Wildland Firefighter (Interagency Hotshot Crew) - Direct Hire Authority

Full Job Description

For additional information regarding this position please see "Position Information". Please ensure you read the announcement fully prior to submitting application package.

This job will close when we have received 150 applications which may be sooner than the closing date.

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.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

To receive credit for experience, your 2 page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time or part-time, hours must be included).

If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume.

Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes.

In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted.

This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d).

SELECTIVE FACTORS: For this Wildland Firefighter position you must also meet the following selective placement factors: Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- Less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- A veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

AND In addition to the above, the following experience and/or education is required to qualify for the position: For the GW-05 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS/GW-04 level in the federal service, or equivalent.

Examples of specialized experience include: Assisted firefighting crews in prescribed burning and wildfire suppression field operations and assisted in wildland fire suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring, hazardous fuels reduction and prescribed fire as wildland firefighter crewmember.

-OR- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study in Fire Science, Fire Technology or other related fields of study (e.g.: Forestry, Range Management, Agriculture, Fire suppression and Prevention).Transcripts must be attached to application package if qualifying based on education.

-OR- An equivalent combination of experience and education. Transcripts must be attached to application package.

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. 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.

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." The Arduous fitness (Pack) test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack.

You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position.

This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements.

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:

Serve as an experienced member of a wildland fire crew in fuels management, fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire activities, applying an understanding of firefighter safety, fire behavior, topography of the area, weather, fuels and training in fire management work.

Recommend and implement tactical directions on attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires, building or patrolling firelines, cleaning up burned areas within firelines, suppressing spot fires, felling snags or trees, and cutting brush.

Place caches of equipment and supplies at strategic points.

Operate, move, inspect and perform preventative maintenance on vehicles and equipment to include crew carriers, fire engines, command vehicles, pickups, and other specialized equipment.

Serve as lookout and as directed, locate fireline and implement appropriate fireline construction methods necessary (e.g.: mineral soil scrape, cut trenching, removal of ladder fuels) to stop fire spread.

Adjust course based on terrain and other conditions and assessing escape routes and safety zones.

Use and maintenance of equipment and various hand tools such as shovels, Pulaskis, and McLeods, water hose, and backpack pumps.

May serve as a situational leader on wildland fires by directing the work of a small crew of wildland firefighters in building firelines, burning out, mopping up, and patrolling firelines.