Clarification from the agency

This position is for students accepted for enrollment or are currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school, on a full- or half-time basis (as defined by the academic institution in which the student is enrolled).

• Serves as a member of a fire crew assigned to suppress the full range of wildland fires.
• Performs assignments as a wildland firefighter to develop a working knowledge of fire suppression and fuels management techniques, practices and terminology.
• Chops brush, fells small trees, and moves dirt to construct fire-line using various hand tools.
• Patrols fireline to locate and extinguish embers, flare-ups, and hotspot fires that may threaten developed firelines.
• Cleans, reconditions, and stores fire tools and equipment.
• May assist trained personnel in more specialized assignments such as backfire and burnout, mobile and stationary engine attack, construction of helispots, helitack operations, and performing hover hookups.
• Appropriate additional duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required upon conversion.
• 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 Land.
• 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.
• You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• The entire period served as a Career/Indefinite Intern counts as the appointee's trial period. Prior Federal civilian service is credited toward the completion of the required trial period in the same manner as prescribed in 5 CFR 315.802.
• 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.
• The position is year-round. During the school year part-time or full-time hours may apply; however, during school breaks and the summer period, full-time hours may apply. The work schedule may be adjusted to fit the student's schedule.
• Once converted, the target position will be a Wildland Fire Fighter, GS-0456 with a full performance level (FPL) up to a GS-07; however, the target position and FPL may change based on the need of the organization at that time.
• 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.
• You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
• Must be currently enrolled or accepted at least half-time in a degree seeking program in an accredited high school, technical or vocation school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school.
• Must sign a Pathways Programs Participant Agreement.

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:

• This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided for prior Federal service in another primary covered position, OR proof of land management workforce flexibility act (LMWFA) eligibility (see required documents section for more information on proof for LMWFA), OR you are a preference eligible veteran. If you meet any of the previous exemptions to MEA you must provide the required documents.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be 18 years of age or older, at the time of onboarding, to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• Be a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying accredited educational institution (high school, technical or vocational school, 2- or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school) on a full- or half-time basis.
• Must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 or higher and be in good academic standing with the educational institution (PLEASE PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW CURRENT GPA).
• Must enter into a written agreement (Pathways Internship Participant Agreement).
• Provide an unofficial/official certified school transcript and/or proof of enrollment.
• CAREER GOALS MUST BE RELATED TO THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION BEING ADVERTISED.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS:

For the GS-02 grade level: You may qualify based on one of the following:

• 3 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience; OR
• Completion of a high school or GED diploma.

For GS-03 grade level: You may qualify based on one of the following:

• 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience; OR
• 1 year of education above the high school level, which included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: range management; range conservation; agriculture; forestry; wildlife management; engineering; biology; mathematics; other natural or physical sciences; OR
• Combination of education and work experience described above.

You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Firefighter Special Retirement (Primary Coverage):

This is a primary fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements.

The MEA for this position shall not exceed age 37; unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position on or after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a Veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

Conversion Qualifications:
This is a career development, excepted service appointment under the BLM Pathways Internship Program that is expected to last more than 1 year. The BLM will require the selected applicant to complete a Participant Agreement in which the selectee must provide an anticipated date for completing all degree program requirements and show continual progression toward meeting the stated anticipated date.The agency may non-competitively convert a Career/Indefinite Intern who is a U. S. citizen to a term or permanent appointment in the competitive service, as long as the Intern meets all agency program requirements and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for the target occupational series at the time of completing all education requirements.

**The target position will be a Wildland Fire Fighter, GS-0456 with a full performance level (FPL) up to a GS-07; however, the target position and FPL may change based on the need of the organization at that time. **To be eligible for conversion, an Intern must:

• Be a United States citizen.
• Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Program while enrolled as a half- or full-time degree- or certificate-seeking student.
• Complete a course of academic study, within the preceding 120-day period, at a qualifying educational institution conferring a diploma, certificate or degree.
• Meet the qualification standards for the position to which she or he will be converted.
• Receive a favorable recommendation by an official of the agency or agencies in which she or he served; and
• Meet agency-specific requirements, as specified in the Participant Agreement.

Physical Demands:
Arduous: Duties involve rigorous fieldwork 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.

Work Environment:
The work is primarily performed in forest and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excesive machinery noise, and falliing and rolling material.

How you will be evaluated

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

Resumes must show relevant experience and other information. Your resume must list your education and work experience including the dates (mm/yyyy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week and optional salary information. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information on What should I include in my federal resume?

Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. You are welcome to submit an optional cover letter.

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Note: The BLM will apply unranked order by preference status when examining applicants and issuing certificates of eligibles for its General Schedule Pathways Program positions. Only, if necessary, shall a category rating procedure be applied.

Eligible and qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager in unranked order by preference status: (1) Preference eligible veterans having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more (CPS and CP); (2) Other preference eligibles (XP); (3) Applicants eligible for 5-point veteran's preference (TP); and those (4) Applicants not eligible for veteran's preference (NV). In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The job-related questions align with the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties of this position.

Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

TECHNICAL COMPETENCY: Knowledge of how to perform one's job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience. Example of technical competence for the following:

GS-02: Ability to work as a member of a team; Ability to use hand and power tools; Knowledge of safety practices and procedures.
GS-03: Ability to work as a member of a team under stressful and adverse operating conditions; Ability to use a variety of hand and power tools to build and control fireline; Knowledge of safety practices and procedures.