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Self Determination Officer

Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
US Wildland Fire Service

Summary

U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS)

This position is a Self Determination Officer, GS-1101-13 working for the US Wildland Fire Service.

There is one position located in the 15 duty station choices listed. Please select locations desired. Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/29/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 29, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$106,437 - $156,455 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
NCS/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes - Employment and Financial Interest OGE-450
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
WFSMP-26-13002684-ML-A
Control number
876659000

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Duties

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As a Self Determination Officer, your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

The primary purpose of the position is to serve as the lead contracting authority for the award, administration, and oversight of Indian Self-Determination (P.L. 93-638) contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, ensuring statutory, regulatory, financial, and audit compliance while providing technical guidance to support effective tribal self-governance program operations.

Serves as the Lead Awarding Official for contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements awarded under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638). Executes preaward and post-award functions. Administers regulatory payment provisions for P.L. 93-638 contracts and financial assistance awards.

Establishes, maintains, and safeguards official contract, grant, and cooperative agreement files documenting all actions from proposal receipt through closeout.

Ensures contractor compliance with the Single Audit Act of 1984, applicable OMB circulars, audit resolution requirements, and all departmental and USWFS regulations.

Provides authoritative technical advice and assistance to Self-Determination Specialists regarding the development, award, and administration of P.L. 93-638 programs.

Coordinates with USWFS staff to ensure accurate and timely communication of requirements and guidance to tribes and tribal organizations. Reviews and analyzes contract, grant, and cooperative agreement proposals submitted by tribes and tribal organizations.

Monitors post-award performance and financial execution of P.L. 93-638 agreements.

Participates in and supports field office reviews of tribal self-determination programs to assess compliance with established procedures and service delivery standards.

Plans, coordinates, and delivers in-house seminars and workshops for USWFS and tribal personnel covering all phases of P.L. 93-638 program administration.

Administers P.L. 93-638 training, technical assistance, and contract support funding.

Tracks obligation status, resolves discrepancies, and keeps the immediate supervisor informed of issues that may affect the award or execution of P.L. 93-638 agreements.


Salary Information:
Salary range for Aberdeen SD, Anadarko OK, Billings MT, Boise ID, Browning MT, Muskogee OK, and Nashville TN is: $106,437-$138,370
Salary range for Albuquerque NM and Gallup NM is: $107,592-$139,871
Salary range for Anchorage AK is: $120,348-$156,455
Salary range for Bloomington MN is: $116,038-$150,852
Salary range for Portland OR and Vancouver WA is: $114,684-$149,091
Salary Range for Sacramento CA is: $117,984-$153,382
Salary Range for Phoenix AZ is: $111,338-$144,741

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.

Direct Deposit Required.

A condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a (1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period) during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: This position is subject to a financial disclosure requirement, and you will be required to complete either OGE Form 278e or OGE Form 450 as applicable within 30 days of your appointment

Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.

You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 4 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.

You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Either Level 1 or Level 2 Awarding Certification is required to be considered for this position. Under the Bureau's Awarding Official Certification System (AOCS), any incumbent designated or delegated to function as an Awarding Official for contracts and grants under the Indian Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 93-638) must obtain and maintain continual certification through the Bureau's certification system.

Incumbent will be required to obtain and maintain continual certification as an Awarding Official under the Bureau's Awarding Official Certification System Handbook.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement Factor: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor will be rated not qualified.

Either Level 1 or Level 2 Awarding Certification is required to be considered for this position. Under the Bureau's Awarding Official Certification System (AOCS), any incumbent designated or delegated to function as an Awarding Official for contracts and grants under the Indian Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 93-638) must obtain and maintain continual certification through the Bureau's certification system.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

To qualify for the GS-13 level:

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience (obtained in either the public or private sector) include:
1. Providing leadership and/or management of the Indian Self-Determination and the Education Assistance Act of 1975 (ISDEAA) as Amended and Public Law (P.L. 93-638) program activities.
2 Serving as an Awarding Official providing advisory services to develop, coordinate, negotiate and award on a variety of contracts and grants.
3. Handling contract management, policy development reviews, negotiating and resolving administrative or management issues.
4. Determining organizational training needs regarding self-determination and determining activities associated with the development of training and curriculum development to support the implementation of P.L. 93-638.

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.

Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary, involving reviewing documents, using a computer, and attending meetings, with occasional travel and no special physical demands. Incumbent may be required to travel in vehicles or commercial air carriers.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in a typical office or administrative setting with minimal risks or discomforts.

Eligibility and Qualification Requirements: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

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 an RPL, you may be given priority consideration.

Education

Additional Information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire CompetencyBased Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Additional information

PCS INFORMATION:
Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable.

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.

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area. Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.

Cost of Living Allowance (Anchorage, Alaska only): In addition to the yearly salary, the Anchorage Alaska location is entitled to a 1.49% COLA rate cost-of-living allowance (COLA) as determined by https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates .This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and rate decrease.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trail period (if required) your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

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. Dates worked and number of hours worked per week is required on the resume to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position. Once the application process is complete, HR will review your application to ensure you meet eligibility and minimum qualifications. To determine if you are minimally qualified for this position, HR will complete a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire. If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted.

In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must have a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why. Either a performance appraisal or documentation as to why one is not available required to be considered for all applicants.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

USA Hire Competencies Bullets:

Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Attention to Detail, Integrity/Honesty and Flexibility/Adaptability.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Office of the Secretary of the Interior

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), an organization within the Department of the Interior (DOI), responds to wildfires and promotes fire-resilient landscapes across more than 500 million acres of public and tribal lands nationwide. The USWFS has full program authority and coordinates the DOI wildland fire management program in its entirety. It ensures coordination within DOI, the Bureaus it serves, other federal agencies -- particularly the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service -- as well as non-federal agencies, state foresters, tribes, and a variety of stakeholder groups representing volunteer firefighters.

Agency contact information

Melissa Love
Email
melissa_love@ios.doi.gov
Address
Office of the Secretary
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Office of the Secretary of the Interior, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfireservice

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