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.

• Implements a district wildland fire prevention and mitigation program focused on preventing human-caused wildland fires and assisting communities to become fire adapted.
• Prepares prevention plans to reduce human caused ignitions and assists communities to become fire adapted.
• Provides guidance and assistance on wildland fire prevention and mitigation programs to district personnel, the public and interagency cooperators.
• Collects and analyzes fire occurrence data to develop prevention plans to reduce human caused ignitions and mitigate wildland fire risk.
• Uses a scientific methodology to determine the cause and origin of a wildfire.
• Examines fire scenes and fire pattern indicators to determine origin and cause of wildfires by observing, collecting, and preserving and/or examining evidence.
• Serves as a detection and education resource by patrolling BLM lands during times of high fire danger or high visitor use.
• Prepares public awareness activities and programs, informational promotions, law enforcement programs, and road/area signing efforts. Presents fire prevention programs to individual representatives, local interest groups, and affiliated participants.
• Responsible for the development and communication of wildland fire mitigation and prevention activities.
• Provide training and guidance for new fire investigators and review the work of others.
• Assists in the training and coordination of fire lookout staff.
• Identifies and analyzes human causes of wildland fire and ensures that these causes are addressed in fire management plans.
• Works with news media, public affairs, fire information, law enforcement, and coordinating agencies in developing, implementing, and disseminating fire restrictions and closure information.
• Community outreach- works with local educational institutions and community groups regarding employment opportunities within the BLM.
• Assists in the development of settlement agreements and payment remedies with responsible parties, private attorneys, insurance adjusters and agency financial collections and claims.
• Provides assistance to local cooperating federal, state, tribal, fire and law enforcement agencies on fire investigations.
• Coordinates with law enforcement, line managers, state fire trespass coordinator, solicitor?s office, budget and fire business specialists on cost-recovery efforts.
• Ensures proper collection and handling, storage, and chain of custody of physical evidence related to fire cause.
• Qualifies as an expert witness regarding wildland fire investigation and testifies in court.
• Interviews witnesses and responsible parties, documenting statements for inclusion in fire investigation reports.

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.
• This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
• You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• 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.

Qualifications

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:

• 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: (1) Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. (2) 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.

Specialized 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.

To qualify for the GS-08 grade level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 is required.
Examples include: Assist with the implementation of internal and external wildland fire prevention (reducing unwanted human-caused ignitions) and mitigation (reducing damage and loss from wildland fires that do occur) programs as well as a fire investigation and trespass (cost recovery) program. Participate in public outreach and education programs to prevent or mitigate wildfires, working with communities and other organizations with a vested interest in loss from wildfire, and investigating wildland fires.

- OR- Directly Related Master's Degree or equivalent, or at least two years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a Master's degree.
- OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 is required. Examples include: Implement wildland fire prevention (reducing unwanted human-caused ignitions) and mitigation (reducing damage and loss from wildland fires that do occur) programs as well as a fire investigation and trespass (cost recovery) program. Participate in public outreach and education programs to prevent or mitigate wildfires, working with communities and other organizations with a vested interest in loss from wildfire, and investigating wildland fires.

- OR- Directly Related Master's Degree or equivalent, or at least two years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a Master's degree.

- OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of 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.

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

This is a SECONDARY/Administrative 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 is primarily sedentary, although a level of physical fitness is required which will allow for work during periods of extended stress and in the field when wildland fire situations arise.

Work Environment: The work is normally performed in an office; however, travel to field offices and various meetings and conferences is required.

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:

• Accident Investigation
• Communications and Media
• Conflict Management
• Fire Management
• Teaching Others