Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fire Management Officer)

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Duties

Supervision

Supervises regularly assigned fire management staff and provides situational leadership and supervision for additional fire management staff during preparedness and incident response assignments; likewise, assigns and reassigns crews, firefighters, and other fire staff to various shifts and stations throughout the organization. Performs or supervises administrative program management functions such as planning; budget formulation and execution; stewardship of physical facilities, equipment, vehicles, and accountable property; development and implementation of training and development programs; and implementation of cooperative agreements.

Fire Program Management

Develops and maintains overall fire management plans for moderately complex fire programs covering a variety of activities such as: fire detection (i.e., lookout towers, detection cameras, ground and aerial patrols, aerial observation routes); fuels management projects; staffing requirements; pre-incident planning for construction of landing spots, fire camps, staging areas, fuel breaks and barriers, and water facilities; organizational requirements for supplies, materials, fleet, equipment, and facilities, standardized mapping and record keeping systems; strategic locations of fire resources; prevention inspection schedules and workload requirements; initial attack methods; operating procedures; operational methods for managing and suppressing large fires; policies and procedures for operating and maintaining communications systems and facilities; and fire management training programs needs and requirements.

Planning

Facilitates fire management planning activities. Fire management planning involves interacting with all disciplines (interdisciplinary teams) as well as subordinate leadership, employees of the organization, and cooperators from other federal, state, tribal, and local agencies. Provides advice and guidance to the unit agency administrator. Fire planning documents include, but are not limited to, fire management plans, prevention plans, training plans, dispatch plans, fuels management plans, use of new equipment or techniques, use of aerial assets both fixed and rotor, fire suppression, and cooperator participation.

Preparedness / Operations

Makes periodic inspections of the fire management organization and operations for compliance with approved plans, rules, regulations, and standards to ensure that an adequate and effective fire management force is being maintained. Inspects and evaluates the effectiveness and timeliness of fire prevention and fire dispatching operations and programs. Evaluates adequacy, efficiency, timeliness, speed of action, and effectiveness of firefighting resources, fleet, equipment, and facilities during fire suppression operations. Prepares reports of findings and makes recommendations for correction of deficiencies or steps required to improve operations or programs.

Fuels Management

Ensures the fuels management program is consistent with ecosystem management principles, land management plans, and evaluates the impacts to air quality standards. Establishes priorities for fire hazard reduction to protect high value resources and assets and maximize multiple resource benefits and ecosystem enhancements. Reviews and evaluates fuels management and prescribed fire burn plans and prescriptions to achieve ecosystem and resource management objectives. May participate in interdisciplinary teams in the development of land use plans. Stays current with new technology and science to ensure best fuels management practices. Ensures fuels related reporting requirements are met to adhere to various funding source requirements

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
• Drug testing position
• Medical Requirements
• Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform required
• Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Supervisory Probationary Period: Selectees who have not previously completed a supervisory probationary period will be required to serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period for this position.
• Driver’s License: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver’s license throughout their employment in this position.
  
  

Qualifications

This key fire management position is a categorized under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard as a Unit Fire Program Manager-Moderate Complexity. Minimum IFPM qualification standards must be met prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at https://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/.

Prior experience in wild land firefighting is required in order to carry out the duties of this position. You will not be considered for this position if you do not have prior wild land firefighting experience.

This is a secondary-administrative firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S. C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U. S. C. 8412 (d) (FERS). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system.

Only experience and education obtained by 03/28/2025 will be considered.

***Your resume MUST include BEGINNING and END DATES specified in MONTH/YEAR to MONTH/YEAR format. In addition, your resume MUST reflect FULL-TIME/PART-TIME or total number of HOURS worked per week***

You may qualify at the GS-11 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:

• If you are a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level that demonstrates your ability to assist in directing multiple phases of fire management programs on Federally managed lands. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, fire management planning, aviation management, training and workforce planning, fire preparedness, fuels management and fire prevention, dispatching, suppression, post-suppression, as well as hazard and emergency response activities. OR
• If you have never been or are NOT a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level that demonstrates your ability to direct multiple phases of fire management programs on Federally managed lands. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, fire management planning, aviation management, training and workforce planning, fire preparedness, fuels management and fire prevention, dispatching, suppression, post-suppression, as well as hazard and emergency response activities.
  
  

In addition to the specialized experience above, you must also meet the following IFPM requirements:

Nwcg Incident Management Qualifications (currency Not Required)

Pathway #1

• Task Force Leader (TFLD)
  
  

AND

• Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2)
  
  

OR

Pathway #2

• Helibase Manager (HEBM)
  
  

AND

• Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3)
  
  

Note: M-581 is a condition of employment and not a selective factor

You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required minimum qualifications for this IFPM position. Failure to provide this documentation by the closing dated of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified.

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.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application.

For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.

A supplemental pay increase of $20,000 or 50% of base pay per year (whichever is less), is authorized under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and continuing resolutions.

This position is located at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge located in Princeton, Oregon.

Telework

This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.

Pcs Information

• No PCS entitlements authorized Supervisory Probationary Period: If you have not previously completed a supervisory probationary period, you will be required to serve a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period for this position.
  
  

Conditions Of Employment

TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION: All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: You must pass a pre-employment medical examination. Also, you may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if you are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.

DRIVER'S LICENSE: This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license throughout their employment in this position.

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• Help Help 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

All applicants who submit a complete and legible application by the closing date of this vacancy announcement will have their qualifications reviewed to determine if they possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the work of this position.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants will be evaluated based on whether they meet the qualification requirements. Upon receipt of the completed application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure basic qualification requirements are met.

This vacancy will be filled through a Direct Hire Authority. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this Authority. All qualified applicants, as determined by the SHRO, will be referred for consideration. While managers and supervisors are not required to conduct interviews, it is highly recommended that they do so in order to assess the competencies of each applicant.

If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted.

If a determination is made that an applicant has inflated qualifications or experience on the resume, the applicant will receive no consideration for the position, as per OPM regulations.

All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.