Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Helicopter Manager) (Direct Hire Authority)

Position is located in Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) Division; In support of an exclusive use Helicopter Type 3 helicopter program based out of Everglades National Park.

If you have additional questions about this position, please contact Jack Weer, Everglades National Park, Deputy Fire Management Officer
@ Jackson_Weer@nps.gov

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement12/16/2024 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40 hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Helicopter Manager and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to moving into the position. For more information on IFPM, click here.

Selective Factors: The applicant must have possessed all the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:

1. Held or currently holdHelicopter Manager (HMGB, previously HCWN, HELB or HEMG) NWCG Incident Management Qualification;
- AND -
2. Held or currently holdHelibase Manager (HEBM) NWCG Incident Management Qualification;
- AND
-3. Held or currently hold Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) NWCG Incident Management Qualification.

Selectees for IFPM positions requiring currency will be required to obtain and maintain currency for the NWCG qualifications listed above.
Note: You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which reflects completion of the required NWCG qualifications for this position.

- AND -

To qualify for the GS-0456-09 position, applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

NOTE: If your firefighting experience includes both structural and wildland, it is essential that your application materials clearly separate and document your wildland experience.

Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level in the Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized for this position is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: performing wildland fire operations, and at least one of the following wildland fire-fighting functions: Initial attack and Fire-line Suppression Operations; Prescribed Fire Operations; Helitack Operations; Wildland Fire Engine Operations; leading others in any two of the following functions: initial attack and suppression hand-crew operations; prescribed fire operations; wildland fire engine crew operations; helitack fire crew operations; providing on-the-job training and conducting daily crew briefings, safety sessions, and/or other basic wildland fire training. Experience will include One season as an assistant fire helicopter crew supervisor. You must include hours worked per week.

-AND-

• Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements:
  • Under age 37 -OR-
  • Less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR-
  • A veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. 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. Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system.

In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.

NOTE: If your firefighting experience includes both structural and wildland, it is essential that your application materials clearly separate and document your wildland experience.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Demands: The Helicopter Manager is typically the initial attack responder for many incidents.Duties include demands for strenuous activities in emergencies under adverseenvironmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Operation of somespecialized fire equipment can place extended physical stress on the incumbent duringfire activities. The work frequently involves long shifts and complex decision making,and extended periods of time away from home.

Working Conditions: The work is performed at remote locations, airstrips, helibases, unimproved helispots,and park environments of extreme high and low temperatures, steep terrain, anduneven work surfaces. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personalprotective equipment be worn (boots, hardhat, gloves, flame resistant clothing, etc.).Work may require travel by light fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft, and operating firetrucks (engines) under adverse conditions.

Responsibilities:

• Plans, coordinates, and directs helicopter operations in support of mission requests.
• Directs helicopter crewmember duties.
• Directs aviation mission planning including briefings of pilots, contract personnel and crews on mission requirements.
• Participates in and may direct helicopter operations to include accompanying pilot on flights, provides radio communications to dispatch and or ground firefighter
• Directs aviation safety processes in coordination with pilot.

Salary : $63,867