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Wildland Firefighter (Prevention) - Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Interior
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Eastern Regional Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This Wildland Firefighter (Prevention) position serves as the Prevention Mitigation Specialist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Regional Office, Division of Wildland Fire Management, Duty Station: Cherokee, North Carolina; and will be filled from Standard PD#: DX01600.

THIS POSITION IS BEING READVERTISED. APPLICANTS WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED UNDER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED AND NEED NOT REAPPLY, UNLESS UPDATING AND/OR SUBMITTING MISSING OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
11/15/2024 to 12/01/2024
Salary
$59,966 to - $77,955 per year

A supplemental pay increase of $20,000 or 50% of base pay per year, under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is currently authorized.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Cherokee, NC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - Travel required for work assignments and/or training and may require travel by light fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft. Frequent travel may be required during peak fire activity.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
DHA-24-12541678-CBXH-CB
Control number
808702400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL U.S. CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: These positions will be filled using Direct Hire Authority for this occupation. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

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Duties

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  • Consolidates supporting documentation and implements unit level fire prevention education programs.
  • Evaluates various wildland fire prevention and mitigation program packages and presentations.
  • Facilitates wildland fire prevention and mitigation programs and activities.
  • Implements comprehensive local level fire prevention education programs.
  • Provides advisory opinions on annual program budget in compliance with program policy.
  • Frequently monitors wildfire prevention and mitigation activities to evaluate effectiveness of the wildfire prevention plan. Reports annual accomplishments.
  • Collaborates with fire management staff across all program areas in developing a coordinated approach to wildfire hazard and risk reduction in the wildland urban interface.
  • Develops, coordinates, and disseminates internal and external information pertaining to wildfire prevention and mitigation activities at the unit/tribal level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
  • You may be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
  • This position has been designated as an Incidental Operator under the Indian Affairs Motor Vehicle Safety Program, therefore, the incumbent will be required annually to acknowledge and certify possession of a valid state driver's license.
  • This position is subject to pre-employment and annual medical screening and must pass the appropriate work capacity test.
  • This is a Testing Designated Position and is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

GS-9: 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, develops and implements wildland fire prevention and mitigation plans; coordinates wildland fire educational programs with tribes, other agencies, institutions, and/or communities; serves as a spokesperson on controversial issues or policies to media, interest groups, public, tribal leaders and other governmental officials; leads in the development and implementation of prevention campaigns for wildfire causes; and provides assistance to, and/or serves as a qualified wildland fire investigator.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This is a MANDATORY qualification prerequisite to qualify for this position. Applicant must have possessed the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position:

  • Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience: 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: 1) Wildfires - unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; 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.
NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the qualification requirements, but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system.

FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: 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 coverage position.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date.

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. During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions.

Work Environment: Although work is generally performed in an office setting, intermittent field work is involved. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire investigation work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn.

Education


Additional information

This announcement will be used to fill vacancies utilizing the Direct-Hire Authority (5CFR 337.201). Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy.

Indian Preference Policy: Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC Section 472). Verification form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. No other documents will be accepted as proof of Indian Preference.

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2024 Salary Tables here and select the duty station from Cherokee, North Carolina to choose the appropriate pay chart. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart.

A supplemental pay increase of $20,000 or 50% of base pay per year, is authorized under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law until March 2024, or as long as funding is available.

TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL BE AUTHORIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS.

The pay flexibilities of the recruitment or relocation bonus may be authorized by the manager (pending availability of funds and higher management approval).

TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of the position are suitable for Situational telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

This position has been designated as an Incidental Operator under the Indian Affairs Motor Vehicle Safety Program and requires the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle in order to properly carry out his/her assigned duties but whose principal duties are not operating a motor vehicle and his/her position is not classified as a motor vehicle operator. The incumbent will be required initially and annually to acknowledge and certify possession of a valid state driver's license.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) OR Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs 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 more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units??

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position described above.

Under this Direct-Hire announcement, all applicants who meet the minimum requirements at the grade level for which they apply will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. Veteran's Preference and category rating DO NOT APPLY for this announcement under Direct-Hire Authority regulations.

All qualified candidates will be referred for consideration; the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion.

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.

You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12541678.

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.

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