This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/605782800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This career/career-conditional, permanent full-time position is located in Shenandoah National Park, in the Ranger Activities Division, Fire Management Branch.
06/29/2021 to 07/07/2021
$39,311 - $56,790 per year
GS 6 - 7
No
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent
Full-time
Competitive
7
No
Yes
NE-1612-SHEN-21-11148831-DE
605782800
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. DIRECT HIRING AUTHORITY will be used to fill this position.
This position serves in support of higher-level positions in a high complexity program. Primary responsibilities of this position are to assist in the preparation and implementation of prescribed fire plans, fire effects, manual and mechanical hazardous fuels treatments, and smoke and wildfire response monitoring. Duties also include conducting field surveys to determine the location of hazardous fuel conditions. As required, this position will assist a Module Leader or other senior staff in leading a varied size module.
The position may be filled at either the GS-06 or GS-07 level. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Promotion to the full performance GS-07 level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
GS-06 salary starts at $39,311 PA. GS-07 salary starts at $43,683 PA. Shenandoah NP is covered by the RUS salary table.
Physical Demands: Work requires 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 strenuous activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.
Working Conditions: The work is primarily performed out-of-doors in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees to below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Personnel must adjust and cope with exposure to adverse weather elements, dust and smoke, poor sleeping and eating conditions and unpredictable sets of circumstances. May be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn. Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.
POSITION LOCATION: The duty station for this position will be at the Park Headquarters Complex located near Luray, VA. Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia, approximately 90 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. The park consists of approximately 197,000 acres of land, including 80,000 acres designated as wilderness. It also contains 105 miles of Skyline Drive and 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Annual visitation is around 1.3 million, which has direct and extensive economic impact on the surrounding area (eight counties and nine municipalities). The park's natural, cultural and recreational resources are of vital interest to local and regional businesses, political leaders, conservation and outdoor recreation organizations, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Fire Management Program at Shenandoah NP is a diverse and complex program that manages fire and fuels through prescribed fire, manual/mechanical thinning, and fire suppression. The fire program staff at Shenandoah is responsible for providing program direction and wildland fire subject matter expertise to 18 additional National Park Service units throughout Virginia and southern Maryland (Mountains to the Sea Zone). The Fire Management program is supervised by a Fire Management Officer and an Assistant Fire Management Officer. The staff also includes two permanent full time Forestry Technicians, a career seasonal Forestry Technician, a Fire Program Management Assistant, and 3-5 temporary "seasonal" Forestry Technicians. The Mountains to the Sea Zone has a robust and highly skilled workforce of collateral duty firefighters that actively participate in fire management projects and incident response.
Additional Information: For additional information regarding this announcement or how to apply, please contact the HR Office at the number or email provided under the "agency contact information" section. For specific questions pertaining to the position being advertised, please contact Jordan_Collier@nps.gov. When inquiring by email please include the job announcement number, NE-1612-SHEN-21-11148831-DE in the subject line.
Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You may be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You may also be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.
You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
Government housing is not available.
If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
Subject to frequent extended travel particularly during fire season, and you must obtain a government charge card for travel.
You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination given by an authorized government physician. You will also be required to periodic medical examinations throughout employment.
The Work Capacity Test (WCT-Pack Test) as a method for assessing an employee's fitness levels for fire qualifications in the positions covered by this recruitment notice. WCT Information
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 07/07/2021.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience.
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 Prescribed Fire & Fuels Specialist (PFFS), low complexity level (in a high complexity park) and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to moving into the position. This position serves in support of higher-level positions in a high complexity program. For more information on IFPM, click here.
Selective Factors: The applicant must possess/have possessed the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:
To qualify for this position at the GS-0462-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: participating in prescribed fire operations including line preparation, igniting, and/or holding strategies; collecting and compiling fuels management field inventory data where a variety of fuel variations are involved; inventorying fuel beds, preparing associated reports; performing hazard fuel reduction projects; monitor burn conditions and/or act in ignition or holding specialist or other designated positions during actual fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
One year of graduate level college education in a field directly related to technician fire work such as a major study in forestry, fire science or a field directly related to this position that has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. A copy of your transcripts is required.
-OR-
Combination of education and experience that is directly related to the work of this position as stated above.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must submit a legible copy of your transcripts (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).
To qualify for this position at the GS-0462-07 grade level, you must possess at least one one of the following:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: participating in routine aspects of inventorying and monitoring for wildland fire, prescribed fire, and/or natural resource activities; planning and directing field resource data collection for fuel hazard management programs; assisting in developing and implementing specific plans for fuels treatment projects. You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-
One year of graduate level college education in a field directly related to range technician fire work such as a major study in forestry, fire science or a field directly related to this position that has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. A copy of your transcripts is required.
-OR-
Equivalent combination of specialized experience and education as described in the vacancy announcement to qualify for this position.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must submit a legible copy of your transcripts (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).
Volunteer Experience: 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.
When submitting college transcripts, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
This notice is being issued to recruit personnel to occupations for which a critical hiring need has been identified. To assist in filling these positions, OPM has granted the Department of the Interior "Direct Hire Authority".
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.
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). PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may meet qualification requirements but may not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If such an applicant is selected, they will be placed in the regular retirement system.
FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved retirement covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary retirement covered position.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
This vacancy will be filled through a Direct Hire Authority. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this Authority. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and selective placement factors, as determined by the SHRO, will be referred for consideration. While managers and supervisors are not required to conduct interviews, it is highly recommended that they do so in order to assess the competencies of each applicant.
Applicants will be evaluated based on whether they meet the qualification requirements. Upon receipt of the completed application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure basic qualification requirements are met.
If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted.
If a determination is made that an applicant has inflated qualifications or experience on the resume, the applicant will receive no consideration for the position, as per OPM regulations.
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/07/2021:
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
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.
To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/07/2021. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.
Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the qualified candidates, your name will be referred to the hiring official, and you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/605782800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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