Clarification from the agency

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

• Applies an experienced understanding of firefighter safety, fire behavior, topography of the area, weather, fuels, and training in fire management work to: 1) supervise, mentor, and instruct employees on crewmember duties; 2) plan action and direct utilization of fireline resources on less complex fires; and 3) for more complex fires, direct assigned suppression operations and recommend and implement tactical strategy on attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires, building or patrolling firelines, cleaning up burned areas within firelines, suppressing spot fires, felling snags or trees, and cutting brush. Adjusts actions based on changing information and evolving situational awareness. Uses firing devices on a firing operation according to the ignition/firing plan (verbal or written). Coordinates with aircraft for aviation support missions. Coordinates module or crew logistics and places caches of equipment and supplies at strategic points.
• Ensures compliance with interagency standards and safe operation. Establishes and communicates performance expectations and gives clear leaders-intent to meet objectives. Accounts for location, health, safety, and welfare of crew or module. Bases actions on evolving situational awareness and communicate changes. Determines appropriate fireline tactics and properly locates fireline and determines appropriate construction methods. Supervises felling operations and prepares control lines for burn out operations. Plans, directs, and supervises firing operations. Facilitates the use of fire, and other management techniques, involving planned and unplanned wildland fire events. May provide technical and ecological based expertise such as long-term planning, ignitions, holding, suppression, hazard fuel reduction, and may have the ability to plan for fire effects monitoring.
• Perform Supervisory Administrative and Human Resource functions: 1) Plans and develops IHC module budget proposals and assists in budget allocation and execution with oversight of Fire Management Officer and Regional Fire Management; 2) Plan work to be accomplished by subordinates and through subordinate supervisors, set and adjust short-term priorities, and prepare schedules for completion of work; 3) Assign work to subordinates and through subordinate supervisors based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees; 4) Evaluate work performance of subordinates and serve as reviewing official on evaluations of nonsupervisory employees rated by subordinate supervisors; 5) Give advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters; 6) Interview candidates for positions in the unit; approve appointment, promotion, or reassignment of subordinate nonsupervisory positions and recommend selection of subordinate supervisory positions; 7) Hear and resolve complaints from employees, reviewing group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints and approving or recommending action to a higher level manager; 8) Effect disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, and approves actions involving nonsupervisory subordinates; 9) Approve developmental and training requests, providing or arranging for needed development and training; 10) Find ways to improve production or increase the quality of the work directed; 11) Develop performance standards and ensure performance standards and ratings are reasonably equitable among employees of subordinate supervisors; 12) Provide administrative approvals such as travel, credit card actions, time and attendance; and 13) Approve expenses such as within-grades, overtime, and travel; and approve, or recommend to higher level official, awards and classification changes.
• Ensures equal opportunity for employees in the selection of participants for training, awards and recognition, and other career development opportunities. Ensures fair and unprejudiced employment practices in the recruitment and selection of candidates for vacant positions. Supports education and training programs designed to provide a maximum opportunity for employees to advance and perform at their highest potential. Creates an inclusive, equitable and accessible work environment that respects the contribution and perspective of the employees. Supports the EEO program actively in day-to-day activities.

Air Quality: Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months - generally May to October. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information:
http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• 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.
• Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.
• The Work Capacity Test (WCT-Pack Test) as a method for assessing an employee's fitness levels for fire qualifications in the positions covered by this recruitment notice. Employees required to pass a WCT-Pack Test as a "condition of employment" will be provided one opportunity to pass the required test with a second chance provided at the discretion of management based on the results of the first test. This recruitment notice constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements. NOTE: Arduous fitness (WCT-Pack Test) will consist of completing a three-mile hike, within 45 minutes, while carrying a 45 pound pack.
• You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• Selectees will be expected to travel in (not pilot) a small single-engine aircraft.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/29/2024-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 either full-time or 40 hours per week. If a part-time work schedule is reflected, the hours must be annotated to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as an Interagency Hotshot Superintendent and 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 Factors: The applicant must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualification requirements for this position to be considered eligible for this position:
1. Task Force Leader (TFLD)
2. Firing Boss (FIRB)
3. Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4)
You must provide a copy of your IQCS Master Record or equivalent documentation to show that you meet this requirements.
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Selective Factor: This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. Wildland firefighting experience is required to meet qualifications for secondary (administrative) covered positions. The Department of Interior defines wildland firefighting experience as: On-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire. 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 fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. 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.You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your resume, including the months, days and hours per week at which the work was performed in order to be considered.
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FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (or prior Federal competitive or excepted service): To qualify for the GS-10 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-08 is required.
EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-8: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience must include: (1) personally performing and leading Wildland Fire Operations and at least one of the following wildland firefighting functions: Initial attack and Fireline Suppression Operations; Prescribed Fire Operations; Helitack Operations; and (2) personally leading others in any two of the following functions: initial attack and suppression hand-crew operations; prescribed fire operations; wildland fire engine crew operations; helitack fire crew operations; providing on-the-job training and conducting daily crew briefings, safety sessions, and/or other basic wildland fire training. You must include hours per week worked.

FOR OUTSIDE APPLICANTS (those without current or prior Federal service): To qualify for the GS-10 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 is required.
EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-9: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience must include: (1) Supervising Wildland Fire Operations and at least one of the following wildland firefighting functions: Initial attack and Fireline Suppression Operations; Prescribed Fire Operations; Helitack Operations; and (2) personally supervising others in any two of the following functions: initial attack and suppression hand-crew operations; prescribed fire operations; wildland fire engine crew operations; helitack fire crew operations; providing on-the-job training and conducting daily crew briefings, safety sessions, and/or other basic wildland fire training. You must include hours per week worked.

For more information on grade progression (for candidates outside the federal government) please refer to the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) General Schedule Qualification Policies, section #5, Application of Qualifications Standards, section "o".

Volunteer Experience: 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.

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).

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements, but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary position.

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 whether they meet the qualification requirements.

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

This vacancy will be filled through a 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 applicant will receive no consideration for the position, as per OPM regulations.