Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results
 

Wildland Firefighter (Fire Prevention Officer)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service

Summary

These positions are located in a USDA Forest Service Unit.

The position is assigned program responsibilities in developing and implementing prevention and law enforcement programs, as well as Fire Management Planning for the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional contacts.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/19/2026 to 05/28/2026
Salary
$72,832 - $108,738 per year
Pay scale & grade
GW 9 - 11
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Bend, OR
Prineville, OR
Afton, WY
Big Piney, WY
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnight on fire suppression, fire related assignments, meetings and/or training for this position.
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
11
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
Yes
Announcement number
26-FIRE-P4VA-PREVNS-91011DH
Control number
869737600

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Videos

Duties

Help
  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-11 level.
  • Coordinates with cooperators to address shared fire prevention issues. Works closely with forest public affairs staff to craft effective messaging to deliver fire prevention, education, fire restriction, and fire danger information.
  • Interprets policies and restrictions of the Forest Supervisor and issues guidelines and instructions for their implementation.
  • Determines appropriate fire prevention response conditions as prescribed by Unit policy; develops strategies and tactics aimed at effectively meeting land management objectives for the Forest area.
  • Represents the Forest as a technical specialist in contacts with functional specialists who are internal to the Forest Service, and in dealing with other government agencies.
  • Reviews and writes National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents that consider ranges of alternatives and potential impacts of management activities.
  • Makes a variety of complex decisions with responsibility for results in programs that mitigate potential for damage to resources, improvements, and human safety.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
  • There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GW-09 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-8) in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience are: Plan and direct fire prevention program for forest, providing leadership and assistance to local community leaders in development and implementation of fire prevention plans. Ensure fire prevention plans/programs are compliant with National Forest land management policies and procedures. Provides technical expertise on fire protection in special use permits and contracts. Provides assistance to districts in fire prevention program planning. Serve as back up public relations officer and manages fire public relations programs such as Smokey Bear, prevention signing program, develop press releases, etc. Assists with programs such as burning permits, chainsaw spark arrestors, maintenance programs, etc. Develops and delivers fire prevention education programs and facilitates required forest level training as well as cooperating agencies and citizen groups in fire prevention.

For the GW-10 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least to the next lower grade level (GW-09) in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience are: Assisted in developing and executing plans to solve complex problems involving fire preparedness, fuels management, fire prevention, or training; assisted in managing fire prevention and detection programs, scheduling staffing, maintenance and training; and/or assisted in developing fire control plans and documents relating to fire pre-suppression, prevention, detection, and suppression tactics and strategies.

For the GW-11 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least to the next lower grade level (GW-10) in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience are: Independently investigated the causes or wildland fires; performed forest land-management fire planning; coordinated and implemented cooperative fire agreements and activities with other agencies and entities; and/or developed fire control plans and documents relating to fire pre-suppression, prevention, detection, and suppression tactics and strategies.

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.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.

Additional information

For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov)

Region 4: Intermountain Region - BJ Bugger at bradley.bugger@usda.gov
Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region - Jason Heinz at Jason.heinz@usda.gov

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment).

Government housing and federal day care facilities may be available.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

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.

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12956042

Forest Service

A career with the Forest Service will challenge you to manage and care for more than 193 million acres of our nation's most magnificent lands, conduct research through a network of forest and range experiment stations and the Forest Products Laboratory, and provide assistance to State and private forestry agencies.

It's an awesome responsibility - but the rewards are as limitless as the views.

Agency contact information

HRM Contact Center
Phone
1-877-372-7248 X2
Email
HRM_Contact_Center@usda.gov
Address
USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.