Wildland Firefighter (Fuels)

Full Job Description

This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals.

Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.

To learn more about Direct-Hire authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information: Direct Hire Fact Sheet This key fire management position is a categorized under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard as a Prescribed Fire & Fuels Specialist, Low Complexity.

Minimum IFPM qualification standards must be met prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at https://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/.

Prior experience in wild land firefighting is required in order to carry out the duties of this position.

You will not be considered for this position if you do not have prior wild land firefighting experience.

This is a secondary-administrative firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS).

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage.

If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system. Only experience and education obtained by 01/29/2026 will be considered.

***Your resume MUST include BEGINNING and END DATES specified in MONTH/YEAR to MONTH/YEAR format.

In addition, your resume MUST reflect FULL-TIME/PART-TIME or total number of HOURS worked per week*** You may qualify at the GW-07 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-06 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience may include: performing fuels management activities and functions including prescribed fire, mechanical and biological fuels treatments, fire effects monitoring, fuels monitoring, smoke monitoring, and recognizing how fuels management relates to other fire management functions and evaluating a wide array of factors when preparing fuels treatment projects within established and standard practices.

You may qualify at the GW-08 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-07 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience may include: assisting with planning wildland fire suppression activities and assisting in writing and executing wildland fire management plans, prescribed burn plans, and preparedness plans.

In addition to the specialized experience above, you must have the qualifications described below: IFPM Qualifications for Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist (PFFS) (Low Complexity) (Selective Factor): - Fully qualified in Engine Boss Single Resource (ENGB) or Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB) or Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB) or Helicopter Manager, Single Resource (HMGB) AND -Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) NOTE: You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required minimum qualifications for this IFPM position.

Failure to provide this documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified.

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. Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder.

The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GW-08. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.

You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GW-08.

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Major Duties:

Operations and Preparedness - Prepares and implements routine aspects of the prescribed fire/fuels plan, ensuring that preparation, implementation, and rehabilitation are completed to the standards specified and in accordance with regulations, policies, and guidelines.

Monitors treatment effectiveness, identifies potential problems, and makes recommendations. Recommends solutions for technical problems requiring the use of specialized or complicated techniques.

Planning - Participates as an interdisciplinary team member under the direction of other fuels management staff, or fire management officer.

Develops and recommends plans and schedules for the prescribed fire, wildland fire monitoring, and fuels treatment projects.

Recommends solutions for technical problems requiring the use of specialized and/or complicated techniques.

Uses input from the interdisciplinary team, management direction, and annual objectives to develop and recommend prioritization and timing of fuels management projects.

Program Management - Participates in planning and coordinating routine or limited aspects of the fuels management program.

Assists in program direction, short-and long-range planning; budgeting; and managing wildland fire, fuels management, and prescribed fire programs.

Monitors a variety of limited operational projects to address technical fire management problems. Ensures the smoke management program complies with state air quality standards.

Coordinates with federal, state, tribal and local government air quality officials to comply with operational procedures and reporting requirements