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Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch)

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.

These positions are located in San Bernardino, CA and Porterville, CA.

We expect to fill few vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/09/2022 to 06/24/2022
Salary
$33,221 to - $66,872 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 4 - 7
Locations
Porterville, CA
1 vacancy
San Bernardino, CA
6 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CADHA-22-11522666-SC
Control number
659180200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous federal service is required. This position is being advertised under an OPM government-wide Direct Hire authority. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • Coordinates aviation dispatch operations (aircraft limitations, flight planning, aviation safety).
  • Determines appropriate resource response to incidents and dispatches appropriate personnel, equipment, aircraft, and/or supplies.
  • Anticipates fire suppression needs and determines resource allocation.
  • Operates or directs the operation of various dispatch telecommunications systems.
  • Processes and interprets weather information to determine burning indices, preparedness levels, and staffing levels for suppression and aviation resources.
  • Performs and directs others in inputting data into a number of fire-related computer applications (incident qualification records, fire reporting systems, and automated dispatch systems).
  • Provides information and consults with supervisors, multiple state, county, and/or local agencies and other interested entities.
  • Provides critical logistical support information to supervisor and makes recommendations concerning the efficient use of available resources.
  • Makes initial and extended attack decisions in response to fire reports and orders for additional support by arranging and coordinating transportation of personnel, equipment, aircraft, and supplies.
  • Provides liaison between the unit and other dispatch offices and the geographical coordination center.
  • Coordinates fire training and orientation.
  • Provides technical guidance and on-the-job training for other dispatchers.

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 Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • May require a one year probationary period.
  • 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.
  • This is a Bargaining Unit position.
  • You must pass a pre-employment physical.
  • You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wild land fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications.

Qualifications

This position is subject to the lnteragency Fire Program (IFPM) Standard and Guide selective placement factors for a INITIAL ATTACK LEAD DISPATCHER. This position requires the following qualifications - Currency Not Required:

90 Day Prior Firefighting Experience Requirement (resume must show to and from dates and a description of work performed). The Department of the Interior defines wild land firefighting experience as on-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wild land fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal, or equivalent private sector fire position for no less than 90 days. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited, as long as the total amount of this experience equates to at least 90 days.

Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire:

Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-03 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples:

- For the GS-04: To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-03 grade level. Examples of specialized work experience include: organized and accurate handling of multiple tasks at one time, where tasks are completed quickly and efficiently and require precise verbal and electronic communication, such as on the phone and entering data into a database; OR 2 years of coursework above high school, OR a combination of experience and education.

- For the GS-05: To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-04 grade level. Examples of specialized work experience include: experience in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to law enforcement and wildland fire suppression activities; OR 4 full years of coursework leading to a bachelor degree directly related to this position, OR a combination of experience and education.

- For the GS-06: To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-05 grade level. Examples of specialized work experience include: experience in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to law enforcement and wildland fire suppression activities; guidance and direction to subordinate dispatchers; OR one year of graduate level education directly related to this position, OR a combination of experience and education.

- For the GS-07: To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-06 grade level. Examples of specialized work experience include: performing and directing others in dispatch and dispatch office functions related to law enforcement and wildland fire suppression activities, providing logistical support information and making recommendations for efficient use of available resources, OR one year of graduate education directly related to this position, OR a combination of experience and education.

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.

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

This is a SECONDARY fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits(normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION.

Physical Demands: The work involves long hours of sitting, intense concentration, and working at peak proficiency/intensity levels with irregular breaks and mealtimes. Must be able to cope with the pressure of meeting timeframes and changing priorities. Mental concentration and accuracy are required. Vehicle and aircraft travel associated with field visits and other administrative travel may be required.

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in an office setting. During peak activity, increased radio traffic, numerous ringing phones, and conversations result in high noise levels, which require a high level of concentration to perform duties. The duties of this position create a highly stressful environment during peak activity, requiring the ability to keep calm in emergency situations.

Education

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated 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, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP 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 CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

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.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

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

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 Alternative Application

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine your eligibility for Federal employment and your qualifications for this position specifically.

Because this vacancy will be filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All qualified candidates will be referred for consideration; the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics). You do not have to respond to the competencies separately, but your resume should contain sufficient information to demonstrate possession of the following competencies:

  • Fire Management
  • Operations Support
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Telecommunications

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