Incumbents will serve as the Chiefs of Fire Management for a Geographic Area (GA) of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS). The primary purpose of these positions is to provide leadership, oversight, and supervision over a large and highly complex wildland fire organization. The incumbents will serve as the focal point in the Geographic Area for providing direction, motivation, and decision making required to implement and carry out wildland fire management.
Specialized Experience Requirements: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement(s); please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled. To qualify for the GW-15 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GW/GS-14 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: advising high level management officials on fire management planning at the regional, district or state level (or equivalent); reviewing wildland fire preparedness actions and operating plans; evaluating, coordinating, directing and implementing policy to support wildland fire management programs and operations; familiarity with budget formulation and expenditure of funds; supervising and/or leading a staff of fire and aviation professionals responsible for fire and aviation programs. 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. Substitution of Education for Experience: There is no substitution of education for experience at the GW-15 grade level. Time In Grade Requirement: Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GW/GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified. 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, and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral): A) Task Force Leader (TFLD); AND B) Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3), OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2), OR Complex Incident Management Team Command and General Staff position (CIMT C&G). AND C) M-581 "Fire Program Management," FML "Fire Management Leadership," OR M-582 Fire Program Management, LFML "Local Fire Management Leadership". You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the 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. The incumbent is faced with emergency situations at all hours and must respond quickly. The position may require long shifts or multi-day assignments under primitive living conditions during emergencies. During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions. Work Environment: The work is usually performed in an office setting however field work is expected. 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. 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). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position (3 years of service in primary/rigorous position(s)) and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION. FACT SHEET for Fire Positions: Information on Special Retirement.
The 9 positions will be placed in each established Geographic Area (GA) for the US Wildland Fire Service. You must select EACH location you are interested in within a GA when completing the application. You will only be considered for selected locations. 1 vacancy in the Northwest GA will be located in: Portland, OR 1 vacancy in the California GA will be located in: Sacramento OR Riverside CA 1 vacancy in the Great Basin GA will be located in: Salt Lake City, UT; OR Reno, NV; OR Boise, ID 1 vacancy in the Northern Rockies GA will be located in: Billings OR Missoula, MT 1 vacancy in the Rocky Mountain GA will be located in: Lakewood, CO; OR Cheyenne, WY 1 vacancy in the Southwest GA will be located in: Albuquerque, NM; OR Phoenix, AZ; OR Santa Fe, NM 1 vacancy in the Eastern GA will be located in: Minneapolis, MN; OR Milwaukee, WI; OR Omaha, NE 1 vacancy in the Southern GA will be located in: Atlanta, GA; OR Nashville, TN 1 vacancy in the Alaska GA will be located in: Fairbanks OR Anchorage, AK Duties: Serves as the Chief of Fire Management for a Geographic Area of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS). Provides supervision and oversight over a large and highly complex wildland fire organization. Ensures the safe and effective implementation of fire suppression, preparedness, hazardous fuels reduction, aviation operations and related program elements. Plans, organizes, and oversees efforts and projects that improve the quality, effectiveness, and timeliness of the fire program. Serves as a senior advisor to management and executive leadership on developing and implementing strategic plans in support of the fire program objectives. Develops and implements fire plans and initiatives. Develops priorities for effective use of resources. Implements performance metrics to manage and monitor the operational efficiencies of the Geographic Area.