In order to qualify, you must meet the
eligibility and
qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the
Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Experience Requirements:
For the GW-03 level:
Applicants must have minimum six months experience of any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the Forestry Technician position, or general experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the Forestry Technician occupation;
OR
Successful completion of a one (1)-year of related education or appropriate firefighting training may be substituted for experience on a month-for-month basis. Firefighting training obtained as part of a high school curriculum-may be substituted for the six (6) months of general experience.
OR
an appropriate combination of education and experience.
Examples of qualifying general experience include: Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of a Wildland Firefighter, or general experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the Wildland Firefighter occupation. Examples of general experience include: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding and tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities; Worked in a greenhouse or nursery moving, watering, and tending plants and performing other general labor tasks; Fed and watered animals, such as in a laboratory, pet store, or zoo; Any work experience, paid or unpaid. Unpaid experience, for example, may be regular volunteer work, such as at a park, community sports league facilities, etc.
For the GW-04 level:
Applicants must have minimum of six months of general experience (any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the Forestry Technician position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the Forestry Technician occupation)
AND six months of specialized experience that is directly related to the work of the Forestry Technician position;
OR
Successful completion of a two (2)-year course of study in an accredited college or university in Fire Training, Fire Science, Fire Technology or other related fields of study.
OR
An appropriate combination of education and experience.
Examples of qualifying general experience include: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding/tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities and/or worked in a greenhouse, nursery or landscaping e.g., planting, moving, watering, and tending plants and/or animal caretaker in a laboratory, zoo or pet store and/or volunteer work at a park, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.
Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Performed natural resource support work, e.g., forestry, range, park technician, wildland firefighter, or similar jobs; performed routine support assignments in a forestry specialty area, e.g., wilderness, timber, fire prevention/control, etc.
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.
Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement -OR-currently occupy a permanent position with primary fire fighter retirement coverage.
For those who do not currently occupy a permanent Federal position covered under primary fire fighter retirement, you must be under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position; or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the requirement.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.
WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS, MODERATE, or LIGHT level is a condition of employment.
Selective Placement Factor for Promotion to GW-5: This position has been identified as High Complexity under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy. IFPM or FS-FPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training.
Additional Requirement for Promotion Eligibility to the Full Performance GW-05 grade level:Successfully complete the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Fire Fighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND- Successfully complete the NWCG Course S-290 Wildland Fire Behavior.