Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper) Direct Hire Authority

Department Of The Interior•Fairbanks, AK

60d•$52,431 - $91,068•Onsite

About The Position

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking for employees to work as career seasonal Smokejumpers (Forestry Technicians) in Boise, Idaho and/or Fairbanks, Alaska. For information on Boise Smokejumpers, visit their website, or view this video. For information on Alaska Smokejumpers, visit their website. Please See "Additional Information" Section for payment details.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship is required.
Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
Direct Deposit Required.
Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
Passage of a pre-employment physical is required. You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
This is a Drug Testing Designated Position. You will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use and pass prior to appointment. This position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
May be required to complete a probationary period.
This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided for prior Federal service in another primary covered position, OR proof of land management workforce flexibility act (LMWFA) eligibility (see required documents section for more information on proof for LMWFA), OR you are a preference eligible veteran, OR between the ages of 37 and 40 and willing to submit a request for an MEA waiver. If you meet any of the previous exemptions to MEA you must provide the required documents.
This position requires special qualifications that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factors will be rated not qualified:
In addition to the basic qualifications listed above, you must have possessed the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualification and experience to be considered eligible.
GW-0456-05 Selective Factors: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) - You must provide the required document as instructed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement.
GW-0456-06 Selective Factors: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) - You must provide the required document as instructed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement. Prior smokejumping experience - This experience must be documented with specific dates in the resume.
GW-0456-07 Selective Factors: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) - You must provide the required document as instructed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement. Prior smokejumping experience - This experience must be documented with specific dates in the resume. Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) - You must provide the required document as instructed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement.
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the minimum qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
To qualify for the GW-05 grade level, you must have one (1) full year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GW-04. Examples may include the following: Experience in forest and range land fire suppression and fuels mitigation as a member of a hand crew, helitack crew, engine crew, or fire use module; instructing or leading firefighters with both fire and non-fire assignments.
Successful completion of a 4-year course study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, from an accredited college or university, in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields.
You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education.
To qualify for the GW-06 grade level, you must have one (1) full year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GW-05. Examples may include the following: Experience in forest and range land fire suppression and fuels mitigation as a member of a hand crew, helitack crew, engine crew or fire use module; instructing or leading firefighters with both fire and non-fire assignments; experience as a qualified smokejumper using Ram-Air parachutes.
To qualify for the GW-07 grade level, you must have one (1) full year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GW-06. Examples may include the following: Experience in forest and range land fire suppression as an initial attack incident commander; experience in Smokejumper operations including parachuting into rugged terrain, parachute rigging and repair, and the use of smokejumper specific firefighting tools and equipment; instructing or leading firefighters in both fire and non-fire assignments
You must meet all qualification requirements by closing date of the announcement.
Employment in this position is conditional upon your successful completion of the following BLM smokejumper physical fitness performance tests: When you report for duty, you will be given a physical condition test. The test is given in one time period with a 5-minute break between exercises. The test consists of performing the following exercises: 30 push-ups 6 pull-ups Run 1.5 miles in 10.47 minutes or less and backpacking a 110 pound load three miles in less than 65 minutes.
Work Capacity Test at the Arduous Level: All arduous wildland firefighters must backpack a 45 pound load for three miles in 45 minutes or less.
The MEA for this position shall not exceed age 37; unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position on or after your 37th birthday. 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. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.
If over the MEA and you are not a Veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

Responsibilities

Parachutes into rugged terrain and performs fire suppression and related duties.
Maintains smokejumper and firefighting equipment, tools and supplies.
Repairs, packs and maintains parachutes and related equipment.
Utilizes fire behavior knowledge and firefighting experience to perform wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire operations safely and effectively in accordance with identified appropriate management response.
May direct fire line activities and tactics for firefighters, equipment, aircraft and other resources.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed.

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