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Posted: March 25, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fire Operations) Moderate Complexity - Direct Hire Authority

Office of the Secretary of the Interior

Department of the Interior

Fresh

Location

Salary

$78,166 - $101,609

per year

Closes

April 2, 2026

GS-8 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $46,479 - $60,424

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-7. Graduate study or significant experience.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading teams in managing wildland fires, including planning operations, supervising suppression efforts, and ensuring safety during moderate-complexity incidents in Utah locations like Kanab or St.

George. It's a supervisory role in the federal government focused on fire prevention, control, and resource coordination.

A good fit would be someone with hands-on firefighting experience who enjoys outdoor work, leadership, and quick decision-making in high-stakes environments.

Key Requirements

  • Possess National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications via Pathway #1: Task Force Leader (TFLD) and either Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)
  • OR Pathway #2: Helibase Manager (HEBM) and Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to GW/GS-08 (for current/former federal employees) or GW/GS-09 (for non-federal applicants) in wildland fire operations, including leading modules in fire control, suppression, or prevention
  • Experience predicting, monitoring, and analyzing fire behavior
  • Skills in overseeing equipment, resources, and incident strategies for wildland fires
  • Meet Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) standards for Moderate Complexity Wildland Fire Operations Specialist
  • Ability to obtain and maintain NWCG qualifications currency if selected

Full Job Description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement.

Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fire Operations) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-10 working in the following location(s): 1-position in either Price, UT or Vernal, UT 1-position in either St.

George, UT or Kanab, UT- (These locations are Bargaining Unit positions.) In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement Factor(s): 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 has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard.

This position has been categorized as a Wildland Fire Operations Specialist - MODERATE Complexity,, and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position.

Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM).

To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected): Pathway #1: A.) Task Force Leader (TFLD); AND B.) Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3), OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).

-OR- Pathway #2: A.) Helibase Manager (HEBM); AND B.) Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3).

Minimum Qualification For the GW-10 level: If you are a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-08 grade level.

Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: on-the-line wildland fire experience leading a module in fire control, prevention or suppression work; predicting and monitoring fire behavior; and monitoring need for equipment and resources used to respond to wildland fires.

Please provide an SF50 with your application package to verify that you are a current or former federal employee.

If you have never been or are NOT a current federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-09 grade level.

Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: on-the-line wildland fire experience supervising a module in fire control, prevention or suppression work; monitoring and analyzing fire behavior; overseeing and evaluating needs for equipment and resources used to respond to wildland fires; and assisting in the development of incident strategies and tactics.

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.

Substitution of Education for Experience: There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C.

8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience.

In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting.

Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement.

Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. 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 fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fires: 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.

Working Conditions: 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.

May be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. Major Duties:

As a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fire Operations) Moderate Complexity - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Supervises multiple Supervisory Wildland Firefighters and provides second-level supervision over staff.

Provides oversight during initial and extended attack fires and directs fireline activities and tactics of dispersed firefighters, resources, equipment, and aircraft.

Applies knowledge of firefighter safety, fire behavior, topography of the area, weather, fuels, and training in fire management.

Determines appropriate fireline tactics and properly locates fireline and determines appropriate construction methods.

Coordinates with dispatch office regarding current fire behavior and fire conditions, release of resources, and other logistical considerations.

Supervises and directs moderately complex fuels management projects or participates in more complex projects by conducting project assessments and gathering data, planning, and implementing.

Provides for follow-up actions to safely and effectively manage wildland fires. Ensures preparedness of wildland fire suppression equipment and staff.

Develops and implements a physical training program to enhance the ability of crewmembers.

Maintains working relationships and pre-incident coordination with applicable cooperators and wildland fire responders.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/25/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/26/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: WFSDHA-26-12921710-AE