Wildland Firefighting Manager (Assistant Director - Fire Coordination)

Full Job Description

This position is a Wildland Firefighting Manager (Assistant Director - Fire Coordination), GW-0456-15 working in Boise, Idaho for the US Wildland Fire Service.

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element.

Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard.

This position has been categorized as a National Fire Program Manager, and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position.

Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM).

To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected): A) Task Force Leader (TFLD); AND B) Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3), OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2), OR Complex Incident Management Team Command and General Staff position (CIMT C&G).

AND C) M-581 "Fire Program Management," FML "Fire Management Leadership," OR M-582 Fire Program Management, LFML "Local Fire Management Leadership".

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required. Only experience and education obtained by 03/02/2026 will be considered.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Minimum Qualifications Requirement for the GW-15 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS/GW-14 level in the federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include: advising high level management officials on fire coordination at the district or state level (or equivalent); reviewing wildland fire preparedness actions and operating plans; evaluating, coordinating, directing and implementing policy to support wildland fire management programs and operations; familiarity with budget formulation and expenditure of funds; supervising and/or leading a staff of fire and aviation professionals responsible for fire and aviation programs.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at this grade level.

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.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C.

8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience.

In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting.

Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement.

Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland.

Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages.

Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Physical Demands: The work is normally sedentary; however, some physical exertion is required as it relates to site visits and fire line assignments which involve walking on rough, uneven terrain, long periods of standing, and exposure to extreme heat, smoke, and temperatures.

The incumbent is faced with emergency situations at all hours and must respond quickly.

The position may require long shifts or multi-day assignments under primitive living conditions during emergencies.

During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions.

Working Conditions: The work is usually performed in an office setting however field work is expected.

During the wildland fire season, field work may involve high risk exposure to potentially dangerous situations or stress such as wildfire, heat, smoke, and falling rocks and trees and may require flying in small fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

Field work usually requires protective equipment to be worn and a range of safety and other precautions to be observed.

Eligibility and Qualification Requirements: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv.

Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions. Major Duties:

As a Wildland Firefighting Manager (Assistant Director - Fire Coordination), your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Provides leadership, oversight, and supervision over a large and highly complex wildland fire organization focused on Fire Coordination, to include the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), the Complex Incident Management Teams (CIMTs), the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC), the National Interagency Incident Communications Unit, and the National Radio Operations Unit.

Provides leadership, program management expertise and advice, program review, operational oversight, and coordination in all phases of the national wildland Fire Coordination program.

Serves as a senior advisor to executive leadership on developing and implementing strategic plans in support of achieving national wildland Fire Coordination objectives.

Plans, organizes, and oversees national efforts and projects. Develops priorities for effective use of organizational resources.

Plays a key role in the development and implementation of wildland fire operational policies, plans, guidelines, proposal, processess, etc.