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Forestry Technician (Wildland Fire Module Leader) - Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Regions 6, 7, 8 - Fire and Aviation Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

There are a total of 2 positions:

  • One in Grand Canyon National Park - Duty location either Fredonia, AZ or North Rim, AZ.
  • One in Bandelier National Monument - Duty location Los Alamos, NM

Incumbent serves as a Type 2 Wildland Fire Module Leader of a skilled wildland fire module requiring strategic and tactical operations skills, technological skills, basic planning skills providing leadership and oversight of a mobile unit.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/24/2023 to 03/07/2023
Salary
$51,713 to - $74,250 per year

Salary listed is Rest of the United States; Final salary will be set based on the duty location selected.

Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Grand Canyon National Park
Fredonia, AZ
Grand Canyon National Park
North Rim, AZ
Bandelier National Monument
Jemez Springs, NM
Bandelier National Monument
Los Alamos, NM
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnights on fire suppression or fire related assignments for this position as needed.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Employer paid and reimbursed relocation expenses are considered taxable income. The NPS does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Employees should consult professional tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding concerns about the financial implications of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
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
23-858872-IMRFIRE-DHAa
Control number
701317400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. DIRECT HIRING AUTHORITY will be used to fill this position.

Duties

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  • Contributes to strategic and tactical decisions in support of planned and unplanned wildfire events, works in small logistically independent groups to accomplish tasks.
  • Assists in technical planning and implementation of mechanical fuels and prescribed fire burn plans.
  • Utilize the Red Book, job hazard analysis and other agency policy and guidelines to ensure that WFM operations are completed safely and in accordance with policy.
  • Oversees WFM administrative tasks (crew time reports, travel, employee performance, training, and hiring) and works with supervisors and administrative support staff to ensure that documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Works with the fire ecologist and resource staff to ensure that activities are in line with land and resource objectives, assist with pre and post fire monitoring, post fire reports, and other documentation as needed.
  • Coordinates and assists with NWCG S-courses and other trainings (equipment, safety) and plans annual WFM critical training.
  • Oversees employee development, training, assigns tasks, and provides routine feedback and correction to subordinate employees. Consults supervisor when advanced corrective measures are needed.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Must be 18 years of age at time of close date of announcement.
  • This is a Drug Test Designated Position. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Fire Program Management (FPM) positions.
  • Under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the requirement.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • You will be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service fire uniform standards.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • Incumbent will be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and pass a medical examination given by an authorized government physician.
  • Subject to frequent extended travel up to 14 nights a month particularly during fire season, and you must obtain a government charge card for travel.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • Government housing may be available dependent on location.

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.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), 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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

For the GS-08:
Must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include: Participated in implementing prescribed fire or fire use plans to ensure resource objectives can be met from a fire management standpoint; Developed initial attack incident management strategies and tactics to meet the stated resource objective; Implemented surveys; Assisted in the review of survey results and initiating recommendations for prescribed fire and mechanical fuels management projects or treatments.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program management (IFPM) Standard. This position requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. For more information on IFPM, click here.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS:

Successful completion and have currency in the Primary NWCG Core Requirements of:

  • Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) AND
  • Firing Boss (FIRB) AND
  • Crew Boss (CRWB) AND
  • Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

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 is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity 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." The Arduous fitness (Pack) test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Education

There is no qualifying education for this grade.

Additional Information:

For additional questions about the duties of this position please contact:


Grand Canyon National Park - Jimmy Flanagan at jimmy_flanagan@nps.gov
Bandelier National Monument - Brian Bolser at brian_bolser@nps.gov

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) OR Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF50 noting position, grade level, duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For Information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: Career Transition (opm.gov)

Additional information

This notice is being issued to recruit personnel to occupations for which a critical hiring need has been identified. To assist in filling these positions, OPM has granted the Department of the Interior "Direct Hire Authority".

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Physical Demands: Duties involve arduous 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 strenuous activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Duties include demands for strenuous 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 incumbent during fire activities.

Working Conditions: Work is primarily performed outdoors in forest and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered by thick vegetation, in smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees, and may fall 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 bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Incumbent may be required to live in remote backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the job requires that protective clothing be worn (hard hats, gloves, boots, flame resistant clothing, and other personal protective equipment). Work may require travel by light fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will be evaluated based on how well they meet the qualification requirements.

Upon receipt of the completed application package, a review of the application will be made to ensure basic qualification requirements are met.

This vacancy will be filled through DOI's Direct Hire Authority. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this Authority. All qualified applicants, as determined by the SHRO, will be referred for consideration. While managers and supervisors are not required to conduct interviews, it is highly recommended that they do so in order to assess the competencies of each applicant.

If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted.

If a determination is made that an applicant has inflated qualifications or experience on the resume, the employee will receive no consideration for the position, as per OPM regulations.

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