FIRE CHIEF (Title 5) Job in Ellington AFB, TX

Vacancy No. TX-12778909-T5 Department Air National Guard Units
Salary $102,203.00 to $132,870.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/18/2025 Close Date 8/22/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Ellington AFB, TX


Summary

This position is part of the 147 ATKW at Ellington AFB, Houston, TX. The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as the Fire Chief responsible for the overall management and supervision of the fire protection/crash rescue and fire prevention program for the base.


Texas is one of 9 states with NO state income tax.

Duties

As a Fire Chief with the Texas National Guard, your duties will include, but will not be limited to:

  • Plans, organizes, and oversees the activities of the Fire Protection Flight. Develops goals and objectives that integrate organization and Civil Engineering objectives. Establishes, revises, or reviews policies, procedures, mission objectives, and organization design for the flight, as necessary to eliminate work problems or barriers to mission accomplishment, promote team building, implement quality improvements, or in response to concerns with regulatory compliance and/or customer requirements. Plans work for accomplishment by subordinate units, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules based on consideration of difficulty of requirements and assignments such that the experience, training, and abilities of the staff are effectively utilized to meet organization and customer needs. Provides subordinate supervisors and staff with direction and advice regarding policies, procedures, and guidelines. Reviews and structures organization to optimize use of resources and maximize efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. Balances workload and provides overall direction and vision to the subordinate unit chiefs on a wide range of fire protection, prevention, crash rescue, and administrative issues. Establishes metric and analysis systems for units managed to assess efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with regulatory procedures. Evaluates requirements for additional resources submitted by subordinate supervisors, and balances organizational needs with overall mission requirements and resource interests. Identifies need for change in organization priorities and takes action to implement such changes. Plans and schedules work in such a manner that promotes a smooth flow and even distribution and ensures effective use of organizational resources to achieve organization goals and objectives as well as installation customer needs. Establishes review systems for the organization that ensure government needs are met and validated, and that economy and quality of operations are maintained or improved. Accepts, amends, or rejects work of subordinate supervisors.
  • Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities. Directs, coordinates, and oversees work through subordinate supervisors. Advises staff regarding policies, procedures, and directives of higher-level management or headquarters. Selects candidates for subordinate non-supervisory positions and recommends selections for subordinate supervisory positions taking into consideration skills and qualifications, mission requirements, and EEO objectives. Ensures reasonable equity among units of performance standards developed, modified, and/or interpreted and rating techniques developed by subordinate supervisors.
  • Represents the Fire Protection Flight with a variety of installation and functional area organizations. Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships with personnel, manpower, other staff officials, and municipal and other federal fire departments. Provides technical advisory services to management on all matters pertaining to fire protection and prevention. Negotiates mutual aid agreements with other local fire departments, reviewing agreements frequently and updating as required. Evaluates fire departments with which mutual aid agreements exist to ensure their capability to provide firefighting assistance. Meets with key customers and coordinating officials to assess customer satisfaction, explain organizational policy and procedures, and resolve significant problems that arise.
  • Assumes full charge at crashes, fire, or emergency situations, directing activities and personnel, transmitting instructions to Assistant Chiefs on the scene or other personnel as to the procedures to be followed. Determines routes to travel to scenes of emergencies, makes final determination of area to be cleared, and instructs guards of such areas so that they may be cleared until all personnel are rescued and/or area is declared safe. Initiates a fire report or aircraft crash fire and rescue report at completion of fire or crash, as applicable. Maintains close coordination with safety officials on site who control the situation until the fire department is called into action
  • Determines need, budgets for, and recommends acquisition of additional and/or different fire protection, firefighting, and specialized rescue equipment, contract services, formal training, etc. Provides technical advice on fire protection aspects of engineering projects; aircraft operational training programs; munitions storage, processing, and handling; supply storage; fuel storage and handling; aircraft and vehicle maintenance operations; and utilization of buildings and facilities.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Appointment Factor(s): This is a Title 5 Excepted Service position.

Area(s) of Consideration: Category 1 - Open to public (Nationwide) - US citizens, US nationals or individuals who owe allegiance to the United States.
Remarks:

  • This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.
  • Direct deposit is mandatory.
  • Administrative Firefighter position 60 hour work week, 120 hours per pay period.
  • Compatible MOS/Branch/AFSC:3E791
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
  • The employee is subject to random drug testing. Pre-employment drug testing and participation in random drug testing may be a condition of employment when on the job announcement. Drug testing will only occur once a drug free workplace policy has been established and approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Must be certified by the DOD Fire Fighter Certification system as Fire Officer IV (includes Fire Officer I, II, III), Fire Instructor II (includes Fire Instructor I), Fire Inspector II (includes Fire Inspector I), HAZMAT Incident Commander (includes Hazmat Awareness, Hazmat Operations), and Airport Firefighter (includes Firefighter I, II).
  • Incumbent may work a minimum 56 or 60-hour week with supervisor's approval
  • Required to participate in a physical fitness program and pass an annual physical.
  • Incumbent is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless TDY or on leave.

Qualifications

To be considered for qualification, your resume must include relevant experience with beginning and ending dates of employment/experience reflecting the following:

Specialized Experience Required:
At least 36 months experience, education, or training in one or more of the following areas: (1) Controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade. (2) Rescue operations. (3) Detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards. (4) Operation of fire communications equipment. (5) Controlling hazardous materials incidents. (6) Developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention (7) Firefighting and fire prevention theory and techniques; (8) Fixed and mobile firefighting equipment operation. (9) Planning, directing, or carrying out fire protection and prevention programs and operations and/or (10) Performing emergency medical services. AND Experience in managing the function of the work to be performed. Experience which includes leading, directing and assigning work of personnel.

Additional information

Additional Remarks:

  • Special Retirement Provisions Authority: One of the following apply:- FERS Position covered as secondary under the FERS special retirement provisions for Federal firefighters [5 USC 8401(14), 5 USC 8412 (d), and 5 CFR 842.802]. Authority: Authority: Secretary of Defense Memorandum, dated 31 Aug 89.OR- CSRSPosition covered as a secondary position under the CSRS special retirement provisions for Federal firefighters [5 USC 8331 (21), 5 USC 8336(c), and 5 CFR 831.902]. Authority: OPM Memorandum, dated 26 Jun 89.Note: Special Retirement Coverage is effective retroactive to the date of the personnel action of this SCPD.
  • This position meets criteria for secondary/administrative coverage under special retirement coverage provisions in that it requires prior experience in a primary or equivalent outside experience as a prerequisite.
  • This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the TAG.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Ability to Lead or Supervise, Administration and Management, Fire/Life Safety Training, Public Education, and Outreach, Risk Management, and Workforce Planning

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume. BASIS OF RATING: The assessments for this job will also measure

  • Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) as listed under Qualifications are based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements.

Your application will be rated in the appropriate numeric value group and ranked according to preference eligibility and non-preference eligibility. Veterans' preference points, as prescribed, are added to each veteran applicant's final numeric value score. All qualified preference eligibles are placed ahead of non-preference eligibles Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable. Highly Qualified Group ranges from 90-100 points: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements Well Qualified Group ranges from 80-89 points: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements. Qualified Group ranges from 70-79 points: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:1. Your resume should include the following for related positions held:

  • Work schedule (ex. Full-time, part-time, intermittent)
  • Hours worked per week
  • To and From dates (ex. MM/YYYY - MM/YYYY)
  • Duties performed
2. Other REQUIRED supporting documents:
  • Certification by the DoD Firefighter Certification system as the following:
    • Fire Officer IV (includes Fire Officer I,II, III),
    • Fire Instructor II (includes Fire Instructor I),
    • Fire Inspector II (includes Fire Inspector I),
    • HAZMAT Incident Commander (includes Hazmat Awareness, Hazmat Operations),
    • Airport Fire Fighter (includes Firefighter I, II).
  • Current/last SF-50 for current employees, if applicable.
Veterans Information: Veterans' preference must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility prior to the close date of the job announcement. Acceptable documentation may be:
  1. A copy of your DD-214 Member-4 Copy, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.
  2. A "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.
  3. You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or visiting their website.
  4. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form, SF-15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference".

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 schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12778909

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Kris Hopkins
Address
TX 147th Attack Wing
14657 Sneider St
Houston, TX 77034
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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