Fresh Listing

Posted: January 13, 2026 (2 days ago)

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Wildland Firefighter (Air Tactical Group Supervisor)

Forest Service

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Salary

$78,166 - $108,738

per year

Closes

January 22, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves coordinating air attack operations for wildland firefighting, including overseeing helicopter services, directing fire suppression efforts from the air, and providing guidance on aviation safety across national forests in the Northern Region.

It's ideal for experienced firefighters who have worked in aerial fire management roles and can handle high-stakes coordination during emergencies.

Candidates should be detail-oriented team players comfortable with outdoor fieldwork and regulatory compliance.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GW-09 level (for GW-10) or GW-10 level (for GW-11), including assisting with helicopter contracts, aviation program implementation, and directing fire suppression actions
  • Qualified Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) certification, with proof via IQCS Master Record or equivalent (Red Cards not accepted)
  • Ability to maintain currency in NWCG qualifications; if not current, evidence of past full qualification and ability to regain within one year
  • Meet Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) standards by time of selection
  • Prior wildland firefighting experience required for secondary firefighter retirement coverage
  • Experience in assessing fire factors like aviation needs, weather, fuels, and suppression capabilities (for GW-11)

Full Job Description

These positions are located within the Northern Region, Region 1.

This position serves as an Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) Coordinator for Air Attack platforms covering most interagency lands in and adjacent to the National Forest, and to assist the Regional Aviation Group in providing guidance and direction for all Forest ATGS operations.

For additional information on the duties of this position contact Hon Schlapfer at hon.schlapfer@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: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GW-09) in the Federal Service.

Examples of Specialized Experience Include: Assisted in implementing helicopter service contracts and enforcing contract provisions; Assisted in aviation program and plan implementation and development; and Directed initial and extended attack suppression actions such as determining incident needs, and dispatch/deployment of personnel and equipment.

For the GW-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GW-10) in the Federal Service.

Examples of Specialized Experience Include: Assisted in developing helicopter service contracts and enforcing contract provisions; Assisted in directing and coordinating aviation and helicopter rappel operations in support of fire suppression activities; and Assessed various fire management factors such as aviation, fuels, suppression capability, resistance to control, ignition probability, predicted rate of spread, and flame height and weather.

Selective Placement Factors: Must be a Qualified Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS).

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.

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.

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:

  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-11 level.
  • Applies technical methods and procedures related to aviation operations and to managing agency programs. Performs a wide variety of aviation operations projects incorporating diverse technical knowledge.
  • Identifies ATGS trainees, training needs, and either mentors' trainees or assigns mentors to trainees. Processes all associated required paperwork and notifications.
  • Develops curriculum, coursework preparation, development of training aids, and evaluation criteria for aerial supervision programs such as ATGS, ASM, and HLCO.
  • May act as main evaluator/ATGS (C) for regional/interagency ATGSs and ATGS candidates.
  • Coordinates with the Regional Coordination Center to determine needs and length of contracts, aircraft performance requirements, and mobilization information on ATGS resources.
  • Provides technical and administrative supervision to employees in a variety of professional and non-professional occupations.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/13/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/13/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-FIRE-P2R1-ATGS-1011DH