Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper)

Full Job Description

This position is located within a National Forest. The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization.

Serves as a smokejumper, performing a variety of duties in the areas of parachute jumping and fire suppression.

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.

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.

GW-06: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-5 grade level in federal service or equivalent. GW-06: Education cannot be substituted for this grade level.

Examples of specialized experience include: Performed parachute jumps under many conditions while executing landings on rough terrain, open areas, mountain slopes, and/or timber; Suppressed the full range of difficult and complex wildland fire using common and proven basic techniques; Served as a Squad boss on a Fire Crew, Helitack Crew, Pump Crew or served as Crew Boss, Fire Boss, or Sector Boss.

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.

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 consists of a three (3) mile hike, within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack.

In accordance with USDA Department Regulation 4430-792-2, this position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the USDA Drug Free Workplace Program and subject to pre-employment drug testing.

All applicants selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Incumbents of this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis on an ongoing random basis, after appointment as directed.

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:

• Serves as an experienced smokejumper, performing parachute jumps, and a variety of wildland fire suppression duties.
• Makes parachute jumps from various aircraft under many conditions while executing landings on rough terrain, open areas, mountain slopes, or timber.
• Performs wildland fire suppression duties using a variety of hand and power tools (such as Pulaski, shovel, chain saw, and McLeod).
• As assigned may jump as incident commander, determining fire strategy, making work assignments, reviewing work performance, completing fire and time reports. May also serve as single resource boss.
• Participates in and successfully completes annual refresher training in parachute jumping, parachute handling, firefighting, and use of specialized tools and techniques.
• Coordinates with spotter to select jump spot. Makes advanced tactical decisions, evaluates fire behavior and potential fire risk to determine resource needs. Plans logistical needs for multiple shifts.
• May obtain FAA certifications such as Senior or Master Parachute Rigger. Packs and maintains parachutes for intentional jumping for self and others, packs reserve parachutes as well.
• Constructs and maintains gear such as parachute harness, jump gear and other equipment to ensure jump program functionality.
• May participate in training new smokejumpers to become proficient with physical and mental requirements of smokejumper positions.
• Ensures airplane is loaded properly. Constructs and maintains cargo containers and cargo parachutes for paracargo operations.
• May serve as Assistant Spotter, during fire and paracargo missions, using CRM skills to assist with paracargo and smokejumper deployments. Travel to fire assignments may vary from parachute jumping to foot travel, truck, bus, helicopter, etc.
• May be assigned to other resource management activities such as recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fire suppression duties.
• May inventory fuel beds, prepare associated reports, perform hazard fuel reduction projects, monitor burning conditions, pile vegetation debris and act in assigned positions during fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire.