Summary Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in BLM's California Desert District. We expect to fill multiple vacancies at this time. 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 the operation of a wildland fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire activities. Starts pump engine, primes pump, adjusts engine speed and pump valves, lays hose, uses appropriate nozzle. Maintains specialized wildland firefighting equipment. Conducts and participates in crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques. May serve as Initial Attack Incident Commander on wildland fires and all risk incidents. Gather and consider information such as weather, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior to respond to wildland fire incidents. Positions and deploys personnel and equipment to protect values at risk. Reviews work daily, weekly, or monthly, assuring all standards are met. Hears and resolves minor complaints. Provides for module safety and welfare and implements training as needed. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Selective Placement Factors: 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. This position is subject to the Interagency Fire Program (IFPM) Standard and Guide selective placement factors. This position requires the following qualifications - Currency Not Required: For the GS-6: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND- Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290) For the GS-7: Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND- Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290) In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. For the GS-6: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: experience as a member within a fire crew/module assisting in the driving and operating of a wildland fire engine, assisting in the positioning of the engine; starting the pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles; responsible for keeping engine in a full state of readiness. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collects fuels characteristics such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Maintains and operates specialized equipment, including emergency repairs. For the GS-7: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-06 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: experience leading and directing a fire crew/module in fire suppression, prescribed fire, fire monitoring, and post-fire activities. Mentoring, instructing, and leading crewmembers by planning for and directing fire crew/module operations while recommending and implementing strategies and tactics of the module under evolving incidents with heightened situational awareness. You will be required to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A, B or C endorsement within one year of employment. An extension may be granted upon supervisor approval. 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. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire: Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience. You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of each cut-off date to be considered. This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements. The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience 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 will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. 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. Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, 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 activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters 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 (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing). Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft. Education Education may not be used to qualify for this position. Additional Information IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS OPEN CONTINUOUS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: This is an open and continuous vacancy announcement that will be used to fill vacancies as they occur. To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit a complete application prior to the established cut-off date(s). The initial cut-off date will take place on November 11, 2024 to begin the initial applicant consideration. Applications received after the initial cut-off date will be considered upon receipt of the next cut-off date. The established cut-off dates are as follows: December 11, 2024 January 11, 2025 February 11, 2025 March 11, 2025 April 11, 2025 NOTE: The period of eligibility for applications is through each cut-off date. The agency will issue a list of eligible applicants at each cut-off date to the hiring officials within the period of eligibility. To be considered for each cut-off, a new application must be submitted. Applicants may make changes to applications to ensure experience is current. 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. 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. This position is not eligible for Telework. 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 Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment. This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-07. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.