Federal

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter - Prevention

Forest Service ยท Department of Agriculture
๐Ÿ“ Acton, California GW-8/9 $67,617 - $94,687/yr
Posted: Mar 10, 2026 Deadline: Mar 19, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit. Serves as the Assistant District Fire Management Officer (ADFMO) on a Ranger District of a National Forest. Primary responsibilities involve assisting in the planning and execution of the fire prevention, suppression, and education programs on a large, highly complex land area. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Brian Grabowski - [email protected]

Qualifications

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. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GW-08: 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: Assisted in directing safe initial and extended attack suppression actions, including determining incident needs, dispatch and deployment of personnel and equipment; Identified, collected, preserved and/or examined evidence in the determination of the probable cause of fire; Assisted in the development, implementation and presentation of the role of fire in ecosystems management educational programs.

For the GW-09: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-08) in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Assisted in developing and executing plans to solve complex problems involving fire preparedness, fuels management, fire prevention, and/or training; Assisted the management of fire prevention and detection programs, scheduling staffing, maintenance and/or training; Assisted the development of fire control plans and/or documentation relating to fire pre-suppression, prevention, detection, suppression tactics and/or strategies. 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 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. 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 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-09 Level.

Provide technical expertise on fire protection and prevention issues to support the fire community. Determines and implements fire management tactics appropriate to the area involved.

Determines and implements fire management tactics appropriate to the area involved. Provides technical expertise on fire protection in special use permits, service contracts and timber sale contracts.

Documents findings, issues citations as necessary and appears in court as a government witness when requested. Issues welding, blasting, campfire and burning permits to public and private entities.

Develops, implements and makes presentations on the role of fire in ecosystem management educational programs on unit, both internally and externally.

Cooperatively designs and executes joint programs in fire prevention including enforcement, education and fire prevention engineering.

Responds in an initial attack capacity on fires within response area. May supervise multiple firefighting resources on initial or extended attack, or serve in other fire positions as qualified or assigned.

Education

There is no education requirement for series/grades

How You Will Be Evaluated

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12898789

Additional Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, and telework may be available. Some positions filled via this announcement are bargaining unit positions represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

This is dependent upon unit location. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS).

Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97.

Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email [email protected] Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period (unless prior service is creditable). New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program before the end of their probationary period. PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management.

However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

How to Apply

Please view Tips for Applicants - a guide to the Forest Service application process. Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin.

You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged.

We are available to assist you during business hours (7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mountain Time Zone, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

Resumes must not exceed two pages. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this. To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX).

Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Please ensure your resume does not exceed two pages.

Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages. Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Supervisory Wildland Firefighter - Prevention position at Forest Service?
The salary range for this position is $67,617 - $94,687/yr. This is a GW-8/9 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Wildland Firefighter - Prevention job located?
This position is located in Acton, California. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
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 poss...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 19, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GW-8/9 mean?
GW-8/9 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.