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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• Develops, coordinates, and implements educational school programs, meetings, and events with tribal governments and local communities to reduce loss resulting from wildland fire.
• Leads the wildfire prevention and mitigation program and facilitates local, state, and regional/national/tribal forums.
• Offers technical recommendations to local and state levels regarding wildfire prevention and mitigation programs.
• Develops and implements strategic wildfire mitigations and protection plans during wildfire events to assess actual and potential risks and hazards.
• Leads planning and implementation of overall wildfire prevention and mitigation programs and activities for the unit/tribe (or tribes), communities, and the general public.
• Leads, develops, and implements wildfire restriction and closure plans.
• Directs the identification and analysis of major causes of wildland fire and ensures that these causes are addressed in wildland fire management plans.
• Leads unit level annual wildfire prevention readiness reviews.
• Provides oversight to ensure adherence to, and implementation of, fire investigation program requirements at the unit level.
• Assigns work to lower graded staff based on priorities.
• Performs administrative leadership responsibilities to include timekeeping, travel administration, government credit card management and maintaining records.
• Leads and/or participates in internal and external workshops to present key aspects of wildfire prevention and mitigation program.

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.
• You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wildland fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualification.
• Incumbent is subject to medical examination and must pass the appropriate work capacity test.
• 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. See Additional Information section for more details.
• Position requires a valid state driver's license to operate light vehicles and 4x4 vehicles. May require additional specialized training and certification to operate specialized vehicles and equipment.

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-11 grade level:

• If you are a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-09 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to: writing and implementing plans for wildland fire mitigation; developing and coordinating information pertaining to wildfire prevention and mitigation activities; coordinating wildland fire educational programs with other agencies, institutions, and/or communities; serving as a spokesperson on controversial issues or policies to media, interest groups, public, and government officials; developing prevention campaigns for wildfire causes; and acting as a wildland fire investigator and supporting the district fire trespass program. Please provide an SF50 with your application package to verify that you are a current or former federal employee.
• If you have never been or are NOT a current federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-10 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to: writing and implementing plans for wildland fire mitigation; developing and coordinating information pertaining to wildfire prevention and mitigation activities; coordinating wildland fire educational programs with other agencies, institutions, and/or communities; serving as a spokesperson on controversial issues or policies to media, interest groups, public, and government officials; developing prevention campaigns for wildfire causes; and acting as a wildland fire investigator and supporting the district fire trespass program; and providing training and guidance for new fire investigators.

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 GW-11 grade level.

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: 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. The nature of fire investigation work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not 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:

• Education and Training - Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, and other instructional methods.
• 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.