application. You need to transfer the document(s) in the Document step at the end of the application process.
Resume which includes your name and a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
A complete Assessment Questionnaire: This is completed automatically during the online application process. The questions have to do with minimum qualifications, selective factors if applicable, a verification statement, etc. There is no additional document needed to complete this requirement.
Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
College transcripts - To qualify based on education, you MUST submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html) with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), grade-point average or class ranking, and if applicable, degree and date conferred. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) - If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP you MUST submit documentation verifying your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of the agency notice and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location.
* You only need to upload documents that apply to you. For uploading instructions please click here.
You will not be contacted for additional information. If you have questions regarding what is considered appropriate supporting documentation, contact the DOI FIRES Program Office.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide documentation of your vaccination status before your entry on duty date with the agency. DOI will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.
Applications must be received ON-LINE through USAJOBS. On-line applications must be submitted prior to 12:00AM (Midnight) Eastern Standard Time of the cut-off/closing date of the announcement.
Step 1 - Register with USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov) and Create a Resume. You must build a resume with the USAJOBS Resume Builder or have an Uploaded Resume on your profile BEFORE applying. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk.
Your Resume MUST include the following information:
- From and To dates (month/year to month/year) for each season and position held. (Ex: 05/2018 - 11/2018)
-Work schedule (number of hours worked per week) for all seasons and positions held. One year of experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hour per week (full-time). Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for a position listed that does not indicate hours per week.
- Grade level for each season and positions that were in the federal service.
- Duties for each of the seasons and positions held.
- References - personal and professional
INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION COULD RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. The USAJOBS Resume Builder was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is an available tool when you login to your USAJOBS account.
Step 2 - Review the Vacancy Announcement. Review the announcement thoroughly. The sections describe who is eligible to apply, what education and/or experience is required for the position, and which documents are needed for your application package. To view the assessment questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11250341.
Step 3 - Apply. Click the "APPLY" link on the right side of the vacancy announcement. This will direct you to the login page for USAJOBS. Select your USAJOBS resume to submit with your application and proceed through the application process answering all questions.
Step 4 - Supporting Documentation. If applicable, attach all required documents (refer to the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy announcement).
For detailed step-by-step instructions on How to Apply click here.
If applying online poses a hardship for you, or you do not have Internet access, contact the DOI FIRES Program Office for an application packet PRIOR to the cut-off/closing date of the announcement.
If you are determined to be eligible and qualified, you may be referred to the location(s) you selected in the vacancy question during the application process. You can check your application status by logging into "My Account" on USAJOBS. You will only be notified through e-mail when you are referred; no other notifications will be sent.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
