This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position. To learn more about Direct-Hire authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information: Direct Hire Fact Sheet
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 01/05/2026 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 GW-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements: One year of specialized wildland fire management experience equivalent to at least the GW-11 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability to: maintain oversight of a Firefighter Safety Program; supervision of a Fire staff; experience with policies and procedures for fire suppression and preparedness; coordination with aircraft operations and acquisitions; monitoring Fire training programs; reviews and evaluates fuels management and prescribed fire burn plans. In addition to the specialized experience above, you must have the qualifications described below and be fully qualified in: IFPM Qualifications for Unit Fire Program Manager - (Moderate Complexity) (Selective Factor): Moderate Pathway #1: Primary Core: Task Force Leader (TFLD) AND Secondary Core: Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2) OR Moderate Pathway #2: Primary Core: Helibase Manager (HEBM) AND Secondary Core: Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) M-581 is a condition of employment and not a selective factor. NOTE: 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 NWCG 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.
The position is a Fire Management Officer overseeing a large fire program in the Northeast and will serve to help lead the transition of unification of all Department of Interior (DOI) fire programs to streamline operations, improve coordination, and modernize how DOI will prepare and respond to fire. This Zone FMO is responsible for directing most phases of fire management programs for designated Federally managed lands within a geographic zone to include fire management planning, aviation management, training and workforce planning, fire preparedness, fuels management and fire prevention, dispatching, suppression, post-suppression, as well as all hazard and emergency response activities. Serves as the technical authority in fire management and air operations with a diverse multi-dimensional fire management program, with full program and operational integration with other agency fire management at the highest level and throughout the fire organization. Facilitates collaboration for the development of local/annual operating plans and provides staff technical direction in the execution of master plans throughout the organization. Develops and negotiates complex local interagency agreements. Coordinates strategic implementation of complex fire management activities in a rapidly changing environment for allocation of resources, equipment, and aircraft.