Wildland Firefighter (Regional Helicopter Operations Specialist)

Full Job Description

This position is located in Northwest Region, Region 6, Deputy Regional Forester, Fire and Aviation Management, Redmond, OR.

Serves as an expert in helicopter operations, responsible for regional direction and oversight of all helicopter operations.

Direct and indirect fire suppression, aerial ignition, rappelling, transportation of personnel and cargo.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Regional Representative Jason Heinz at jason.heinz@usda.gov 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.

Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GW-11 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least to the GW-09 grade level; OR a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.,(coursework must be directly related to the position being filled such as forestry, range management, agriculture); 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/54 quarter hours leading to a Ph.D.).

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

Examples of specialized experience are: Assisting in providing technical expertise in the use of helicopters in support of a wide variety of fire suppression, natural resource management, all hazard, and law enforcement activities.

Directing and coordinating helicopter resources in support of fire suppression, prescribed fire and resource management for an assigned field location.

Coordinated with representatives of other agencies, jurisdictions, and local law enforcement personnel.

Arranged for road closures, evacuation of structures, and the dissemination of information for public safety. Transferred command to an upper level incident management team when necessary.

For the GW-12 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least to the GW-11 grade level.

Examples of specialized experience are: Assisting in creating and preparing recommendations related to helicopter operational policies and directives for an assigned field location/area.

Assisting in developing training materials and conducted training in helicopter operations and handling of hazardous materials or aviation fuels for multiple units within the Forest Service, or other Federal, state or local agencies, and assisted in conducting field training in aircraft use in fire suppression.

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.

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, MODERATE, or LIGHT 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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

• Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-12 level.
• Advises the Regional Helicopter Program Manager and/or Regional Aviation Officer in all aspects of the helicopter Program and provides advice and assistance to National Forests within the Region.
• Plans and supervises activities, evaluates ground facilities, and develops and conducts training in helicopter operations and handling of hazardous materials or aviation fuels for the Forest Service.
• Provides leadership for planning, developing, and maintaining helicopter operations programs and National and Regional operational leadership in helicopter operations for fire suppression.
• Serves as principal Regional contact for the purpose of testing new or improved helicopter accessories and works with personnel from these centers to establish testing, evaluation, and reporting procedures for this equipment.
• Conducts field training in aircraft use in fire suppression.
• Develops and recommends helicopter operational policies and directives.