Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous federal service is required. This position is being advertised under an OPM government-wide Direct Hire authority. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

• Apply technical fire knowledge to instruct and train district level fire personnel through a variety of fire related courses, scenario-based training, lectures, etc. to ensure all personnel receive needed mandatory and developmental training.
• Manage and maintain the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) for the district. Ensure audits are completed annually and all training and training documentation are aligned with wildland fire policy.
• Support fire managers with field/local wildland plans and complex fire management alternatives in very complex, moderately complex, and complex environmental settings.
• Use fire knowledge and background to functions as district Operational Duty Officer when requested by fire managers.
• Provide decision-making recommendations on short and long-term strategic fire management planning, assessments, and interagency unit fire management plans to the fire leadership team.
• Coordinate with the fire leadership team to help direct the future of the fire management program through classroom training, on the job training, guest lecturers, etc.

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 Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
• May require a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

To qualify for the GW-11 (formerly GS-11) 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 GW/GS-09 grade level. Experience must have included ALL of the fire program management elements described as:
- Experience collaborating with partner agencies and/or organizations on fire management processes, decisions, documentation, and training.
- Knowledge and experience providing skilled decision-making recommendations to the fire leadership team regarding fire management and training.
- Experience managing the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS).
- Experience functioning as an operational duty officer at the district level.
- Independently identify, analyze, and evaluate various conditions and elements and recommend an appropriate implementation of fire management strategies, decisions, and planning efforts to the fire leadership team.

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 GW-10 grade level. Experience must have included ALL of the fire program management elements described as:
- Is trained in executing one or more of the following fire management activities in fire preparedness, fuels management, prevention, fire suppression, monitoring, and/or post-fire rehabilitation, and has acquired knowledge and experience in wildland fire management planning.
- Experience collaborating with partner agencies, and environmental or natural resource specialists on fire planning process, fire planning analysis, fire reports and correspondence including presentations, informal exchanges, and written reports.
- Incumbent understands, and is able to, speak in front of large groups, make presentations, develop and deliver trainings, and coordinate with multiple partners to deliver an end product.
- Independently identify, analyze, and evaluate various conditions and elements during single or multi-fire days and direct an appropriate implementation of fire management strategies, decisions, and planning efforts in coordination with fire managers and dispatch.
- Knowledge of training requirements associated with fire personnel and the ability to implement a training program.

Substitution of Education for Experience: There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

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.

Selective Placement Factors: 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 factors will be rated not qualified:

You must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

This is a SECONDARY/Administrative fire 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 (MEA) policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position 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.

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, although a level of physical fitness is required which will allow for work during periods of extended stress and in the field when wildland fire situations arise. During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions.

Work Environment: Although work is generally performed in an office setting. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire investigation work requires that protective clothing
(boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.

How you will be evaluated

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

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, you will be removed from consideration. For additional information please reference this how to guide: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

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

Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine if you are minimally qualified for the position.

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 minimally qualified candidates will be referred for consideration. Please note that the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics). You do not have to respond to the competencies separately, but your resume should contain sufficient information to demonstrate possession of the following competencies:

Education and Training: Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, and other instructional methods.

Fire Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of fire management, including the characteristics, behavior, and ecology of fire; methodologies, strategies, and equipment used in prescribed fires; fire detection, prevention, and suppression strategies; and integration of fire with natural resource management.

Manages and Organizes Information: Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of methods.

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume or Application. At a minimum, your resume MUST contain job title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk.

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 an optional cover letter.

Copy of state driver's license for verification.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles: Submit 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.

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.

Next steps