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Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Wildland Fire Operations Technician) - Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS)

Summary

These positions are part of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) in Fairbanks, Alaska.

For questions about his job announcement please reach out to Miles Bond @ mbond@blm.gov or David Bloemker @ dbloemke@blm.gov. There is one vacancy under the Tanana Zone and one vacancy under Fire Operations both located in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis.

Overview

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Posted today · Apply by 08/10/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 10, 2026
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$82,352 - $107,063 per year

Salary includes a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) which is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GW 9
Promotion potential
None
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnights on fire suppression or fire related assignments for this position as needed.
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent career 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.
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
WFSDHA-26-13016637-LS-A
Control number
877906000

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all qualified U.S. Citizens.

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Duties

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As a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Wildland Fire Operations Technician) - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The Supervisor performs administrative program management functions such as planning; budget formulation and execution; stewardship of physical facilities, equipment, vehicles, and accountable property; development and implementation of training and development programs; and implementation of cooperative agreements.
  • Provides leadership and direction to subordinates to achieve fire response readiness. Models leadership values and principles; provides positive influence and teamwork.
  • Maintains working relationships and pre-incident coordination with applicable cooperators and wildland fire responders.
  • Ensures crew members and equipment for the specific fire assignments or daily work assignments are in a state of readiness for the assignment or initial attack.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Security Clearance/Background Investigation is required.
  • Direct Deposit participation required.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • You must meet all qualification requirements by closing date of the announcement.
  • You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
  • You are required to wear a uniform and comply with uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • This is a Drug Test Designated Position. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • The Work Capacity Test (WCT-Pack Test) as a method for assessing an employee's fitness levels for fire qualifications in the positions covered by this recruitment notice. Arduous fitness (WCT-Pack Test) will consist of completing a three-mile hike, within 45 minutes, while carrying a 45 pound pack. NOTE: Arduous Work Capacity Test (Physical Requirements and Work Capacity Tests | U.S. Department of the Interior)
  • This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period.
  • Government housing may be available, contact hiring manager for more information
  • You will be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Subject to frequent extended travel up to 14 nights a month during fire season, and you must obtain a government charge card for travel.
  • Incumbent will be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and pass a medical examination given by an authorized government physician.

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 GS-09 grade level:

At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS/GW-8 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience must include but are not limited to: 1) personally leading or supervising others in any two of the following functions: initial attack and suppression hand-crew operations; prescribed fire operations; wildland fire engine crew operations; helitack fire crew operations; providing on-the-job training and conducting daily crew briefings, safety sessions, and/or other basic wildland fire training. 2) Monitoring and analyzing fire behavior; 3) overseeing and evaluating needs for equipment and resources used to respond to wildland fires; and 4) assisting in the development of incident strategies and tactics.

SELECTIVE FACTORS: For this Wildland Firefighter position you must also meet the following selective placement factors:

  • This position is a key fire management position under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. Requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position:
    • Pathway #1: Task Force Leader (TFLD), AND either Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3), OR Prescribed Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)
      -OR-
      Pathway #2: Helibase Manager (HEBM) AND Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements:
    • Under age 37 -OR-
    • Less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR-
    • A veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.
This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Wildland Fire Operations Specialist - MODERATE Complexity and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM). To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected):

**You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.**

Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.

Work Environment: Work is performed in both an office and field setting. The work performed in an office setting is primarily sedentary. The work performed outdoors is in forest and desert environments or in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, or covered by vegetation.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience.

Additional information

  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 08/10/2026.
  • 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.
  • This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.

Probationary period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Under completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

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)

Cost of Living Allowance: In addition to the yearly salary, this position is entitled to a 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.

These are Career-Seasonal positions. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. On an annual basis, employee signs a "career-seasonal" agreement with the supervisor which defines the work schedule for that year. After 90 days in this position, employee's work schedule may be changed to a permanent non-career seasonal position. In which case they will work 12 months per year.

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.

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.

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications requirement(s), ratings will be determined by the responses you provide to the job specific questions and they will be validated with the information stated in your resume. If qualification requirements are met, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well-Qualified, or Qualified. An applicant's category level could be changed due to competencies not being supported in one's resume. Additionally, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

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

NSPS TEAM
Email
OHCNSPS@ios.doi.gov
Address
Office of the Secretary
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
US

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