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Forestry Technician (Dispatch) (Wildland Firefighter)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located on USDA Forest Service, Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region

The incumbent is responsible for carrying out priorities for the mobilization, reassignment and demobilization of firefighting resources to incidents as deemed necessary in light of changing fire conditions and incident priorities nationally.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for the duty station location and contact information.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/14/2025 to 04/24/2025
Salary
$55,328 to - $79,443 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8 - 9
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Redding, CA
Riverside, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
25-FIRE-P3VA-GACCLC-89DH
Control number
835165500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-09 level.
  • Monitors the availability and recommends geographical placement of shared resources (e.g. air tankers, lead planes, aerial delivered firefighters (smokejumpers and rappelers), and aerial delivered firefighter aircraft) within the Geographic Area.
  • Arranges transport flights for crews, personnel and cargo utilizing large or light government-owned or contracted aircraft, as well as the use of infrared aircraft, in accordance with local and national agreements.
  • Provides input to the Geographic Area mobilization plan and dispatch operating plans and guides. Implements plans governing the supply and use of resources such as personnel, equipment, supplies, aircraft and fire retardant.
  • Provides operational oversight for up to ten support/supervisory dispatchers and other support personnel during emergency 24-hour/7 days-per-week sustained operations.
  • Performs required validation of aircraft and pilot's certification to ensure interagency requirements are being met.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
  • There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
  • Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.

Qualifications

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.

Basic Requirement:
GS-08: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal Service. OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Specialized Experience Requirement: Assisting in prioritizing distribution of aid, supplies, and equipment in wildland fire incidents. Assisting in coordinating and monitoring the use of airspace over and around wildland fires. Conducting inventories of equipment or service organizations to document the resources available for fire suppression activities. Assisting in maintaining documents such as dispatching guides and handbooks, staffing and action guides, mobilization plans, directives, and/or reference materials.

For the GS-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08) in the Federal Service; OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Specialized Experience Requirement: Assisting in coordinating and implementing logistical operations to ensure the adequate distribution of resources. Performing dispatch duties such as assisting in coordinating ground and air transportation and determining the nature of the resources needed including personnel, equipment, and services. Collecting information for statistical and narrative reports on wildland fire activities or situations. Assisting in developing mobilization plans, emergency and disaster plans, and dispatch handbooks, policies and procedures.

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.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary 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.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See QUALIFICATION section for educational requirements.

Additional information

For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov)

Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - DeeDee Cherry at 530-227-2198

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment).

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing may be available.

How you will be evaluated

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

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12720224

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