Wildland Firefighter (Helitack)

Full Job Description

This position is located at a USDA Forest Service Unit.

The purpose of the position is wildland fire suppression/management/control as a specialized firefighter with responsibility for the operation and maintenance of specialized tools or equipment.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional contacts. 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 Wildland Fire 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.

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GW-05: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-04 grade level in federal service.

- OR - Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields of study is qualifying for GW-05 or a combination of education and experience.

Examples of specialized experience may include: Loaded helicopter cargo and completing manifests of crews and equipment; Patrolled areas of controlled fires to mop-up by searching out and extinguishing any remaining burning material; Served on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) to suppress the full range of difficult and complex fires; Operated specialized fire suppression equipment such as portable pumps or drip torches.

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.

Selective Placement Factors Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND- Successfully completed the NWCG Course #S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior.

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.

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.

Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: For those who do not currently occupy a permanent Federal position covered under primary fire fighter retirement, you must be under the age of 37.

OR less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position.

OR veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and I am requesting a waiver.

OR eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, older than 37, and requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

This position has been identified as (HIGH) Complexity under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy.

IFPM or FS-FPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training.

The applicant must possess these qualifications at the applicable complexity level to be considered eligible for this position.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities.

Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a condition of employment.

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-05 level.
• Performs recurring fire suppression duties while working on helitack crew.
• Exits helicopters in remote areas to construct helispots, attack small fire, hot spots, and stop fires.
• Gathers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behaviors to respond to wildland fire incidents.
• Performs fire suppression and fuel management duties under the most adverse conditions, climate, fuels, and terrain.
• Recommends best approaches and practices with positioning and deploying personnel and equipment to protect the values at risk.