Wildland Firefighter (Fuels) - Direct Hire Authority

Department Of The Interior•Albuquerque, NM

63d

About The Position

This is a Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) position located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southwest Region, Southern Pueblos Agency, Branch of Forestry in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and it will be filled from Standard PD Number DX01900/DX02000. This announcement will be used to fill vacancies utilizing the Direct-Hire Authority (5CFR 337.201). Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy. This is a Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) position located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southwest Region, Southern Pueblos Agency, Branch of Forestry in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and it will be filled from Standard PD Number DX01900/DX02000. This announcement will be used to fill vacancies utilizing the Direct-Hire Authority (5CFR 337.201). Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship Required.
If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
As 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.
Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
This position has been designated as an Incidental Operator under the Indian Affairs Motor Vehicle Safety Program, therefore, the incumbent will be required annually to acknowledge and certify possession of a valid state driver's license.
This is a Drug Testing Designated Position and is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
This position is subject to pre-employment and annual medical screening and physical fitness testing.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE: This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist (PFFS) Moderate Complexity and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found athttp://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/
GW-08: 1 year of specialized wildland fire work experience equivalent to the GW-7 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include assisting in prescribed fire and fuels program planning and coordination; recommending plans and schedules for prescribed fire, wildfire response, and fuels treatment projects; participating in technical aspects of prescribed fire operations, ensuring preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation meet prescription standards; monitoring fire behavior and evaluating fire effects; participating in wildland fire and safety training and preparedness reviews.
GW-09: 1 year of specialized wildland fire work experience equivalent to the GW-8 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include developing fire management plans and schedules for prescribed fire, wildfire response, and fuels treatment projects; evaluating prescription treatments, monitoring methods; conducting surveys; using a database to model and analyze fire behavior and fire effects observation data; implementing technical aspects of prescribed fire operations, ensuring preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation meet prescription standards; conducting field reconnaissance and summarize findings; providing for training needs to support prescribed fire and fuels management programs.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. The applicant must have possessed the following qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:
Primary Core Requirement: Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2) or higher
Secondary Core Requirement: Engine Boss (ENGB) or Crew Boss (CRWB) or Helicopter Manager (HMGB) or higher
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. 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.
Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience: This is a secondary-administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission, and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the qualification requirements, but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system.
FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary coverage position.
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.
Physical Demands: Work in the office is primarily sedentary. Field work does require frequent physical exertion, involving walking over rough terrain, sometimes for extended periods, and working under occasionally inclement (hot, cold, snow, wind, etc.) weather conditions.
The incumbent must be in good physical condition in order to safety perform field activities. The incumbent must be able to perform duties in areas of uncontrolled wildfire where hazardous conditions exist. The incumbent must be able to fly as a passenger in helicopters and single engine fixed wing aircraft.
Work Environment: Work is performed in both an office and field setting with field work. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire management work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.
NOTE: As 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.
This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the 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 an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that 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 or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Responsibilities

Directs a prescribed fire/fuels management program that includes fuels management activities and functions at the unit/tribal level to include prescribed fire, mechanical and biological fuels treatments, and monitoring (fire effects, fuels and smoke)
Prepares and implements routine aspects of the prescribed fire/fuels plans.
Develops and recommends plans and schedules for prescribed fire, wildfire response, and fuels treatment projects.
Reviews project plans and make recommendations on appropriate levels of monitoring.
Utilizes a database to model and analyze fire behavior and fire effects observation data.
Participates in planning and coordinating routine or limited aspects of the fuels management program.
Reviews and comments as necessary on routine sections of the Fire Management Plan pertaining to prescribed fire and fuels treatments.
Coordinates and implements the technical and administrative aspects of the prescribed fire/fuels plan, ensuring that preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation are completed to the specified standards.

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