Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Engine Captain) - Direct Hire Authority

Office of the Secretary of the Interior • Marblemount, WA

6h

About The Position

This is a Direct-Hire Authority advertisement for a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Engine Captain), GW-0456-8, with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Positions are located in Marblemount or Sedro-Woolley, Washington; applicants must select the locations for which they wish to be considered. The position supervises regularly assigned firefighters within a fire module or crew and directs fuel management projects, including prescribed fire and mechanical and biological treatments. It is a primary, rigorous firefighter position subject to special retirement provisions and maximum-entry-age requirements.

The work includes directing suppression operations on more complex fires and recommending and implementing tactical strategies for attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires. Fireline work may include building or patrolling firelines, cleaning up burned areas within firelines, suppressing spot fires, and felling snags or trees and cutting brush. The incumbent adjusts actions as conditions and situational awareness change.

The position also involves operating, moving, inspecting, and performing preventive maintenance on vehicles and equipment, including crew carriers, fire engines, command vehicles, pickups, and specialized equipment. The incumbent must safely operate and position vehicles and equipment in urban, grassland, and mountainous settings and follow vehicle safety procedures when transporting personnel, fuel, and equipment, taking account of road and bridge limits, equipment dimensions and weight, and weather.

Work takes place in forest, range, and desert environments, often in steep, uneven terrain and smoky conditions, with temperatures that may exceed 100°F or fall below freezing. Hazards include smoke, fire entrapment, bites and stings, machinery noise, and falling or rolling material. Extended backcountry camps, travel by fixed- or rotor-wing aircraft, and wearing personal protective equipment may be required. The work involves arduous physical exertion, including carrying items over 50 pounds and shared lifting of heavier items.

The position may require on-call duty, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, shift work, and overnight travel away from home 50% or less. A valid state driver's license must be maintained, and an official uniform is required. Selectees must pass a pre-employment medical examination and the work capacity test for arduous positions. The position requires NWCG Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB), and Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) qualifications, as well as at least one year of qualifying specialized experience at the GW-07 level or equivalent. No education substitution is available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or national status.
• Suitability for federal employment, as determined by a background investigation; direct deposit is required.
• Submit to a drug test and receive a negative result before appointment; the position is also subject to random drug testing.
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination and the work capacity test for arduous positions; may be subject to post-employment medical examinations.
• Maintain a valid state driver's license; the position requires operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• Wear the official U.S. Wildland Fire Service uniform.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable; selectees who have not completed a supervisory probationary period must serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period.
• Meet the age requirements for a primary firefighter position: at least 18 and under the maximum entry age of 37, subject to the stated prior covered federal service or veterans' preference exceptions and applicable documentation requirements.
• Meet IFPM minimum qualification standards before placement, including NWCG Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB), and Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) qualifications and training; currency is not required.
• Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-07 level or higher in federal service or equivalent, including experience leading wildland fire activities to meet resource objectives, developing or implementing initial-attack incident management strategies and tactics, and implementing mitigation measures to protect sensitive habitats, endangered species, sensitive plants, or cultural values.
• Provide a resume that identifies full-time or part-time status and weekly hours for experience to be credited; qualifying experience must be obtained by 11/23/2026.
• Provide proof of previous or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system, as applicable.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• Must not have a misdemeanor or felony domestic-violence conviction, unless it was expunged, set aside, or pardoned.

Responsibilities

• Exercise supervisory authority over regularly assigned firefighters within a fire module or crew.
• Supervise and direct fuel management projects, including prescribed fire and mechanical and biological treatments.
• Direct suppression operations on more complex fires.
• Recommend and implement tactical strategies for attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires.
• Build or patrol firelines; clean up burned areas within firelines; suppress spot fires; fell snags or trees; and cut brush.
• Adjust actions in response to changing information and evolving situational awareness.
• Operate, move, inspect, and perform preventive maintenance on vehicles and equipment, including crew carriers, fire engines, command vehicles, pickups, and specialized equipment.
• Safely operate, maneuver, and set up vehicles and equipment in urban, grassland, and mountainous environments.
• Follow vehicle safety procedures while transporting personnel, fuel, and equipment, considering road and bridge limits, equipment weight and length, and weather effects.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits are available to the employee and family, subject to eligibility based on position type.
• Eligible applicants changing duty station may receive authorized payment of basic moving expenses, subject to federal travel regulations; expenses are taxable.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered to eligible and qualified applicants on a case-by-case basis; it is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed