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Wildland Firefighter (Regional Fire Training and Workforce Development Program Specialist)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service

Summary

This position is located at a USDA Forest Service Unit within the Pacific Northwest Region, Region 6.

This position serves as a program specialist responsible to formulate and coordinate the planning, development, implementation, documentation, and delivery of the regional workforce development and training programs with an emphasis on hiring and workforce planning.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Brian Ebert at brian.ebert@usda.gov.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/19/2026 to 05/28/2026
Salary
$97,564 - $146,671 per year

Pay rates vary depending on location and the salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

Pay scale & grade
GW 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
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
13
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-P4R6-RTRSPEC-1213DH
Control number
869797500

This job is open to

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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.

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-13 level.
  • Provides program leadership and direction in fire management training for the Region.
  • Coordinates with other federal and state wildland fire agencies to determine trends in wildland fire and aviation management training and to seek opportunities for partnerships to make training more effective.
  • Monitors and tracks the development of training programs to achieve workforce capability and capacity goals.
  • Monitors the expenditure of funds to assure fiscal integrity and correct application of financial standards. Provides fire expertise in negotiating contracts for various types of services.
  • Participates with program specialists in the development and integration of the overall program of work and in the formulation of policies and guidelines, development of long- and short-range objectives.

Requirements

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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. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

GW-12: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled. Examples of Specialized Experience may include: Assisted with providing program leadership and direction for fire management training, development, and integration. Participated in the development of segments of an annual program of work for workforce development programs, including long and short range objectives, budgeting allotments, and the integration of fire management activities with other resources. Monitored training programs for workforce capability and capacity goals and identifying training objectives and course requirements.

GW-13: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled. Examples of Specialized Experience may include: Provided program leadership and direction in fire management training and developing and integrating the overall program of work for workforce development programs. Participated in the development of an annual program of work for workforce development programs, including long and short range objectives, formulating policies and guidelines, budgeting allotments, and integrating fire management activities with other resources. Coordinated with federal and state wildland fire agencies to determine trends in wildland fire and aviation management training.

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 education requirement or substitution for this position.

Additional information

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.

This is a permanent position and may include weekend work.

The duty station for this position is Location Negotiable After Selection and will be within the Pacific Northwest Region, Region 6. Location will be confirmed at time of selection.

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.

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.

This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing may be available.

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/12960281

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

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