Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Branch Chief - Fuels & Planning)

Office of the Secretary of the Interior • Wapello, IA

19h

About The Position

This is a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Branch Chief - Fuels & Planning), GW-0456-13 position with the Department of the Interior, US Wildland Fire Service, Eastern Area Program Office. The official duty location will be based on the selectee; applicants must select the locations they wish to be considered for.

The position leads strategic planning for wildland fire management programs, developing long-range goals, priorities, implementation strategies, and performance measures aligned with agency objectives. It supervises and develops staff, plans workloads, sets priorities, manages performance, supports employee development, and ensures organizational goals are met. The role also provides technical planning and program oversight, leads complex projects, integrates scientific and operational information, and recommends improvements to resource management and organizational effectiveness. It coordinates policy implementation with Federal, Tribal, state, local, and interagency partners, evaluates program accomplishments, identifies emerging issues, recommends corrective actions, and develops process improvements.

Work is primarily sedentary and is generally performed in an office or meeting-room setting. The position involves frequent extended travel, particularly during fire season, by scheduled or chartered aircraft and ground vehicles, and occasional travel on foot to remote field locations. During fire season, work may involve extended and variable shifts and on-call status while away from work. Field and incident assignments may involve extreme temperatures, difficult terrain, remote living conditions, dust, smoke, noise, high-risk aircraft flights, extended outdoor living, and high-stress emergency activities.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must have documented prior primary wildland firefighting experience: at least one full fire season in a primary wildland firefighting role, or at least 14 days of on-the-ground fire-line experience. This experience must be clearly documented in the resume.
• Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS/GW-12 level in the Federal service, in or directly related to the position. Qualifying experience includes applying comprehensive wildland fire management principles, policies, and procedures to plan, implement, coordinate, and evaluate a fire management program area; analyzing program performance; interpreting policy; coordinating with partners; and providing technical guidance.
• Must meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date; Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by that date.
• Must complete a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period if one has not previously been completed; a separate one-year probationary period may also be required as a condition of employment.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit and pass a background/suitability investigation, E-Verify employment verification, and a pre-employment drug urinalysis; may be subject to random drug testing.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine continued fitness for the position.
• Must pass the work capacity test for arduous positions and be at least 18 years old to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• Must be available for frequent extended travel, particularly during fire season.
• Must complete training and obtain and maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify Selective Service registration or exemption.
• Must meet GW-13 qualifications through experience; education cannot be used to qualify for the 0456 series at this grade.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and develop staff by planning workloads, setting priorities, managing performance, supporting employee development, and ensuring organizational goals are accomplished.
• Lead complex technical planning and program oversight projects, integrating scientific and operational information and recommending improvements to resource management and organizational effectiveness.
• Coordinate policy implementation with Federal, Tribal, state, local, and interagency partners to support consistent program execution.
• Evaluate program accomplishments, identify emerging issues, recommend corrective actions, and develop process improvements.
• Lead strategic planning for wildland fire management programs, including long-range goals, priorities, implementation strategies, and performance measures aligned with agency objectives.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

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