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Wildland Firefighter (Project Manager and Branch Coordinator)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

This position is located with the BLM Fire & Aviation Directorate, National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), in Boise, Idaho.

Information about the surrounding area can be found at https://www.boisechamber.org/

We expect to fill 2 positions at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/11/2025 to 06/24/2025
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$111,707 to - $145,220 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Boise, ID
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Yes - as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position to attend trainings, conferences, workshops and field visits.
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
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
FAMP-25-12744425-RS
Control number
838660300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All current career/career-conditional DOI employees and Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibles. CTAP eligibles within the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • Provide leadership and guidance by overseeing the contract administration and project planning and oversight for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort.
  • Ensure contract requirements are met, quality products are developed and that maintenance and evaluation for the materials and courses are in place.
  • Provide coordination, communication, and interface between NWCG Executive Board, staff, and stakeholders as it relates to the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort.
  • Work with staff, committees, Executive Board, and contractors to ensure projects are implemented timely and efficiently.
  • Monitor, evaluate, and improve project deliverables.
  • Work with staff to develop and edit training content.

Requirements

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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 Lands. (BLM ONLY)
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • May require completion of a one year probationary period.
  • Resume MUST contain job title (include job series and grade, if Federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary (optional).

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the minimum qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

You must have prior wildland firefighting experience and training on the fireline: Wildland firefighting experience is defined as on-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. The two types of wildland fire are wildfire and prescribed fire.

National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG):

Incident and Performance Training Modernization (IPTM) Project Manager:

To qualify for the GS-13 grade level, 1 year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 is required. One year of specialized experience which includes: a) responsibility for the comprehensive management and oversight of complex projects; b.) serving on wildland fire committees or working groups at the regional/state, or national level; c.) drafting high-level wildland fire related briefing papers, and/or guidance material at the regional/state or national level; d) providing evaluations of fire training programs and performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and ensure the effectiveness of the training.

Branch Coordinator:
To qualify for the GS-13 grade level, 1 year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 is required. One year of specialized experience which includes: a) Providing input or feedback on the development and implementation of fire management standards or procedures; b.) serving on wildland fire committees or working groups at the regional/state, or national level; c.) drafting high-level briefing papers, and/or guidance material at the regional/state or national level; d.) experience in overseeing and facilitating meetings, ensuring conflict resolution, and the achievement of strategic objectives.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level.

Firefighter Special Retirement (Secondary Coverage): This is a secondary/administrative fire 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 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.

Note: The salaries listed in this announcement reflect the permanent pay increases for federal wildland firefighters, effective March 23, 2025. The new pay schedule is accessible here: Wildland Firefighter. In addition to the listed special base rate salary, this position is also eligible for Incident Response Premium when incumbent is deployed to a qualifying incident, which may significantly increase overall compensation.

Education

There is no substitution of education for specialize experience at the GS-12 and above grade levels.

Additional information

Verify Employment Eligibility (E-Verify): DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP 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 eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they receive a minimum score of 90 based on the rating criteria used for this position.

Permanent Change in Station (PCS): Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. See "Other" section for additional information on 2017 Tax Cuts as related to Permanent Change in Station (PCS).

  • For additional information on WTA/RITA allowances and eligibilities, please visit:
https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/regulations/federal-travel-regulation-ftr/i1182168#i1180710

Travel, per diem, and lodging expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulations.

Telework: The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Incentives:
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 Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment.

THIS IS A DRUG TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION in accordance with Executive Order 12564, and under the Department's Drug Free Workplace Program. 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet eligibility and minimum qualifications. To determine if you are minimally qualified for this job, HR will complete a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire (self-rated). Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored, or your score may be lowered.

Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics) in the following area(s):

  • Leadership - Inspires, motivates and guides others toward goal accomplishments; coaches, and mentors; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations; models high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for the individual by applying these values to daily behaviors.
  • Planning & Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of planning, coordination, execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production.
  • Organizational Awareness - Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
The critical competencies listed above are required to successfully perform the job. Therefore, an additional assessment will be conducted to ensure they are met; a resume review panel of subject matter experts will review your application package and determine if you are best qualified or not. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s).

You are welcome to submit an optional cover letter.

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.

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