Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper)

Full Job Description

These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit. The primary purpose of this position is to perform wildland firefighting work.

These crews perform work directly related to wildland fire suppression and control activities including suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring, and hazardous fuels reduction.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section 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 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-07: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-06) in the Federal Service.

Examples of specialized experience may include: Performed many technical specializations such as parachute rigging and repair, parachute maneuvering and tree climbing, in support of fire management activities independently; Practiced methods and procedures associated with wildfire suppression to resolve a full range of irregular or problem situations when suppressing wildland fires; Served as a member of a smokejumper crew that parachutes into rugged terrain for fire management purposes.

For the GW-08: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-07) in the Federal Service.

Examples of specialized experience may include: Served as spotter and made critical safety decisions on jump actions and fire strategies and tactics; Assisted in managing Smokejumper Safety Programs such as Smokejumper First Aid or Prescribed Fire/Fuels Treatment and Chainsaw Safety, or Smokejumper Spotter/Pilot Program; Served as a cargo dropper in charge of aerial delivery missions in a variety of aircraft involving both paracargo and free-fall delivery using systems.

Smokejumper duties present unusual hazards and require that personnel be in excellent physical condition and possess a high degree of emotional stability and mental alertness.

The health of individuals must be such that they have the capacity to meet demands for performance in the position and for human reliability.

Before entrance on duty, and periodically during employment, smokejumpers must undergo a medical exam, physical conditioning, and an adeptness test.

Failure to meet any of the required standards will be considered disqualifying for employment or a basis of termination. See Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions.

During the training period, incumbents are continually evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various aspects of parachute jumping and smokejumper-related tasks, including aircraft exit procedures, parachute landing falls, parachute maneuvering, timber let-down procedures, parachute and cargo retrieving, tree climbing, and chainsaw and hand tool use.

Incumbents who cannot perform up to the required standards of proficiency will be terminated from the smokejumper program.

Smokejumpers must perform safely and efficiently in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, often with severe smoke and dust.

Terrain may be extremely steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with thick tangled vegetation. Conditions riding in aircraft may be hot, cramped, and extremely turbulent, which may promote airsickness.

The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (jump suit, helmet, boots, gloves, fire resistant clothing, etc.) be worn and protective equipment, including fire shelters, be carried.

Selective Placement Factors Must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger.

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 -OR-currently occupy a permanent position with primary fire fighter retirement coverage.

For those who do not currently occupy a permanent Federal position covered under primary fire fighter retirement, you must be under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position; or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the requirement.

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, 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. Major Duties:

• Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-8 level.
• Serves as flight crew member/Spotter on smokejumper aircraft with flight duties assigned involving smokejumper preflight gear checks, preflight aircraft inspections, navigation, agency communications and flight checklist responsibilities.
• Ensures all flight-following policies and procedures are adhered to including full responsibility for aircraft navigation and radio communication.
• When assigned as Incident Commander, independently manages complex fire operations, directing a variety of fire fighting resources including air tankers, helicopters, hand crews, and engines.
• Completes reports for time and attendance, fire time, crew time, accident/injury, fire action, individual fire, training, fire replacement requisitions.
• Where contracted aircraft are assigned to the base, performs the duties of a Project Inspector when so designated by the Base Manager for day-to-day administration of aviation contracts.
• Serves as an instructor on Forest and Regional training cadres providing expertise in wildland fire suppression, smoke jumping, Incident Command System and air operations.