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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• Performs as a member of a fire crew assigned to suppress the full range of difficulty and complexity of fires.
• Moves dirt, chops brush, fells small trees, etc., to build fireline using hand tools such as axe, Pulaski, shovel and McLeod, and power saws, to control spreading wildland fire. Lays or directs hose in the use of water.
• May be required to rappel. Sets backfires as directed. Cleans, reconditions, and stores specialized fire tools and equipment.
• Patrols areas of controlled fires to "mop-up" by searching out and extinguishing any remaining burning material. Operates specialized fire suppression equipment such as portable pumps or drip torch.
• Observes, records, and preserves evidence of cause of fires. May be assigned to other resource management activities such as fuels, recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fire suppression duties.
• Serves as a skilled crewmember on an engine. Works as a trainee engine operator driving the engine, operating the pump, and making hose lays under the direction of the engine foreman.
• May drive and operate the fire engine or apparatus. Responsible for positioning the fire engine or apparatus for safe and efficient operation.
• Services and makes minor repairs to engine; inspects, checks and services accessories such as pump, water lines, tank, reels, or pump power plant; and keeps in fire readiness. Inspects, cleans, and stows hose.
• Is responsible for observing the rules of wildland firefighting safety. Applies practices and techniques to minimize resource damage.
• Independently or with one or two other crewmembers may be assigned to carry out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfire and burnout, mobile and stationary engine attack.
• Serves as a skilled wildland firefighter on an organized crew during prescribed burns, monitoring and controlling the fire, and collecting data on fire weather and fire behavior.
• Performs project work such as fuel inventory and hazard fuel reduction projects.
• Depending on experience level, may be assigned to structure fire protection.
• Loads helicopter cargo and completes manifest of crews and equipment. Rappels from hovering helicopter near ground level. Builds fireline and lays or directs hose.
• Independently or with one or two other crewmembers may be assigned to carry out specialized assignments such as construction of helispots, specialized helitack operations, and hover hookups.
• Participates in fire and safety training in the techniques, practices and methods of fire suppression.
• Participates in the safe, efficient operation and use of tools, equipment and vehicles used in fire line activities, with emphasis on those used in the particular function to which assigned.
• Participates in crew proficiency checks and drills. Participates in safety sessions and fire critiques. Ensures own and others' welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignments.
• May be assigned to fire lookout to provide detection and reporting of wildfires. Reports smoke and fire to a dispatcher giving location, estimated size and other pertinent information. Reports weather and fire behavior information.
• May perform project work such as road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and miscellaneous equipment and facilities maintenance.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-Verify.
• 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.
• This is a Test 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.
• Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.
• Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters.
• Must possess and maintain a valid State Driver's License.

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.

GW-04: Applicants must have six months of general experience (any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation) AND six months of specialized experience that is directly related to the work of the position; OR successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is creditable); OR an appropriate combination of experience and education above high school as described above. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university and include courses that are related to the occupation of the position.

Examples of General Experience includes: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding/tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities; Worked in a greenhouse, nursery or landscaping e.g., planting, moving, watering, and tending plants; Worked as an animal caretaker in a laboratory, zoo or pet store; Other work experience, paid or unpaid e.g., volunteer work at a park, youth camp, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.

Examples of specialized experience include: Used hand tools or power equipment to create a fire line and/or remove debris. Inventoried and/or restocked engines or fire caches to maintain fire readiness. Served on a crew to suppress the full range of fires.

Selective Placement Factors

• Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Qualification Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting.
• Incumbent must hold and maintain a valid State Driver's License.
• This is a testing designated position which requires a negative test result for illegal drug use prior to appointment and randomly thereafter.

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.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a condition of employment, which means you must maintain the required level of physical fitness in order to remain in the position. The Arduous fitness (Pack) Test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements.

In accordance with USDA Department Regulation 4430-792-2, this position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the USDA Drug Free Workplace Program and subject to pre-employment drug testing. All applicants selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Incumbents of this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis on an ongoing random basis, after appointment as directed.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the selecting official.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or 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.