Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper)

Forest Service • Redding, CA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This temporary position is located on a fire crew within a National Forest fire management organization. The incumbent serves as an experienced smokejumper, performing parachute jumps and wildland fire suppression duties. The position may also support other resource management activities when not assigned to fire suppression, including recreation, timber, reforestation, and fuels management. The appointment is for up to six months or, as a not-to-exceed appointment, up to one year; it may end early due to lack of work or funds, and an extension may be possible without further competition. The expected start date is between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027. The position is not eligible for telework and may be based at one of the listed duty locations.

The smokejumper makes parachute jumps from aircraft in varied conditions and lands on rough terrain, open areas, mountain slopes, or timber. The incumbent suppresses wildland fires using hand and power tools and may serve as an incident commander, single resource boss, or assistant spotter. Duties can include making tactical decisions, coordinating deployment and logistics, packing and maintaining parachutes and equipment, supporting paracargo operations, and helping train new smokejumpers. Travel to fire assignments may involve parachuting or transportation by foot, truck, bus, helicopter, or other means.

When assigned to fuels or other resource work, the incumbent may inventory fuel beds, prepare reports, carry out hazard-fuel reduction projects, monitor burning conditions, pile vegetation debris, and work in assigned roles during prescribed-fire operations. The position requires medical clearance for arduous wildland firefighting, passing the arduous Work Capacity Test, and willingness to work in remote, volatile or unpredictable locations. Occasional overnight travel may be required. This is a drug-testing-designated position, subject to pre-employment and random testing.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
• Pass background investigation and/or fingerprint adjudication and E-Verify employment verification.
• Meet the GW-06 requirement of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-05 level in federal service or equivalent; education cannot substitute for this grade level.
• Specialized experience must include parachute jumps under varied conditions with landings on challenging terrain, suppression of difficult and complex wildland fires using basic techniques, and experience as a squad boss on a fire crew, helitack crew, or pump crew, or as a crew boss, fire boss, or sector boss.
• Pass the arduous-level Work Capacity Test: hike three miles within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack.
• Meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting and pass required medical screening.
• Submit to pre-employment and random drug testing; appointment requires a negative pre-employment test result.
• Be willing to live and work in remote, volatile or unpredictable locations and undertake occasional overnight travel for fire assignments.
• Provide required application documents and meet qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
• Must be able to perform parachute and fire-suppression duties and use specialized tools and equipment.

Nice To Haves

• FAA Senior or Master Parachute Rigger certification may be obtained.
• A valid state driver's license, commercial driver's license, or both may be required for some fire positions.

Responsibilities

• Make parachute jumps from aircraft in varied conditions and land on rough terrain, open areas, mountain slopes, or timber.
• Suppress wildland fires using hand and power tools, including a Pulaski, shovel, chain saw, and McLeod.
• Coordinate with a spotter to select jump locations and make tactical decisions based on fire behavior and potential risk.
• Determine fire strategy, assign work, review performance, and complete fire and time reports when serving as an incident commander; may also serve as a single resource boss.
• Plan logistical needs for multiple shifts and determine resource needs.
• Complete annual refresher training in parachute jumping and handling, firefighting, and specialized tools and techniques.
• Pack and maintain personal and crew parachutes, including reserve parachutes; construct and maintain harnesses, jump gear, and other equipment.
• Ensure aircraft are loaded properly and construct and maintain cargo containers and cargo parachutes for paracargo operations.
• Assist with smokejumper and paracargo deployments as an assistant spotter, using crew resource management skills.
• May train new smokejumpers in the physical and mental requirements of the position.
• Travel to fire assignments by parachute, foot, truck, bus, helicopter, or other means.
• When assigned, support recreation, timber, reforestation, and fuels-management work, including fuel-bed inventories, reports, hazard-fuel reduction, monitoring burning conditions, piling vegetation debris, and prescribed-fire assignments.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits are available, with eligibility depending on the type of position and whether the position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.
• Government housing and federal day care facilities may be available depending on location.

What This Job Offers

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