Job Details
Wildland Firefighter (Fire Technology Transfer Specialist)
2026-01-14 Forest Corporation Redding,CA
Description:
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Conditions of employment
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 0401 Series:
Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or related discipline appropriate to the position being filled.
-OR-
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience directly related education in the amounts listed below.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GW-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-11 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience include: Reviewed and evaluated fire management plans for ecological soundness and technical adequacy; Conducted field inspections before and after prescribed or wildland fires to determine if resource objectives were achieved and/or to evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken; and Developed analyses on the ecological role of fire and its use and/or exclusion, and smoke management.
For the GW-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-12 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience include: Developed new fire management techniques for communicating fire behavior concepts including risk, deterministic and stochastic fire modeling, and fire effects; Solicited for and evaluated field inputs for improvements in wildland fire decision support; Developed improvements in wild land fire support in response to inputs from the field; conducted risk assessments for complex wildland fire incidents and projects.
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 firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.
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 QUALIFICATIONS section for education 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 - Laurie Forni ...@usda.gov
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.
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 on the OPM Website.
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-###-####, Option 1, or email ...@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 bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.
Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.
Government Housing may be available.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Summary
These positions are located on a USDA Forest Service Unit within the Pacific Southwest Region, Region 5.
This position has primary responsibility for technology transfer, providing decision support and coordinating research needs between scientists and field practitioners.
See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Section for location representative details.
Duties
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- Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-13 level.
- Provides professional fire management advice on unusual and unprecedented problems facing the wildland fire community that require new approaches and techniques to guide response decisions.
- Provides national/regional/local wildland fire decision support through analysis and advice using the latest fire behavior modeling programs and decision support tools.
- Serves as a skilled expert in the use of fire spread and fire growth modeling, weather and climatic analysis, fire events, probabilistic fire modeling and other predictive fire behavior tools.
- Serves as a liaison between wildland fire research scientists and user groups in the nation, providing technical operational advice in the development of new techniques and systems for fire and fuels management.
- Provides technical advice and participates in the analysis of fire management program requirements to design, develop, and implement methods to integrate emerging science and new technologies into national fire management programs.
- Provides oversight to other staff within the organization regarding fire/fuels management, decision support, technology transfer, coordination, collaboration, training, and development.
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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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
- 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.
- Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
- 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.
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 0401 Series:
Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or related discipline appropriate to the position being filled.
-OR-
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience directly related education in the amounts listed below.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GW-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-11 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience include: Reviewed and evaluated fire management plans for ecological soundness and technical adequacy; Conducted field inspections before and after prescribed or wildland fires to determine if resource objectives were achieved and/or to evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken; and Developed analyses on the ecological role of fire and its use and/or exclusion, and smoke management.
For the GW-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-12 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience include: Developed new fire management techniques for communicating fire behavior concepts including risk, deterministic and stochastic fire modeling, and fire effects; Solicited for and evaluated field inputs for improvements in wildland fire decision support; Developed improvements in wild land fire support in response to inputs from the field; conducted risk assessments for complex wildland fire incidents and projects.
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 firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.
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 QUALIFICATIONS section for education 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 - Laurie Forni ...@usda.gov
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.
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 on the OPM Website.
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-###-####, Option 1, or email ...@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 bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.
Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.
Government Housing may be available.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.