Wildland Firefighter - Direct Hire Authority

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 The Wildland Firefighter, GW-0456-06 position is with the US Wildland Fire Service - Helitack Section, located in Fort Defiance, Arizona.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA).

The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday.

Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran.

If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday.

You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement.

Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration.

Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement.

If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment.

Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the BIA Exclusive Use Helicopter Module Position Standards.

This position has been categorized as a Fire Helicopter Squad Leader (FHSL) and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards prior to being placed into the position.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position.

The applicant must have possessed the following qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) or higher Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) or higher Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) or higher.

S-290, "Intermediate Fire Behavior" Training course In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.

Only experience and education obtained by 04/27/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience. Minimum Qualification For the GW-06 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-05 level in the federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include: on-the-line wildland fire experience as a senior wildland firefighter in forest or range fire control, prevention or suppression work, prescribed burning; operating and maintaining specialized wildland fire tools, equipment, vehicles, and may include leading the work of crew personnel.

Provided on-the-job training to personnel in use of wildland fire control equipment, methods and safety procedures. Performed technical specializations such as felling, saw repair and water handling.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at this grade level.

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.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter.

Applicants must be 18 years of age but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement.

These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57.

Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.

Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system.

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.

Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances.

Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time.

The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing).

Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft. This will be a permanent full-time seasonal career/conditional appointment.

The incumbent will be in pay status at least 13 pay periods (26 weeks) or more depending on funding & workload not-to-exceed 25 pay periods (50 weeks) per calendar year.

Services will not be required at certain times due to lack of work/funds, weather conditions, ceiling limitations or other unforeseen circumstances & will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, you will be in non-pay status when services are not needed due to lack of work, funds, or unforeseen circumstances.

Telework: These positions may be suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster. Major Duties:

As a Wildland Firefighter - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Serves as a Squad Leader on a Helicopter Firefighter crew providing leadership and oversight of wildland fire suppression/management/control work on a helitack module.

Performs and/or oversees initial attack fire suppression activities, locates fireline, directs and participates in fireline construction, backfiring and burnout operations.

Directs helicopter crewmember duties i.e., prepares internal/external cargo loads, briefs passengers, follows procedures for loading/unloading the helicopter, constructs helispots or landing areas, monitors dip sites, and prepares sling load sites.

Leads aviation mission planning in coordination with pilot to include evaluation of environmental conditions, application of aviation safety plans, and briefing mission objectives.

Participates in and may direct helicopter operations to include accompanying pilot on flights, providing radio communications to dispatch and/or ground firefighters, navigating with use of maps and applying aviation safety regulations.

Inventories and inspects helicopter accessories, fire tools, and equipment including aerial ignition devices; and directs the readiness and assembly of helicopter support accessories and helicopter safety equipment.

Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.