Wildland Firefighting Manager Branch Chief Equipment Development - Direct Hire Authority

Office of the Secretary of the Interior • Boise, ID

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position will be filled at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), duty location Boise, ID, servicing USWFS. Incumbent serves as Branch Chief for Equipment Development providing national leadership, technical direction, and program direction for the development and safety of wildland fire equipment used in interagency fire management operations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service or qualify for an exemption.
• Prior primary/rigorous wildland firefighting experience is required.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Federal salary payments are made by direct deposit per Public Law 104-134.
• Must be at least 18 years old by the announcement closing date.
• Must complete required training and obtain/maintain a government travel and/or purchase charge card.
• This is a drug-testing position. A negative pre-employment drug test is required, and the position is subject to random drug testing.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and operate a government vehicle as required.
• If new to the federal government, and this is your first appointment, as a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• Candidates must possess Primary/Rigorous wildland firefighting experience, gained through fire line work in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire.
• Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization.
• At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-13 level, or higher in the Federal service, or equivalent.
• Directed state/regional or national wildland fire or fleet programs and subordinate supervisors, allocating significant resources and resolving complex technical, operational, safety, acquisition, and workforce issues across concurrent program segments.
• Exercised engineering authority for equipment design, testing, standards compliance, risk management, recalls, corrective actions, contracts, budgets, and interagency agreements while advising senior officials and coordinating with Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners.
• Evaluated supervisors and subordinate personnel, approved workforce expenses and training needs, recommended personnel actions and awards, and ensured equitable performance standards and accountability across program activities.
• Led national modernization initiatives integrating emerging technologies, fleet requirements, operational feedback, safety analyses, and lifecycle management into standardized equipment programs.
• Eliminated program barriers, strengthened interagency interoperability, improved equipment safety and reliability, and maintained employee safety and health while executing national program objectives.
• Substantial wildland firefighting experience is required to meet qualifications for secondary (administrative) covered positions.
• On-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire.
• Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited.
• Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Nice To Haves

• A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position.
• A Federal employee who is transferring to the Department of Interior from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
• A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the agency either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the agency.
• This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Responsibilities

• Direct national wildland fire equipment development programs, including fire engines, tenders, heavy equipment, command and support vehicles, IHC vehicles, helitack equipment, and specialized fire equipment, from concept through deployment.
• Provide technical and administrative direction to subordinate staff and supervisors and coordinate the integration of multiple concurrent national equipment development programs.
• Exercise expert engineering, safety, and risk-management authority over equipment designs, specifications, testing protocols, inspections, investigations, recalls, corrective actions, and post-deployment evaluations.
• Direct research, development, and innovation initiatives involving vehicle design, materials, suppression systems, telematics, and mission-specific configurations, integrating validated technologies into standardized national equipment programs.
• Coordinate with interagency fire management organizations, Fleet and Equipment Management functions, technical committees, and working groups to ensure equipment interoperability and alignment with national standards.
• Develop and implement national policies, technical standards, specifications, and guidance for equipment design, testing, procurement, and modification while supporting Federal acquisition requirements.
• Provide technical leadership for equipment development budgets, cost estimates, funding priorities, contracts, cooperative agreements, and interagency agreements supporting equipment research, development, and production.
• Evaluate national equipment program effectiveness through inspection data, operational feedback, safety analyses, and post-incident reviews and use findings to support strategic planning, senior leadership decisions, and continuous improvement.

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.

What This Job Offers

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