Wildland Firefighter (Fire Management Specialist-Fuels Planner)

Full Job Description

These positions are located on a USDA Forest Service Unit.

The incumbent serves in a key fire management position in a field fire management organization as a Fire Management Specialist (Fuels Planner).

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Section for location representative details.

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.

Basic Requirement 0401 Series: Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or related discipline appropriate to the position being filled.

-OR- Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GW-09 Level: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-07 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Developed fire management plans to ensure resource objectives can be met from a fire management standpoint; Conducted field inspections before and/or after prescribed fires or wildland fires to determine if defined resource objectives have been met; Provided information on fuels management methods to enhance, restore and protect ecosystems; Prepared wildland fire risk assessments incorporating wildland/urban interface considerations into all agreements, operating plans, and land and fire management plans, to ensure that all interface areas were covered and state and local responsibilities were apportioned appropriately.

-OR- A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B.

or J.D., (coursework directly related to the position being filled such as biological sciences, botany, ecology, horticulture, climate sciences, natural resource management).

-OR- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level).

The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

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

Specialized experience is defined as: Managed and applied wildland fire planning processes, information, and procedures using highly specialized analytical and technical tools; Performed data collection and evaluation of fire hazard risk, fuels, historic fire occurrence, fire effects, climatology and weather; Reviewed and validated data for adequacy, appropriateness, and accuracy; Ensured data used in analyses is timely, accurate, and defensible within established standards; Provided expertise in the development of resource objectives and guidance for implementation of projects and programs; Developed fuels treatment alternatives to support management decisions while adhering to applicable laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines.

-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 such as biological sciences, botany, ecology, horticulture, climate sciences, natural resource management).

-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.).

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.
• Reviews complex fuels management plans and environmental documents and determined the effects of fire on natural and cultural resources.
• Evaluates, and modifies fire and fuels management plans for technical adequacy.
• Provides analysis for wildland fire risk assessments incorporating wildland/urban interface considerations into fire management plans.
• Participates in pre and post burn fire effects and fuel treatment monitoring.
• Performs analysis of fire and its use and/or exclusion for smoke management programs to ensure compliance with air quality standards.
• Identifies training needs and participated in prescribed fire and fuels management, and wildland fire training for fire suppression.