Wildland Firefighter (Lead Helicopter Crewmember) Direct Hire Authority

Full Job Description

In order to be considered for any duty location, ensure desired locations are selected. Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected. Career-Seasonal positions.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis.

You will work approximately 18 pay periods in pay status, and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year. See additional information.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement05/04/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. 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.

**NOTE - Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

You can only submit one resume; Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes.

Selective Factors: The applicant must have possessed all the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position: Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) -AND- Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND- Helicopter Crew Member (HECM) -AND- Portable Pumps and Water Use (S-211) -AND- NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations (S-212) -AND- -AND-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- EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: To Qualify for GW-07 One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS/GW-06 level in the Federal service (or equivalent).

Examples of specialized experience include: Performing in Wildland hand-crew Fire Operations, to include initial attack and Fire-line Suppression Operations; Prescribed Fire Operations; Helitack Operations; leading or supervising others; initial attack and suppression hand-crew operations; prescribed fire operations; wildland fire engine crew operations; helitack fire crew operations; providing on-the-job training and conducting daily crew briefings, safety sessions, and/or other basic wildland fire training.

NOTE: If your firefighting experience includes both structural and wildland, it is essential that your application materials clearly separate and document your wildland experience.

Volunteer Experience: 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. Major Duties:

As a Wildland Firefighter (Lead Helicopter Crewmember) Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Proficient use of FM radios & familiar with aviation avionics Make decision as to when, where and how equipment can be utilized to the greatest advantage, ensuring proper assembly of equipment and supplies for fire or daily work assignments.

Directs helicopter crewmember duties such as: prepares internal and/or external cargo loads, briefs passengers before takeoff, follows proper procedures for loading/unloading the helicopter, constructs helispots or landing areas, monitors dipsites, 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.

May serve as a rappeler or short hauler. Proper manifesting of personnel and cargo.

Proper use of internal and external loads Maintaining Helitack fire suppression equipment such as Chainsaws, Pumps, and Fire Tools Serve as back-up or assistant to the first level supervisor or lead in their absence.