Wildland Firefighter (Suppression Module Squad Leader)

Office of the Secretary of the Interior • Miles City, MT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement for a Wildland Firefighter (Suppression Module Squad Leader) with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, at the GW-0456-5/6/7 levels, located in Miles City, Montana. The role directs a small crew of firefighters conducting suppression work and helps ensure personnel and equipment are ready for assignments and initial attack. The full performance level is GW-07, and the position is a career-ladder opportunity; promotion from a lower grade is discretionary and depends on applicable requirements, performance, and available higher-level work.

The position is a primary/rigorous firefighter role subject to special retirement provisions and maximum-entry-age requirements. It is not suitable for telework. Work may involve extended and frequent travel, including overnight travel away from home up to 50% of the time, and may require on-call duty, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work. Career-seasonal employees work at least six months and no more than eleven and a half months each year, with the remainder of the year in non-pay status; the specific tour of duty will be provided during hiring.

Work takes place in forest, range, and desert environments, including steep, uneven terrain, thick vegetation, and smoky conditions. Temperatures may exceed 100°F or fall below freezing. Hazards include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, animal and insect bites or stings, machinery noise, and falling or rolling material. Firefighters may need to live in backcountry camps for extended periods. The work requires arduous physical exertion over prolonged periods.

A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered to eligible and qualified candidates, but is not guaranteed. No PCS entitlements are authorized. The position may be filled at the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and suitable for Federal employment based on a background investigation.
• Must submit to a drug test and receive a negative result before appointment; the position is also subject to random illegal-drug testing.
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to assess continued fitness for the position.
• Must pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
• Must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license and operate a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must be at least 18 years old and meet the maximum-entry-age requirement: generally, applicants must not have reached their 37th birthday at appointment, subject to stated exceptions for qualifying prior covered Federal service or preference-eligible veterans.
• For GW-06 and GW-07, must meet IFPM Senior Firefighter standards and possess NWCG Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290) qualifications and training; currency is not required at referral but may need to be obtained and maintained if selected.
• For GW-05, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-04, a full four-year bachelor's course of study (120 semester or 180 quarter hours) in a related field such as Fire Science, Fire Technology, Forestry, Range Management, Agriculture, or Fire Suppression and Prevention, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• For GW-06, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-05, such as serving as a senior wildland firefighter on a module or crew, performing on-the-line fire control, prevention, or suppression work, and using and maintaining specialized wildland fire tools and equipment.
• For GW-07, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-06, such as serving as a lead wildland firefighter on a module or crew, performing on-the-line fire control, prevention, or suppression work, using and maintaining specialized wildland fire equipment, and assisting with fire-behavior analysis and prediction.
• Applicants qualifying through education or a combination of education and experience must submit transcripts. Education cannot qualify applicants at GW-06 or GW-07.
• Must meet the applicable special-retirement coverage and age requirements; applicants must submit proof of prior or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system.
• Applicants must meet all selective placement factors and minimum qualification requirements by the announcement closing date. Experience and education obtained by 10/27/2026 will be considered.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work; travel overnight away from home up to 50% of the time; and obtain and maintain a government charge card for travel and/or purchase authority.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.

Responsibilities

• Directs a small crew of firefighters in building firelines, conducting burnout, mopping up, and patrolling firelines.
• Applies knowledge of firefighter safety, fire behavior, area topography, weather, fuels, and fire-management training.
• Directs assigned suppression operations and recommends and implements tactical strategies on fires.
• Ensures assigned crew members and equipment are ready for assignments or initial attack.

Benefits

• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type.
• Eligible and qualified applicants may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive, at the hiring agency's discretion.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level