Wildland Firefighter (Fire Management Specialist Planning)
About This Position
This position is located at a USDA Forest Service unit within Geographic Area California. The incumbent serves as the primary wildland fire planning specialist in an interagency setting for a single or group of Fire Planning Units (FPU). See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Section for location representative details.
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. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement 0401 Series: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or related discipline appropriate to the position being filled. -OR- Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: Selective Placement Factors For the GW-09 level: Applicants must display one year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-07 grade level. Examples of specialized experience are: Coordinated, gathered, and compiled data for Fire Planning Units (FPU) such as historic fire occurrence, weather, fuels treatments, and current fuels data.
Consolidated data identified deficiencies and recommended corrective actions. Performed basic analysis of standard wildland fire models. Assisted with fire program analysis (FPA) training programs for their assigned FPU(s) and scheduled and assisted with formal and informal fire program analysis training. -OR- A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B.
OR
J.D., (coursework directly related to the position being filled such as biological sciences, botany, ecology, horticulture, climate sciences, natural resource management); -OR- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For the GW-11 level: Applicants must display one year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-09 grade level.
Examples of specialized experience are: Facilitated and documented Fire Planning Units (FPU) processes, decisions and results while resolving conflicts among partner agencies related to fire program analysis (FPA). Managed the development and monitored annual operating plans and long-term plans ensuring quality control utilizing consolidated data such as fuels plans, historic fire occurrence, weather, fuels treatments and current fuels data. Identified data deficiencies, and initiated corrective action, and resolved disputes.
Performed in-depth analysis of computer-generated complex wildland fire model outputs. Administered the FPA training program and conducted formal and informal FPA training. Monitored fire management programs and determined resource allocations as agreed upon the by FPU(s) governing board(s) and notified the governing board of deviations. -OR- 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D.
OR
equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled such as biological sciences, botany, ecology, horticulture, climate sciences, natural resource management); -OR- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). 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 firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). 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. 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-11 level.
Facilitating and documenting Fire Planning Units (FPU) processes, decisions and results while resolving conflicts among partner agencies related to fire program analysis (FPA).
Managing the development and monitored annual operating plans and long-term plans ensuring quality control utilizing consolidated data such as fuels plans, historic fire occurrence, weather, fuels treatments and current fuels data.
Identifying data deficiencies, and initiated corrective action, and resolved disputes. Performing in-depth analysis of computer-generated complex wildland fire model outputs.
Administering the FPA training program and conducted formal and informal FPA training.
Monitoring fire management programs and determined resource allocations as agreed upon the by FPU(s) governing board(s) and notified the governing board of deviations.
Education
See above for education requirement(s) for this position.
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/12956237
Additional Information
For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: Geographic Area Califironia - Brian Grabowski - [email protected] 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. 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] 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 or guaranteed. This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.
Forest Service daycare facilities may be available. Government Housing may be available.
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. Education is required therefore, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts.
An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website.
All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. 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.