Wildland Firefighter - Direct Hire Authority

Department Of The Interior•Whiteriver, AZ

56d•$52,431 - $68,155•Onsite

About The Position

This is a Wildland Firefighter positions that serve as Fire Helicopter Crewmembers (FHCM) with the BIA Western Regional Office, Division of Forestry and Wildland Fire Management, Duty Station in Whiteriver, Arizona; and will be filled from Standard PD Number: DX00300. NOTE: This position is being re-advertised to solicit additional applications. Applicants who previously applied, need not reapply unless you are submitting updated and/or missing information. This is a Wildland Firefighter positions that serve as Fire Helicopter Crewmembers (FHCM) with the BIA Western Regional Office, Division of Forestry and Wildland Fire Management, Duty Station in Whiteriver, Arizona; and will be filled from Standard PD Number: DX00300. NOTE: This position is being re-advertised to solicit additional applications. Applicants who previously applied, need not reapply unless you are submitting updated and/or missing information.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship Required
You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
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
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.
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.
This is a 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 for arduous duty.
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 Permanent, Full-Time Seasonal Position and is subject to placement in Non-Pay Status when services are not needed do to lack of work, funds, or unforeseen circumstances.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
GS-5: One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal Service; OR four (4) year course of study above the high school level leading to a bachelor's degree with related course work; OR a combination of education and work experience - for example, six months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 60 semester hours of the required college coursework (50% of the education requirement) when combined meets the total requirements for the position. See below for qualifying experience and education:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience work include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention, or suppression work as a skilled wildland firefighter, utilizing a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. In addition, such duties may include, but are not limited to (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) forest fire control, prevention, or suppression work; (3) rescue operations; (4) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (5) operation of fire communications equipment when it requires specialized knowledge of firefighting techniques, equipment, and procedures to prevent and manage fires; (6) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (7) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention.
EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university (120 semester hour or 180 quarter hours) with major study in Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Technology, OR other related fields of study which included 24 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography).
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.
Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) or higher
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.
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.
MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE (MEA) AND FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) (FERS). The maximum entry-age (MEA) for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement or firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants over the MEA of 37 MUST have enough prior covered service under the Firefighter Special Retirement benefit in order to be eligible for re-entry into a primary firefighter position.
These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. 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.
Applicants are responsible for submitting all supporting documentation prior to the closing date of a vacancy for an MEA determination. Acceptable forms of documentation consist of SF-50's showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable Federal civilian appointments or copies of agency approved certification letters based upon individual claims for coverage. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.
The duties of this position are so rigorous that employment is limited to physically vigorous individuals who must meet established maximum age and physical qualification requirements.
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

Incumbent serves as trained and experienced member on a helitack crew performing fuels management, fire suppression, monitoring and post-fire activities.
Loads helicopter personnel and cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weights, etc.
Completes manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work site.
May exit helicopter in remote areas to construct helispots, or to attack small fires, hot spots, and spot fires.
Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.
May be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4's.

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.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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