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Wildland Firefighter (Aviation)-Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Utah
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 Cedar City, UT.

We expect to fill one 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
09/02/2025 to 09/09/2025
Salary
$57,098 to - $80,541 per year

See additional information section for additional details.

Pay scale & grade
GW 6 - 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Cedar City, UT
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. Frequent travel may be required during peak fire activity.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - 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
7 - This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GW-07 Please see "Additional Information" for more details.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
FADHA-25-12792797-AE
Control number
844787500

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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  • (Duties listed are at the GW-07 grade level)
  • Performs day-to-day administration of aircraft contracts and signs for receipt of services.
  • Contributes to direction and oversight of airtanker/SEAT 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 the manager in developing and maintaining various plans.
  • Ensures safe operations of aviation and ground support activities including radio and hand signal communication, aircraft movement, fueling, retardant mixing and loading, and vehicle movement on the ramp.
  • Participates in daily informational briefings to aviation resources assigned to the base and providing daily risk assessments for planned and anticipated operations.
  • Maintain training records and documentation for required base operations.
  • Leads aviation firefighting personnel by directing their activities when supporting suppression actions or by serving as a situational leader on an airbase by directing the work of a small crew of aviation firefighters or vendors.

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.
  • 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 and shift work during peak fire season.
  • May require completion of a one-year probationary period.
  • Applicants appointed to this position must POSSESS and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • Driver’s License required – GSA Form 3607 will be required to be completed during onboarding process.

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 GW-06 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GW/GS-05 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: Ensuring ramp operations are conducted in a safe manner, including parking, loading, and movement around the aircraft; operating two-way radios to monitor and conduct communications with ramp personnel, aircraft, or dispatch centers; and compiling data summaries and yearly reports.

To qualify for the GW-07 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GW/GS-06 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: Experience that demonstrates an understanding of aerial retardant and base activities in support of wildland fire suppression, management and administration of various contracts, and oversight and support of various aircraft at the base. Examples of experience may include: 1) Performing duties which provided an 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 a safe working condition and assists with base plans that address compliance with environmental protocols.

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 for this position.

You must meet all qualification 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, waling and long periods outside in high temperatures and direct sunlight may be required while working around multiple arriving and departing aircraft. Activities in and around moving aircraft and other equipment require constant monitoring and alertness for hazardous conditions and safety of personnel.

Work Environment: Majority of activities are performed in an airbase environment, both inside and outdoors. Extreme variations in temperature and climactic conditions are common. 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 debris.

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

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 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. Pay status may be less than 6 months upon initial appointment.

The new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025 was used to indicate the salary in this announcement. Salaries may vary dependent upon location selected. You can access the new pay schedule here.

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GW-07 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.

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.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they meet 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)


Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

PLEASE LIMIT YOUR RESUME TO NO MORE THAN 2 PAGES. IF MORE THAN 2 PAGES ARE SUBMITTED, ONLY THE FIRST 2 PAGES WILL BE REVIEWED TO DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS.

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the minimum qualification requirements of this position. Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine if you are minimally qualified for the position. 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 minimally qualified candidates will be referred for consideration. Please note that the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis.

The competencies or job elements below provide an overview of what this position entails once encumbered:

  • Operations Support: Knowledge of procedures to ensure production or delivery of products and services, including tools and mechanisms for distributing new or enhanced software.
  • Planning and Evaluating: Determines objectives and strategies; coordinates with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors and evaluates the progress and outcomes of operational plans; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.
  • Leadership: Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.

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