This position serves as the Regional Fire Management Officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Regional Office, Deputy Regional Director - Trust Services, Branch of Fire Management, Duty Station TBD from either Bloomington or Grand Rapids, Minnesota. This announcement will be used to fill vacancies utilizing the Direct-Hire Authority (5CFR 337.201). Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy.
NOTE: 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 Geographic Area Fire Program Manager (GFPM) and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/ GS-13: 1 year of specialized wildland fire management work experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service that includes directing and supervising a fire management program that is responsible for wildland fire management. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, performing duties such as providing direction in development of fire management plans and budget formulation; evaluating projects and activities to meet fire and land management objectives; interpreting national policy for use of automated fire and aviation systems; developing cooperative agreements; monitoring tribal resolutions; participating in multi-agency coordinating group; formulate, develop, implement policy and procedures related to prescribed fire and fuels treatment; overseeing a fire protection program such as fire prevention, pre-suppression, suppression, and post suppression activities; providing guidance on safety standards in fire and aviation programs; participating in accident investigations; developing safety plans; overseeing fire trespass policies and procedures. Working closely with multiple units and interagency partners, jurisdiction boundaries, multi-land base areas, and tribes to develop inter- and intra-agency agreements. Developing, reviewing and evaluating complex fire management plans for ecological soundness or consistency with land management goals and/or potentially adverse impacts to cultural and natural resources; conducting field inspections before and after prescribed or wildland fires to determine if resource objectives were achieved and/or evaluating the effectiveness of actions taken; analyzing the ecological role of fire and its use and/or exclusion, and smoke management. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. Applicant must have possessed the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position: Primary Core Requirement: Task Force Leader (TFLD) or higher. Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) or Type 2 Command and General Staff (T2 C&G) or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2) or higher. Required Training: Fire Program Management (M-581) or Fire Program Management-Leading Complex Program (M-582). 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. 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. Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience: This is a secondary-administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission, and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the qualification requirements, but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system. FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary coverage position. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Physical Demands: The work is normally sedentary; however, some physical exertion is required as it relates to site visits and fire line assignments which involve walking on rough, uneven terrain, long periods of standing, and exposure to extreme heat, smoke, and temperatures. Work Environment: The work is normally performed in an office setting. During the wildland fire season, field work may involve high risk exposure to potentially dangerous situations or stress such as wildfire, heat, smoke, and falling rocks and trees and may require flying in small fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Field work usually requires protective equipment to be worn and a range of safety and other precautions to be observed.
Directs all phases of the regional wildland fire management programs on Federally managed lands and is responsible for its planning, program direction, coordination and evaluation.
Organizes, trains, equips and directs a qualified workforce to meet local, geographic area or national level fire program management needs.
Coordinates program activities with federal, state, tribal and local government entities/agencies; and develops, implements and administers grants and agreements.
Ensures information related to wildland fire, prescribed fire, and fire program components for internal and external audiences is accurate and timely.
Directs and supervises all phases of the budget formulation process to assure balance in the fire organization at varying levels of funding, and initiates changes as appropriate.
Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; and evaluates work performance of employees.
Develops and implements a communication plan. Briefs decision makers. Coordinates plans of action with affected cooperators.
Serves on various interagency committees, teams and work groups dealing with specific local, geographic or national fire management issues.