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Wildland Firefighter (Fire Management Planning) - Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.

This position is located in (location). Information about the surrounding area may be found HERE

We expect to fill 1 vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/04/2024 to 11/27/2024
Salary
$54,292 to - $94,317 per year

A supplemental pay increase of $20,000 or 50% of base pay per year, is authorized under the BIL as long as funding is available.

Pay scale & grade
GS 8 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Lewistown, MT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Travel Required
25% or less - Travel is required to attend training, conferences, workshops, and/or field visits.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Please Note: The selectee wil l be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Refer to the "Additional Information" section for Information on 2017 Tax Cuts as related to PCS.
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent appointment.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11 - 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.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
FADHA-25-12596943-TT
Control number
817734500

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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  • Makes recommendations for the development of fire plans and consideration of fire management alternatives while performing duties in collaboration with higher-graded fire planners and/or specialist.
  • Applies comprehensive knowledge and judgement on wildland fire planning processes and procedures of a considerable difficult level.
  • Develops specifically assigned fire plan content with environmental and/or natural resource specialist in ensuring plan content is consistent with land and resource management plans, laws, policies, regulations, and environmental mandates.
  • Provides recommendations for local planning/data, for inclusion in state, regional and/or national plans, projects, and analytical studies in fire and aviation management.
  • Provides technical expertise in strategic and local fire planning analysis systems, models, and decision support systems.
  • Provides input in local fire planning analysis systems, models, and decision support systems. Responds to routine data requests from internal and external sources.
  • Utilizes specialized software and modeling programs to evaluate the effectiveness of fire management strategies to meet goals and objectives.
  • Assigns work to lower graded staff based on priorities. Ensures timeliness, accuracy, quality, and production standards are met.
  • Evaluates work performance of subordinates.

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.
  • 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.
  • Background Investigation Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination. Failure to possess or obtain a favorable determination will result in the cancellation of the offer or will be grounds for termination.
  • May require completion of a one year probationary period.
  • Applicants appointed to this position must POSSESS and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.

Qualifications

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-08 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: participating in wildland fire activities (such as planning and/or implementing prescribed fire, managing wildfires, or post-fire monitoring);researching technical reports and/or other sources to assist in the development of fire management plans; and/or assisting other specialists to ensure local plans are consistent with fire management and land management policies (e.g. Federal Fire Policy, NEPA, FLMPA, etc.).

To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-08 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: participating in wildland fire activities (such as planning and/or implementing prescribed fire, managing wildfires, or post-fire monitoring);collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to develop and update fire management plans; conducting periodic reviews of fire planning data to analyze fire hazards and fuels risks, historical fire occurrence statistics, and fire causes; and/or assisting other specialists to ensure local plans are consistent with fire management and land management policies (e.g. Federal Fire Policy, NEPA, FLMPA, etc.).

To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: developing and reviewing fire management plans with fire management staff; coordinating with environmental or natural resource specialists to ensure integration of wildland fire management goals/objectives and policy into land use plans and implementation plans; conducting periodic reviews of fire planning data to analyze fire hazards and fuels risks, historical fire occurrence statistics, and fire causes; utilizing analytical tools used for fire planning; and/or coordinating with other specialists to ensure local plans are consistent with fire management and land management policies (e.g. Federal Fire Policy, NEPA, FLMPA, etc.).

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:
There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-06 and above grade levels for the 0456 series.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

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. 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.

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.

Education

See Qualifications Section.

Additional information

** 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.

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.

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-11 If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.

Tax Law Impact for PCS: Moving expenses reimbursement is a taxable benefit. However, the Federal Travel Regulation18-05 issued by the General Services Administration has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance and Relocation Income Tax Allowance to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individual

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.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they exceed minimum qualifications for this position.

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)

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.

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

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. Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does 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. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis.

Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and/or job elements) in the following areas:

  • Fire Management
  • Technical
  • Leadership

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