Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper Training Manager)

Full Job Description

This position is located on a USDA Forest Service Unit within the Pacific Southwest Region, Region 5.

This position serves as the Smokejumper Training Manager for a national shared resource smokejumper program.

Responsible for all aspects of the smokejumper training program to include fire, parachute, safety, and EEO.

For additional information regarding the duties of the position, please contact Mitchell Hokanson - mitchell.hokanson@usda.gov 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: For the GW-10: Applicants must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-09 grade level.

Experience serving as a member of a smokejumper crew that parachutes into rugged terrain for fire management purposes.

Specialized experience is defined as: Assisted with one or more program responsibilities such as, plan and coordinate smokejumper training, operations, and/or prescribed fire.

Assisted in formulating and developing training plans, contract specifications, training programs and schedules.

Directed initial and extended attack suppression actions such as determining incident needs, and dispatch/deployment of personnel and equipment, and assisted in training smokejumper pilots in smokejumper operations.

For the GW-11: Applicants must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-10 grade level.

Experience serving as a member of a smokejumper crew that parachutes into rugged terrain for fire management purposes.

Specialized experience is defined as: Assisted with more than one smokejumper program responsibilities such as, planed, schedules and coordinated all aspects of smokejumper training; Anticipated and identified training and development needed for current and projected smokejumper operations and provides training to meet those needs; Responded to complex fire assignments, assessed probable fire behavior, and determined strategy of initial attack and suppression needs; and Inspected and maintained smokejumper aircraft, aircraft accessories and equipment for fire readiness.

Smokejumper duties present unusual hazards and require that personnel be in excellent physical condition and possess a high degree of emotional stability and mental alertness.

The health of individuals must be such that they have the capacity to meet demands for performance in the position and for human reliability.

Before entrance on duty, and periodically during employment, smokejumpers must undergo a medical exam, physical conditioning, and an adeptness test.

Failure to meet any of the required standards will be considered disqualifying for employment or a basis of termination. See Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions.

During the training period, incumbents are continually evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various aspects of parachute jumping and smokejumper-related tasks, including aircraft exit procedures, parachute landing falls, parachute maneuvering, timber let-down procedures, parachute and cargo retrieving, tree climbing, and chainsaw and hand tool use.

Incumbents who cannot perform up to the required standards of proficiency will be terminated from the smokejumper program.

Smokejumpers must perform safely and efficiently in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, often with severe smoke and dust.

Terrain may be extremely steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with thick tangled vegetation. Conditions riding in aircraft may be hot, cramped, and extremely turbulent, which may promote airsickness.

The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (jump suit, helmet, boots, gloves, fire resistant clothing, etc.) be worn and protective equipment, including fire shelters, be carried.

Selective Placement Factors Must be currently licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger.

Currently or have been previously qualified as a smokejumper on an organized wildland fire smokejumper crew.

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.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.

There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions.

Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history 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:

• Participate in the development of smokejumper training policies.
• Perform the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised.
• Plan, schedule and coordinate all aspects of smokejumper training.
• Serve as an active smokejumper, smokejumper spotter, and parachute rigger.
• Responsible for overall training administration, including delegation of training assignments, prioritization, procurement, purchasing, inventory, and documentation.
• Prepare lesson plans, write manuals, develop smokejumper specific training courses, supervises and evaluates instructors involved in training and refreshing smokejumpers in parachuting procedures and fire suppression skills.
• Duties listed above is at GW-11 grade level.