Forestry Technician (Fire), GS-0462-04 at Towaoc

JOB SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is the lead agency for the United States in carrying on a government-to-government relationship with tribal nations.  A challenging and dynamic place to work, it enhances the quality of life, promotes economic opportunity, and carries out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives.

 

Vacancy ID:  921923

 

Forestry Technician (Fire), GS-0462-04

Posn.# 440T326 / 440T327 / 440T329 / 440T330

Southwest Region,

Ute Mountain Ute Agency,

Forestry,

Towaoc, Colorado

 

GS-04:  $27,990 - $36,384 PER ANNUM 

 

This job announcement will be used to fill temporary seasonal wildland firefighter positions in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).  Appointments to these position(s) are not-to-exceed 6 months (1039 hours) in a service year.

 

The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization. The purpose of this position is wildland fire suppression/management/control, as a skilled firefighter on an engine, helitack module or hand crew. Other wildland fire related duties involve fire prevention, patrol, detection or prescribed burning.  The incumbent will be involved with the maintenance and repair of firefighting tools, equipment, and facilities and will receive fire training.

 

NOTE:

• This is an arduous position and is subject to drug testing, medical examination, and physical fitness testing.
• This is an arduous position and is subject to drug testing, medical examination, and physical fitness testing.

 

NOTE: This position is also currently being advertised under Delegated Examining Unit (DEU) Vacancy Announcement Number CRPA-D1312.  Applicants who wish to be considered under both Merit Promotion and DEU procedures must submit a separate application to each announcement.

 

INDIAN PREFERENCE POLICY: Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472).  Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference.  Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in the Federal service will be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7).  Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of a qualified Indian Preference eligible.  Applicants not entitled to Indian Preference must be Federal civilian employees with competitive status or former Federal civilian employees with reinstatement eligibility and must submit latest Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50B, as proof.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Selectee is subject to a background security investigation
• Applications will only be accepted online or by fax to 1-478-757-3144.

DUTIES:Back to top

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

• Wildland fire related duties involve fire prevention, patrol, detection or prescribed burning.
• Serve as a skilled crewmember on an engine, helitack or hand crew.
• As an assistant on a wildland fire engine, works as a trainee engine operator driving the engine, operating the pump and making hose layouts under the direction of the engine foreman.
• Utilizes a variety of specialized tools, equipment and techniques while actively suppressing wildfires, such as a Pulaski, shovel, McLeod, ax and chainsaw to control the spread of wildfire.
• Provides assistance on a wildland fire engine, operating the pump and making hose lays under direction.
• As a helitack crewmember, loads helicopters determines weight calculations, competes crew manifests and may rappel from a hovering helicopter near ground level in remote area to construct helistops or to attack small fires, hotspots and spot fires.
• Performs basic fireline activities such as line construction, hose layout, operations of pumps and accessories, lopping and scattering of fuels using hand tools and holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up operations.  Moves dirt, chops brush, small trees, etc. to construct fire line.  Is responsible for observing the rules of wildland firefighting safety.  Applies practices and techniques to minimize resource damage.
• Independently carries out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfire and burnout, mobile and stationary engine attack, construction of helispots specialized helitack operations and hover hookups.
• Serve on an organized crew during prescribed burns, monitoring and controlling the fire and collecting data on fire weather and fire behavior.
• Performs project work such as fuel inventory and hazard fuel reduction projects.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Technical and Medical Support Positions, GS-0462, and Individual Occupational Requirements for GS-0462: Forestry Technician Series).

 

For the GS-04 grade level: 6 months of general experience AND 6 months of specialized experience OR 2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours in mathematics is creditable OR 4 seasons of experience.

• GENERAL EXPERIENCE:  Experience in performing a variety of routine tasks in the suppression of wildland fires. Uses a variety of hand and power tools and equipment.
• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:  Examples of qualifying specialized experience include forestry aid or technician work; engineering, range, or soil conservation technician work that involved the application of cultural, resource conservation, or land management practices on non-forest or ranch lands when combined with knowledge of forestry operations and equipment; farming or ranching work that involved application of cultural, soil, and water conservation practices, including safety and use of equipment, and that provided a basic understanding of land use; or forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work.
• SEASONAL EXPERIENCE:  A season of experience is considered to be a period of no less than 3 months of continuous employment on a seasonal basis. Shorter periods may be combined to make a season, provided a total of at least 3 months experience is shown.  For any period where the work exceeded 3 months, the excess work is credited towards an additional season of experience.

Combining Experience and Education:  Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying.

SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: 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. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

 

MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION: Regularly operate government vehicles or equipment to perform the duties of the position.

 

TELEWORK INDICATOR: the Bureau of Indian Affairs has determined that duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

As part of the application process, you are required to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of Standard Firefighting and Prescribed Fire Procedures and Tactics.
• Knowledge of Wildland Fire Behavior as Affected by Fuel Type, Topography and Weather.
• Knowledge of Wildland Fire Hazards and Safety Practices and Procedures.
• Skill in the Use of Hand Tools.
• As an Engine Crewmember, Skill in Driving Engines and Operating Apparatus to Include Drafting, Pumping Water, and Constructing Simple and Progressive Hose Lays Under the Direction of the Engine Boss.
• Knowledge of Helicopter Operations.

 

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities.

Country: USA, State: Colorado, City: Towaoc, Company: Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs.