Fire Operations Specialist

Full Job Description

This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals.

Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.

To learn more about Direct-Hire authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information: Direct Hire Fact Sheet This key fire management position is a categorized under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard as a Wildland Fire Operations Specialist, Moderate Complexity.

Minimum IFPM qualification standards must be met prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at https://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/.

The maximum age is 37 (except for veterans preference eligibles). Individuals must be selected for these positions prior to their 37th birthday.

Qualified preference eligibles may apply and be considered for vacancies regardless of whether they meet the maximum age requirements identified at 5 U.S.C.

3307, unless the hiring agency has determined age is essential to the duties of the job. Only experience and education obtained by 01/26/2026 will be considered.

***Your resume MUST include BEGINNING and END DATES specified in MONTH/YEAR to MONTH/YEAR format.

In addition, your resume MUST reflect FULL-TIME/PART-TIME or total number of HOURS worked per week*** You may qualify at the GW-09 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements: One year of specialized wildland fire management experience equivalent to at least the GW-08 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience may include: develop and revise fire management planning documents for long range wildland fire control and prescribed burns; organize and complete preparedness activities as it pertains to fire equipment, supplies, and fire personnel; analyze incident objectives, strategies and tactics, safety, cost effectiveness/efficiency; experience working with various resources and agencies in order to accomplish work.

In addition to the specialized experience above, you must have the qualifications described below: IFPM Qualifications for Wildland Fire Operations Specialist (WFOS) (Moderate Complexity) (Selective Factor): Moderate Complexity Pathway #1: Task Force Leader (TFLD) AND Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2) OR Moderate Complexity Pathway #2: Helibase Manager (HEBM) AND Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) NOTE: You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required minimum qualifications for this IFPM position.

Failure to provide this documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified.

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. Major Duties:

This position allows you to use your knowledge and expertise as a Fire Operations Specialist exercising supervision and leadership for and executing fire management activities in fire preparedness, fuels management and prevention, and fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire.

As a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter, duties will consist of: Supervision and Program Management: Supervises regularly assigned firefighters and may provide situational leadership and supervision for additional firefighters based on the fire assignment.

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.

Fire Suppression, Monitoring, and Post-Fire Activities: Applies an experienced understanding of firefighter safety, fire behavior, topography of the area, weather, fuels, and training in fire management work to: 1) supervise, mentor, and instruct employees on crewmember duties; 2) plan action and direct utilization of fireline resources on less complex fires; and 3) for more complex fires, direct assigned suppression operations and recommend and implement tactical strategy on attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires, building or patrolling firelines, cleaning up burned areas within firelines.

Fire Operations Specialist (FOS): Provides oversight during initial and extended attack fires and directs fireline activities and tactics of dispersed firefighters, resources, equipment, and aircraft.

Fire Preparedness: Provides leadership and direction to subordinates to achieve fire response readiness. Models leadership values and principles; provides positive influence and teamwork.