Hybrid Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) - Direct Hire Authority chez Department of the Interior

Other

Duties

Direct a prescribed fire/fuels management program with activities and functions to include prescribed fire, mechanical and biological fuels treatments, fire effects monitoring, fuels monitoring, and smoke monitoring.,Evaluate individual fuels treatments as well as the effectiveness of the overall fuels management program and make program changes based on evaluation findings.,Participate in all aspects of a fire management program including fuels management, fire prevention, planning, fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire activities.,Perform fiscal analysis, formulate the annual fuels management budget, and maintain a system of accounts to track program expenditures, including managing the budget from out-year planning to year-end closure.,Oversee the smoke management program to ensure compliance with state air quality standards.,Develop and implement short-term fire management objectives and strategies based on the effects and behavior of prescribed fire.,Plan, conduct surveys, analyze, and evaluate data to develop prescriptions for prescribed fire and wildland fire monitoring.,Serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative on fuels management contracts and is responsible for the preparation of contract specifications and performance measures.,Identify, evaluate and provide training needs for other prescribed fire and fuels management program support staff.,Exercise delegated supervisory authorities and responsibilities 20% of the time.,Plan work to be accomplished by subordinates, set and adjust short-term priorities, and prepare schedules for completion of work; and evaluate subordinates work performance.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: NOTE: 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 Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist (PFFS) - Low Complexity 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 at http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/ SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. The applicant must have possessed the following qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position: Primary Core Qualification: Engine Boss (ENGB) or Crew Boss (CRWB) or Firing Boss (FIRB), or Helicopter Manager (HMGB) or higher. Secondary Core Qualification: Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) or higher. NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration. You MUST provide a current copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other agency equivalent documentation which verifies you meet this required qualification for this position when submitting your application. Selectees for IFPM positions requiring currency will be required to obtain and maintain currency for the NWCG qualifications listed above. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE MANDATORY QUALIFICATION PREREQUISITE ABOVE, APPLICANTS MUST ALSO HAVE THE FOLLOWING ONE (1) YEAR OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: If you are a current or former federal employee who has served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to: assist with developing, reviewing and evaluating fire management plans for ecological soundness and consistency with land management goals and objectives; conducting field inspections before and after prescribed or wildland fires to determine if resource objectives were achieved and/or to evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken; analyzing fuel loadings and determining appropriate fuel treatment methods; performing land use planning and environmental coordination to determine if resource objectives were achieved; assist with analyzing the ecological role of fire and its use and/or exclusion, and smoke management. If you have never been or are NOT a current federal employee, your resume must show that you have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to: developing, reviewing and evaluating fire management plans for ecological soundness and consistency with land management goals and objectives; analyzing fuel loadings and determining appropriate fuel treatment methods; performing land use planning and environmental coordination to determine if resource objectives were achieved; analyzing the ecological role of fire and its use and/or exclusion, and smoke management. FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the qualification requirements, but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system. FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary coverage position. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date. Physical Demands: Work in the office is primarily sedentary. Field work does require frequent physical exertion, involving walking over rough terrain, sometimes for extended periods, and working under occasionally inclement (hot, cold, snow, wind, etc.) weather conditions. The incumbent must be in good physical condition in order to safety perform field activities. The incumbent must be able to perform duties in areas of uncontrolled wildfire where hazardous conditions exist. Working Conditions: Work is performed in both an office and field setting with field work. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions.? The nature of fire management work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Other Information

Indian Preference Policy: Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC Section 472). Verification form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. No other documents will be accepted as proof of Indian Preference. NOTE: The salaries listed in this announcement reflect the permanent pay increases for federal and tribal wildland firefighters, effective March 23, 2025. In addition to the listed base salary, firefighters are eligible for Incident Response Premium Pay when deployed to a qualifying incident, which may significantly increase overall compensation. All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See Wildland Firefighter here and select the duty station from Muskogee, Oklahoma to choose the appropriate pay chart. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart. TRAVEL & RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED. ANY RELOCATION EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REPORTING FOR DUTY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELECTED EMPLOYEE. This is a supervisory position. Under provision of the Civil Service Reform Act, first-time supervisors are required to serve a one year supervisory probationary period before their appointment becomes final. Those who do not satisfactorily complete this probationary period will be returned to positions of no lower grade and pay than those they occupied before assuming their supervisory assignment. TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. This position has been designated as an Incidental Operator under the Indian Affairs Motor Vehicle Safety Program and requires the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle in order to properly carry out his/her assigned duties but whose principal duties are not operating a motor vehicle and his/her position is not classified as a motor vehicle operator. The incumbent will be required initially and annually to acknowledge and certify possession of a valid state driver's license. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) OR Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF50 noting position, grade level, duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp