Wildland Firefigher (Forest-Fire Management Officer-Fire & Aviation Operations)

Full Job Description

These positions are located in the Pacific Northwest Region 6 on a Forest Service Unit.

This position serves as a principal assistant to a Forest Staff Officer or Forest Fire Management Officer (FFMO) in directing the complex aviation management program of the Fire & Aviation Operations on a Forest Service unit.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Jason Heinz at jason.heinz@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. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GW-11: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-09 in the Federal service.

OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled); OR An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).

Examples of Specialized Experience are: Assisting with providing oversight and management of aviation activities including fire detection, suppression, use of fire retardant, aerial non-fire projects.

Conducting contract management, safety training and risk assessment for aviation programs. Assisting with providing technical and administrative supervision for aviation programs.

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.

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:

• This position is responsible for the strategic oversight and safety management of all aviation operations on a National Forest.
• Maintains close liaison with other aviation managers, Forest Fire Management Officer, Deputy Forest FMO, Interagency Dispatch Center Manager, and Dispatch Coordinator to exchange information on current aviation operations.
• Advises project planners on utilization and suitability of aircraft needed for fire suppression and aviation projects.
• Represents Forest Aviation at Forest, Regional, National training, workshops, task groups, and meetings.
• Coordinates with Regional aviation management on Forest aviation operations, technical guidance, special projects for aviation support personnel, and other aviation related aspects.
• Serves as the primary aviation operations advisor to the Forest Supervisor or Incident Commander during project fires, or other projects that may involve aircraft.
• May be the designated Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for the Forest's aviation contracts.