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Forestry Technician (Assistant Airtanker Base Manager) - Direct Hiring Authority

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Fire - Nevada
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 Battle Mountain, NV; Las Vegas, NV; and Winnemucca, NV. Information about these locations can be found by clicking on the location name listed.

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
02/28/2023 to 03/21/2023
Salary
$46,696 to - $68,535 per year

A supplemental pay increase of $20,000 or 50% of base pay per year, is authorized under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through 9/30/2023.

Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 8
Locations
Battle Mountain, NV
1 vacancy
Las Vegas, NV
1 vacancy
Winnemucca, NV
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - Travel is required to attend training, conferences, workshops, and/or field visits. Frequent travel may be required during peak fire activity.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Seasonal - This is a permanent seasonal appointment. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months; but less than 12 months in a calendar year. When work/funds are unavailable, you will be placed in non-pay status.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
8 - If filled at a lower grade level, subsequent promotion to the next grade level will be processed without further competition dependent upon administrative approval and the continuing need and performance of higher-level duties.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
FADHA-23-11859907-BM
Control number
709527400

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.

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Duties

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  • Performs day-to-day administration of aircraft contacts and signs for receipt of services.
  • Contributes to direction and oversight of airtanker Base Operations.
  • Serves as a point of contact with airport management and various entities pertaining to aviation operations.
  • May function as COR or Project Inspector on large airtanker and retardant contracts.
  • Provides input and recommendations to manager in developing and maintaining various plans.
  • Responsible for retardant quality assurance standards.
  • Responsible for overall efficiency and safety of ground and aviation operations.
  • Maintains training records and documentation.
  • Responsible for planning and directing maintenance activities to assure that base buildings, grounds, and equipment are maintained to ensure a safe work environment.
  • Assist in supervision of subordinate government and contract personnel.

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.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Background Investigation Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background investigation. Failure to possess or obtain a favorable determination will result in the cancellation of the offer or will be grounds for termination.
  • If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one year supervisory probationary period if one has not previously been completed.
  • You must pass a pre-employment physical.
  • 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 position requires regular and recurring overtime.
  • Applicants appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

Qualifications

** This vacancy announcement has been EXTENDED/AMENDED; previous applicants need not Reapply ** Applicants who previously applied do not need to apply again to be considered but may take this opportunity to update information/resume/responses or submit required documentation outlined in the vacancy announcement.

Specialized Experience Requirements:
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement(s); please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled.

To qualify for the GS-7 grade level: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06 is required. Examples of work experience include, but not limited to: Experience that demonstrates an understanding of aerial retardant and base activities in support of wildland suppression, management and admiration of various contracts, and oversite and support of various aircraft at the base. Examples may include: 1) Performing duties which provide and understanding of aviation safety and retardant aircraft limitations that ensure individual aircraft weight limitations are not exceeded and effective product is delivered to meet fire management objectives. 2) Assisting in aerial retardant base maintenance activities that assure base buildings, grounds, and equipment are in safe working condition and assists with base plans that address compliance with environmental protocols.

To qualify for the GS-8 grade level: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 is required. Examples of work experience include, but not limited to: Experience that demonstrates an understanding of aerial retardant and base activities in support of wildland suppression, management and admiration of various contracts, and oversite and support of various aircraft at the base. Examples may include: 1) Participation in planning, scheduling, and monitoring of all flights and resources utilizing and airtanker or SEAT base to include receiving and confirming all pertinent flight information for mission safety and efficiency. 2) Performing contract administration of multiple aviation and retardant contracts to ensure conformance to contract specification.

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.

Substitution of Education for Experience:

GS-07: 18 semester hours (1 year) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.

GS-08: 36 semester hours (2 years) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.

Selective Placement Factor(s): 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.

1) Prior on-the-line firefighting: The Department of the Interior defines wildland firefighting experience as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Wildland firefighting experience is gained through work on the fire line in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal, or equivalent private sector fire position for no less than 90 days. Wildland fires are categorized into two distinct types: (1) Wildfires - Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; and (2) Prescribed Fires - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fireline 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. This experience must be documented in the online application or resume with specific to AND from dates (MM/YY), description of work performed, AND hours worked per week.

2) You must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management (qualifications to be considered eligible for this position), current not required:

A. GS-07 requirement - must have Ramp Management Trainee (RAMP-T)
B. GS-08 requirement - must have Single Engine Airtanker Manager (SEMG)

**You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands:
Long irregular hours are required, much of it occurring during periods of fire operations. Frequent standing walking and long periods outside in high temperatures and direct sunlight may be required while working around multiple arriving and departing aircraft. Lifting and carrying heavy equipment/materials and operating a variety of hand and poser tool is required.

Work Environment: Majority of activities are performed in an airbase environment, both inside and outdoors. Work requires use of safety equipment including hearing and eye protection and high visibility clothing. The work involves exposure to operating aircraft that result in high noise levels and exposure to turning propellers, prop wash, jet intake areas and jet blast, and flying dues and deb.

This is a secondary/administrative firefighter 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 policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position (3 years of service in primary/rigorous position(s)) 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.

FACT SHEET for Fire Positions: Information on Special Retirement.

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 www.dhs.gov/e-verify.

General Schedule Salary Table for "Rest of US" (RUS), without locality was used to indicate the salary in this announcement. Salaries may vary dependent upon location selected. Please refer to the Salary Tables link for more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022/general-schedule/

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.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration.

Certain incentives, such as, Recruitment, Relocation, or Student Loan Repayment, may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis, and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentives (OPM.gov), or Relocation Incentives (OPM.gov), or Student Loan Repayment (OPM.gov)

The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

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.

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