Forestry Technician (Assistant Engine Captain) - Direct Hire Authority

Role Details

Summary Explore a career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. Vacancies are located in the following locations: Farmington, NM - 1 Carlsbad, NM - 3 This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet Responsibilities Directs or assists with the fire suppression efforts of a wildland fire engine module. Assures that needed tools and equipment are available for firefighting tasks. Gather and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents. Makes initial evaluation of fire situations and potential hazards to property to determine suppression methods to use. Directs or assists with leading the operation of a wildland fire crew. Responsible for formal and informal training programs to comply with policy and regulations. May assist in the preparation of hazardous fuels treatment plans and burn plans based on the predicted fire behavior and risk assessment. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Specialized Experience Requirements: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled. To qualify for the GS-06 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: 1) serving as a senior wildland firefighter on a wildland fire module or crew; 2) on-the-line wildland fire experience in fire control, prevention or suppression work; and 3) operating specialized equipment used to respond to wildland fires. To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: 1) experience serving as a senior or lead wildland firefighter on a wildland fire module or crew; 2) on-the-line wildland fire experience in fire control, prevention or suppression; 3) utilizing and maintaining specialized wildland fire equipment; and 4) assisting with analyzing and predicting fire behavior when responding to wildland fire incidents. 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. Substitution of Education for Experience: GS-06/07: Must have completed 1 full year (18 semester hours) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education. Education and experience may be combined to meet the specialized experience requirement. Selective Placement Factor(s): 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 factor(s) will be rated not qualified. 1) This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims. 2) 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 Senior Firefighter, and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at www.ifpm.nifc.gov. To meet IFPM requirements for this position, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required): A) Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), AND; B) Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290) * You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: Arduous - Duties involve rigorous fieldwork requiring above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. Work requires prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds. Duties include demands for strenuous activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in forest and range environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees F 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. May be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. FACT SHEET for Fire & Law Enforcement Positions: Information on Special Retirement. Education SEE QUALIFICATIONS SECTION. Additional Information We expect to fill several vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available. General Schedule Salary Table for "Rest of US" (RUS), without locality was used to indicate the salary in this announcement. Salaries may vary dependent upon location selected. Please refer to the Salary Tables link for more information: OPM FY23 general-schedule salaries-wages. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they exceed minimum qualifications for this position. Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration. Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Certain incentives, such as, Recruitment, Relocation, or Student Loan Repayment, may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis, and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentives (OPM.gov), or Relocation Incentives (OPM.gov), or Student Loan Repayment (OPM.gov) The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

Bureau of Land Management provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.