Wildland Firefighter (Helitack Senior Firefighter) - Direct Hire Authority
About This Position
This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority These Wildland Firefighter positions serve as a Fire Helicopter Senior Firefighter on a Helitack crew located with the United States Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) in Billings and Crow Agency, Montana.
Qualifications
In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: GW-5: One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to at least the GW-4 grade level in the Federal Service; OR four (4) year course of study above the high school level leading to a bachelor's degree with related course work; OR a combination of education and work experience - for example, six months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 60 semester hours of the required college coursework (50% of the education requirement) when combined meets the total requirements for the position. See below for qualifying experience and education: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Examples of specialized experience work include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention, or suppression work as a skilled wildland firefighter, utilizing a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. In addition, such duties may include, but are not limited to (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) forest fire control, prevention, or suppression work; (3) rescue operations; (4) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (5) operation of fire communications equipment when it requires specialized knowledge of firefighting techniques, equipment, and procedures to prevent and manage fires; (6) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (7) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) with major study in Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Technology, or other related fields of study which included 24 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography).
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This is a MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. The applicant must have possessed the following Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations under the BIA National Aviation Plan to be considered eligible for this helitack position identified as a Fire Helicopter Senior Fire Fighter (FHSF): Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) or higher Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) or higher. Training course S-290 "Intermediate Fire Behavior" 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.
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. MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE (MEA) AND FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) (FERS).
The maximum entry-age (MEA) for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement or firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran.
Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants over the MEA of 37 MUST have enough prior covered service under the Firefighter Special Retirement benefit in order to be eligible for re-entry into a primary firefighter position. These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of
- Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.
You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Applicants are responsible for submitting all supporting documentation prior to the closing date of a vacancy for an MEA determination. Acceptable forms of documentation consist of SF-50's showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable Federal civilian appointments or copies of agency approved certification letters based upon individual claims for coverage.
Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. 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.
The duties of this position are so rigorous that employment is limited to physically vigorous individuals who must meet established maximum age and physical qualification requirements. Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc.
Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances.
Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing).
Major Duties
As a Wildland Firefighter (Helitack Senior Firefighter) - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Incumbent is a trained wildland firefighter on a helitack crew. Assignments may include loading helicopters, determining weight calculations, completing crew manifest and accessing remote areas by helicopter to instruct helispots, or to attack small fires, hot spots, and spot fires. May be assigned to carry out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfire and burnout operations; utilizes a variety of specialized tools, equipment and techniques while actively managing wildfires.
May be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4s.
Conditions of Employment
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Direct Deposit Required.
You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Selectees must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if they are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectees must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license throughout their employment in this position. Official U.S.
Wildland Fire Service uniform is required. A condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service.
To verify registration, visit SSS.gov.
You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position. Must meet the maximum age requirement. See qualifications section for more information. Selectees will be expected to travel in (not pilot) a small single-engine aircraft.
You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
Note: As a permanent full-time seasonal career/conditional appointment, you will be in pay status at least 13 full pay period (26 weeks) or more depending on funding and workload not-to-exceed 25 pay periods per calendar year. Services may not be required at certain times due to lack of work, lack of funds, weather conditions, ceiling limitations, or other unforeseen circumstances and you will be placed in non-pay status.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the minimum qualification requirements of this position. Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine if you are minimally qualified for the position. If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted.
Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All minimally qualified candidates will be referred for consideration.
Please note that the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis.
Additional 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.
This is a permanent full-time seasonal career/conditional appointment. The incumbent will be in pay status at least 13 pay periods (26 weeks) or more depending on funding & workload not-to-exceed 25 pay periods (50 weeks) per calendar year. Services will not be required at certain times due to lack of work/funds, weather conditions, ceiling limitations or other unforeseen circumstances & will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.
Telework: This position is suitable for situational telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) OR Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs provide 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 (meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. The Reemployment Priority List (RPL) is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration.
For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application/hiring process. Probationary Period: The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process, requiring the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet organization goals, the mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of service.
In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of individuals serving probationary periods automatically terminates when the period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary period, such appointments are terminated.
Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
How to Apply
Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement.
You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text.
You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section.
Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12965359. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application.
Applications must be received by 06/01/2026, 11:59pm ET to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please refer to the contact information listed at the bottom of the announcement. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area.
Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.
Required Documents
You must submit a complete application package. The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Resumes must show relevant experience and other information.
Your resume MUST list your education and work experience including (1) the dates (mm/yy to mm/yy) of each employment, along with (2) the number of hours worked per week, and (3) work experience duties listed under each job entry. In addition, Civil Service employees must provide their current OPM title, series, and grade. If experience is for a career ladder position, please ensure to clearly show how long you were working in each grade level.
Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. No assumptions will be made about your experience and/or education. You are welcome to submit a cover letter.
Resumes must also include name and how to best contact you, including email address and phone number. Do not include the following types of information in your resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information on What should I include in my federal resume and/or OPM Resume Writing Tips.
In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the questionnaire), you are required to submit the following supplemental documentation as applicable: BIA Form 4432 The Form BIA-4432 must be completed as stated in the Instructions on the Form and this form with must be submitted with your application for Federal employment (if claiming Indian preference). IFPM Requirement - You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required NWCG minimum qualifications for this IFPM position. Failure to provide this documentation will result in you being rated as not qualified.
Transcripts - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, an official transcript may be requested at a later time, if applicable CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: documentation verifying your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of the agency notice and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.