Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all qualified U.S. Citizens. This is a public notice under the Direct Hiring Authority.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking for employees to work as temporary seasonal Wildland Firefighters (Smokejumpers). For more information on Types of Crews, click here or view these videos.

A Smokejumper (GW-05):

• Parachutes into mountainous, remote, and/or rugged terrain and performs fire suppression and related duties.
• As a fire crew member or Initial Attack Commander incumbent utilizes fire behavior knowledge and firefighting experience to perform wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire operations safely and effectively in accordance with identified appropriate management response.
• May direct fire line activities and tactics for firefighters, equipment, aircraft and other resources.
• Maintains a variety of smokejumper and firefighting equipment, tools and supplies such as hand tools, chain saws, portable pumps and other equipment in suppressing fires.
• Repairs, packs and maintains parachutes and related equipment.

For information on Boise Smokejumpers, visit their website or view this video.
For information on Alaska Smokejumpers, visit their website.

Locations for these positions are:
Fairbanks, AK
Boise, ID

Alaska Pay Differential:
In addition to the base salary including 32.36% locality pay, you will receive a 1.49% cost of living allowance for Fairbanks, AK. This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and gradual decrease.

For contact information and housing availability, visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES website. To view a list of contacts by agency, select the state you are interested in.

For more information about temporary fire positions with DOI, go to the following link: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/.

Conditions of employment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TESTING: You must pass an initial pre-employment physical examination and must be able to pass the work capacity fitness test (Must carry a 45 lb. pack for 3 miles within 45 minutes). Failure to meet any of the required medical qualifications will disqualify you for employment. Any condition, which would cause you to be a hazard to yourself or to others, will disqualify you for employment.

ADEPTNESS: In addition to the physical requirements, smokejumper candidates must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the various aspects of parachuting and smokejumper related tasks. These include but are not limited to: Aircraft procedures, Parachute Malfunction procedures, Parachute landing rolls, Parachute maneuvering, Timber let-down procedures, Parachute and cargo retrieving, Tree climbing, Hand tool and chainsaw use, and Equipment checks.

TRAINING: To become qualified as a Bureau of Land Management Smokejumper, candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete an intensive training program in RAM Air Parachute Jumping and fire suppression methods and techniques. A minimum of 15 training jumps is conducted during the training period beginning with jumps into simple terrain, progressing into more difficult terrain and environmental conditions. Candidates will be evaluated continuously. Failure in any portion of training or the Adeptness Test will be grounds for removal from the program.

PHYSICAL TEST: When you report for duty, you will be given a physical condition test. Any candidates who cannot meet these minimum physical requirements will be terminated. The test is given in one time period with a 5-minute break between exercises. The test consists of performing the following exercises:30 push-ups, 6 pull-ups, run 1.5 miles in 10.47 minutes and carry 110 pound pack over 3 miles of flat terrain within 65 minutes.

DRUG TESTING: Positions require a mandatory pre-employment drug test. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. The drug test will be provided at Government direction and expense. Once hired, employees are also subject to random drug testing during employment. This is in accordance with Executive Order 12564 and under the Department's Drug Free Workplace Program.

Positions may require a valid state driver's license.

**See note below

Qualifications

**Note:

You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment.

All positions have medical qualification requirements

Hours worked per week must be stated for each season and position held in your resume.

***Experience listed will need to include specific duties about the work being performed and should not be only the general language stated below in the examples.

To qualify for a GW-05
You must meet at least one of the following:
1). One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GW/GS-04 level duties.
Examples of specialized work experience may include:
On-the-line wildland fire experience in forest or rangeland fire suppression and fuels mitigation work gained as a member of a fire crew such as Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Engine Crew, or Fire Use Module. Experience may also include instructing or leading firefighters with both fire and non-fire assignments.
-OR-
2). Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, from an accredited college or university, in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields.
-OR-
3). A combination of education and specialized work experience described above.

Selective Factor for GW-05: In addition to the basic qualifications listed above, you must have possessed the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualification and experience to be considered eligible.

• Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1)

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

Physical Demands: Physical demands include 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 120 pounds for 5 miles or more through rugged terrain, and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. The smokejumper is expected to parachute into this remote terrain under hazardous conditions.

Work Environment: Work environments include 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 will require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft. The majority of the work is performed outdoors in a wide variety of weather and terrain conditions or in a crowded airplane.

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 minimum qualification requirements of this position. Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine if you are minimally qualified for the position. Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does 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 minimally qualified candidates will be referred for consideration. Please note that the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis.

The competencies below provide an overview of what this GW-05 position entails once encumbered:

• Fire Management - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of fire management, including the characteristics, behavior, and ecology of fire; methodologies, strategies, and equipment used in prescribed fires; fire detection, prevention, and suppression strategies; and integration of fire with natural resource management.
• Technical Competence - Knowledge of how to perform one's job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience
• Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.