Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fire Operations Specialist) – Direct Hire Authority

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at:

Explore a new career with the BLM – where our people are our most precious resource.

This position is located in Jordan, MT. Information about the surrounding area may be found .

We expect to fill 1 vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

  03/11/2025 to 03/24/2025

  
  
• Salary

  $67,297 – $87,482 per year
  A supplemental pay increase of $20,000 or 50% of base pay per year, is authorized under the BIL as long as funding is available.

• Pay scale & grade
  

  GS 10

• Location

  1 vacancy in the following location:

• Remote job
  

  No

• Telework eligible
  

  No

• Travel Required

  25% or less – Travel is required to attend training, conferences, workshops, and/or field visits. Frequent travel will be required during peak fire activity

  
  
  
• Relocation expenses reimbursed
  

  No

• Appointment type

  Permanent – This is a permanent appointment.

  
  
• Work schedule
  

  Full-time

• Service
  

  Competitive

• Promotion potential
  

  None

• Job family (Series)
• Supervisory status
  

  Yes

• Security clearance
• Drug test
  

  Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk
• Trust determination process
• Financial disclosure
• Bargaining unit status
• Announcement number

  FADHA-25-12684805-TT

  
  
• Control number
  

  833436800

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Videos

Duties

• Provides oversight during initial and extended attack fires and directs fireline activities and tactics of dispersed firefighters, resources, equipment, and aircraft.
• Applies knowledge of firefighter safety, fire behavior, topography of the area, weather, fuels, and training in fire management.
• Supervises and directs moderately complex fuels management projects or participates in more complex projects by conducting project assessments and gathering data, planning, and implementing.
• Supervises and/or participates in fire prevention promotional activities.
• Ensures preparedness of wildland fire suppression equipment and staff.
• Directs and ensures proper assembly of equipment and supplies needed for fire assignments or daily work assignments.
• Develops and implements a physical training program to enhance the ability of crewmembers.
• Maintains working relationships and pre-incident coordination with applicable cooperators and wildland fire responders.
• Supervises multiple Supervisory Wildland Firefighters and provides second-level supervision over staff.
• Performs administrative program management functions such as planning; managing budget; manages facilities and resources; and develops and implements training.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the HOW TO APPLY and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Background Investigation Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination. Failure to possess or obtain a favorable determination will result in the cancellation of the offer or will be grounds for termination.
• Supervisory Probationary Period: If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one year supervisory/managerial probationary period if one has not previously been completed.
• You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wildland fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualification.
• You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• You must pass a pre-employment physical.
• Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work during peak fire season.
• May require completion of a one year probationary period.
• Position requires a valid state driver’s license to operate light vehicles and 4×4 vehicles. May require additional specialized training and certification to operate specialized vehicles and equipment.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.

Qualifications

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 GS-10 grade level:

• 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-08 grade level. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: on-the-line wildland fire experience leading a module in fire control, prevention or suppression work; predicting and monitoring fire behavior; and monitoring need for equipment and resources used to respond to wildland fires. Please provide an SF50 with your application package to verify that you are a current or former federal employee.
• If you have never been or are NOT a current 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. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: on-the-line wildland fire experience supervising a module in fire control, prevention or suppression work; monitoring and analyzing fire behavior; overseeing and evaluating needs for equipment and resources used to respond to wildland fires; and assisting in the development of incident strategies and tactics.

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 this grade level.

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.

1.) 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 Wildland Fire Operations Specialist – MODERATE Complexity, 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 here:

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, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected):

Pathway #1:A.) Task Force Leader (TFLD) AND
B.) Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3), OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).
-OR-
Pathway #2:
A.) Helibase Manager (HEBM) AND
B.) Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)

You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.

Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. May be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time.

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:

Education

See Qualifications Section.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit .

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM’s Career Transition Resources website at or . If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they exceed minimum qualifications for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration.

Certain incentives, such as, Recruitment, Relocation, or Student Loan Repayment, may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis, and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: , or , or

The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

• Benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine your eligibility for Federal employment and your qualifications for this position specifically. Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM’s Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All qualified candidates will be referred for consideration; the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis.

Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and/or job elements) in the following areas:

• Leadership
• Fire Management
• Technical Competence

• Benefits
• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have – whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.

  
  
  

  Resumes must show relevant experience and other information. Your resume MUST list your education and work experience including (1) the dates (mm/yy) of each employment, along with (2) the number of hours worked per week, and (3) salary information. In addition, Civil Service employees must provide their current OPM title, series, and grade. Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. You are welcome to submit a cover letter.

  In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information on and/or .

  
  
  

  In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the questionnaire), you are required to submit the following supplemental documentation as applicable:

  • IQCS Master Record: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 will result in you being rated as not qualified.
  • Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles: documentation verifying your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility – this includes a copy of the agency notice and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location.
  • , Motor Vehicle Operator’s License and Driving Record (optional during the application process; however, selectees will be required to submit as part of the pre-appointment process.)
  
  

  Submitting Required Documents: Please note that documents selected for transfer from your USAJOBS profile are NOT automatically added to your application. You need to transfer your document(s) in the “Documents” step during the application process.

  
  
  

  Hard copy paper supplemental documents, submitted without prior Human Resources approval, will be considered as an incomplete application.

  
  

  Required documentation must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.

  
  
  

  If you are determined to be eligible and best qualified, you will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Applicants should monitor their status for positions by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  
  
  

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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