Clarification from the agency

ALL U.S. CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: These positions will be filled using Direct Hire Authority for this occupation. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

• Serve as a regional technical expert/authority providing guidance, advice and support for policy interpretation and implementation to fire management agencies, and in resource need forecasting and allocation.
• Provides strategic long-range planning, leadership, guidance, coordination, and evaluation for regional/state wildland fire and aviation programs.
• Assists in the formulation of annual program budgets, regional/state accomplishment narratives, recommends programmatic proposals, and record keeping of program budget.
• Implements and coordinates wildland fire protection programs on the public and Indian trust lands administered by the Bureau.
• Analyzes and assesses existing Departmental and Bureau policy and procedures to evaluate overall effectiveness in meeting Bureau objectives at the regional and/or state level.
• Serves as a senior technical expert and provides high level technical guidance on wildland fire and aviation management activities.
• Exercises delegated supervisory authorities and responsibilities 15% of the time. Plan, assign and evaluate work to be accomplished by subordinates; and approves leave.

Conditions of employment

• Completion of NWCG course M-581, Fire Program Management within one year of entrance on duty, if not obtained at time of hire.
• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• You may be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• This position has been designated as an Incidental Operator under the Indian Affairs Motor Vehicle Safety Program, therefore, the incumbent will be required annually to acknowledge and certify possession of a valid state driver's license.
• This position is subject to pre-employment and annual medical screening and physical fitness testing for employment purposes.
• This is a Testing Designated Position and is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

To Qualify for the GS-12 grade level you must meet the following:
One (1) year of specialized wildland fire work experience equivalent to GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience: work involving managing a Fire Program Management. Financial management, project planning, and workforce development. Developing Cooperative Agreements and Annual Operating Plans (AOPs) with federal, state, and local agencies, enhancing interagency collaboration and resource sharing. Participation in committees and interdisciplinary teams, fire management planning and implementation of unit prevention or risk assessment management programs.

Operational experience in fire suppression and prescribed fire activities, managing and supervising initial attack modules, with engines, crews, and/or aviation resources, trains, certifies, and prepares personnel for wildland fire operations and prescribed fire implementation. Develops effective strategies and treatments in fire behavior, designing fuels treatments, overseeing mechanical fuels treatments, budgeting, and expenditure tracking.

Conducting comprehensive safety and risk assessments for all projects and ensuring appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place. Maintains qualification standards for all Incident Command System (ICS) positions and coordinates training for fire personnel. Conducts equipment and facilities inspections, maintains safe operational resources, and actively participates in community and interagency collaborations for safe fire management operations.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. This position is one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard categorized as a Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) - Moderate Complexity and requires the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:

• Pathway #1: Task Force Leader (TFLD) and Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2) or higher and Required Training Course M-581 - Fire Program Management

Or

• Pathway #2: Helibase Manager Type 1 (HEB1) and Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) or higher and Required Training Course M-581 - Fire Program Management

NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration. You MUST provide a current copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other agency equivalent documentation which verifies you meet this required qualification for this position when submitting your application. Selectees for IFPM positions requiring currency will be required to obtain and maintain currency for the NWCG qualifications listed above.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the qualification requirements, but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system.

FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: 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 covered positions).

You must let this office know if you are in a Primary coverage position.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date.

Physical Demands:
The work is primarily sedentary, however, some physical exertion related to site visitations and fire line assignments is required. Walking on rough, uneven terrain, long periods of standing, and exposure to extreme heat, smoke, and temperatures is required.

Working Conditions: Work is normally performed in an office setting. During the wildland fire season, field work may involve high risk exposure to potentially dangerous situating or stress. The above work environment involves occasional exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which usually require protective equipment to be worn. A range of safety and other precautions are required. Exposure to risks such as wildfire, heat, smoke, falling rocks and trees, etc., are a part of the job during wildland fire season. Work may require flying in small fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulating as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position described above.

Under this Direct-Hire announcement, all applicants who meet the minimum requirements at the grade level for which they apply will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. Veteran's Preference and category rating DO NOT APPLY for this announcement under Direct-Hire Authority regulations.

All qualified candidates will be referred for consideration; the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion.

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.

You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12730527.

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.