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Posted: March 10, 2026 (3 days ago)

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Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Interagency Hotshot Crew Superintendent)

Forest Service

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Salary

$78,166 - $101,609

per year

Closes

March 19, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a specialized team of wildland firefighters as the superintendent of an Interagency Hotshot Crew, focusing on suppressing wildfires across challenging terrains and urban-wildland areas in California's Pacific Southwest Region.

The role requires making quick decisions on fire tactics, managing crew operations, and ensuring safety during intense fire suppression efforts.

It's ideal for experienced firefighters with proven leadership skills, physical stamina, and a passion for protecting natural resources and communities from wildfires.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GW-08 level or equivalent, including analyzing fire suppression tactics, making on-site evaluations, and deciding responses for initial attacks and large fires
  • Successful completion of NWCG Core Requirements: Task Force Leader (TFLD), Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4), and Firing Boss (FIRB)
  • Meet Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications by time of selection, with IQCS Master Record or signed task book attached to application
  • Ability to maintain currency in NWCG qualifications; if not current, provide evidence of past qualification and ability to regain within one year
  • Age requirement: Under 37 years old, or qualify for waiver (e.g., subtracting federal firefighter service time, veteran preference, or current primary firefighter position)
  • Physical fitness for arduous firefighting duties, including potential for primary firefighter retirement coverage

Full Job Description

These positions will be located within the Pacific Southwest Region, Region 5.

Position serves as Superintendent of an organized, highly skilled Interagency Hotshot Crew, a national resource for wildland fire suppression activities.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional Contacts. 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.

Specialized Experience Requirement: GW-10: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-08) in the Federal Service.

Examples of Specialized Experience: Identified and analyzed suppression tactics and strategies employed on wildland fires, and revised and/or developed approaches in view of such conditions and/or was responsible for making on-site evaluations of conditions, making tactical decisions, and determining appropriate responses pertinent to initial attack, large wildland fire suppression activities and wildland urban interface/intermix situations and/or and exercised discretion in selecting work methods from among a variety of alternatives used to plan and execute support activities for fire and aviation management.

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.

Selective Placement Factors: Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Task Force Leader (TFLD) -AND- Successfully completed the NWCG Course Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) -AND- Firing Boss (FIRB).

Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service - Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications must be met by the time of selection.

Most recent IQCS master record and/or signed Agency Certified task book must be attached to your application.

If you are selected, you may be required to submit an updated IQCS master record or signed Agency Certified task book as proof of attainment of IFPM requirements prior to a final verbal offer.

In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application.

Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection.

If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired.

Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.

Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement -OR-currently occupy a permanent position with primary fire fighter retirement coverage.

For those who do not currently occupy a permanent Federal position covered under primary fire fighter retirement, you must be under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position; or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the requirement.

This position has been identified as (MODERATE) Complexity under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy.

IFPM or FS-FPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training.

The applicant must possess these qualifications at the applicable complexity level to be considered eligible for this position.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

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.

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

  • Ensures assigned personnel consistently meet fire readiness standards.
  • Responsible for making on-site evaluations of conditions, making tactical decisions, and determining appropriate responses.
  • Determines presuppression and suppression needs annually and facilitates procurement.
  • Develops and implements a training program for the Hotshot Crew in compliance with applicable requirements of providing complete coverage of fire suppression, procedures, methods, techniques, and physical conditioning.
  • Responsible for fire related assignments and project work, such as monitoring fuel inventories, preattack planning, brush disposal, backlog fuels disposal and preparation.
  • Plans the work to be accomplished by the unit, assigns work to employees, and establishes production or quality standards for the unit’s work.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/10/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/10/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-FIRE-P3R5-IHCSUPT-10DH