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Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fuels)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
California Fire & Aviation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.


We expect to fill two vacancies at this time for following location:

Alturas, CA

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/17/2025 to 07/15/2025
Salary
$66,948 to - $87,038 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Alturas, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
8
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CADHA-25-12752053-KP
Control number
839032900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous federal service is required. This position is being advertised under an OPM government-wide Direct Hire authority. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

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Duties

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  • Participates in the planning, implementing and coordination of all aspects of the prescribed fire and fuels management program.
  • Supervises five to eight Fuels and Prescribed Fire Module crewmembers in all aspects of Fuels program planning, implementation, and training.
  • Provides technical assistance in program direction, short- and long-range planning; budgeting; and, managing wildfire suppression, fuels management, and prescribed fire programs.
  • Researches the effects and behavior of prescribed fire to assist in the development of short-term fire management objectives and strategies.
  • Evaluates prescription treatments, monitoring methods, and new technologies and, as appropriate, makes refinements to improve the organization's effectiveness.
  • Participates in preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation are completed to the standards specified and in accordance with regulations, policies, and guidelines.
  • Monitors fire behavior, evaluates fire effects, identifies potential problems and makes recommendations.
  • Conducts fuels management inventories and monitoring to document presence, amount, and types of hazardous fuels.
  • Conducts field reconnaissance of prescribed fire/fuels treatment units, summarizes field findings and makes recommendations on appropriate prescriptive criteria for meeting land management objectives.
  • Participates in preparedness reviews, proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and after action reviews.
  • Participates in the development of new and/or recommendation for modifications of existing plans and schedules for prescribed fire, wildfire response, and fuels treatment projects.
  • Establishes study plots to assess fire and fire suppression impacts on the ecosystem. Develops and refines plot characteristics, frequency of visits, subjects to be measured, and data storage and analysis techniques.

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.
  • 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.
  • Supervisory Probationary Period: If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one year supervisory/managerial probationary period if one has not previously been completed.
  • This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
  • This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
  • You must pass a pre-employment physical.
  • You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wild land fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications.
  • You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • May require a one year probationary period.
  • 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.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factors: 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(s) will be rated not qualified:

This position is subject to the lnteragency Fire Program (IFPM) Standard and Guide selective placement factors for a Prescribed Fire Fuels Specialist (Low Complexity). This position requires the following qualifications - Currency Not Required:

  • Engine Boss (ENGB) or Crew Boss (CRWB) or Firing Boss (FIRB) or Helicopter Manager (HMGB) and,
  • Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4)
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Performing prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding and mop-up. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather on prescribed fires. Collecting fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, maps projects, weather, and maintains records. Operating, maintaining and making minor repairs to chainsaws. Using specialized firing equipment (e.g. fuses, drip torches, flares, and terra torch). Performing wildland fire suppression activities.

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.

This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements.

The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire:

Wildfire: An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fire: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

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: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing). Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.

Education

Education may not be used to qualify for this position.

Additional information

**Consistent with the recent passage of legislation for permanent pay reform, salaries contained within this vacancy announcement are reflective of the new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, on the General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025.**

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 E-Verify.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): 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, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.

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.

The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine your eligibility for Federal employment and your qualifications for this position specifically.

Because this vacancy will be filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All qualified candidates will be referred for consideration; the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion.

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