Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior

Boise, ID | #government

This position is located with the BLM Fire & Aviation Directorate, located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), in Boise, Idaho.

Information about the surrounding area can be found at https://www.boisechamber.org/ We expect to fill a few position(s) at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

For information on Boise Smokejumpers, visit their website.

Selective Placement Factors:nThis 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: Prior on-the-line firefighting: The Department of the Interior defines wildland firefighting experience as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland.

Wildland firefighting experience is gained through work on the fire line in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire.

This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal, or equivalent private sector fire position for no less than 90 days.

Wildland fires are categorized into two distinct types: (1) Wildfires - Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; and (2) Prescribed Fires - Planned ignitions.

This description includes only fireline 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.

This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.

Prior smokejumping experience required - This experience must be documented with specific dates in the resume.

FAA Certified Senior or Master Rigger.

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.

Specialized Experience:nIn order to be rated as minimally qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the minimum qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Failure to provide required information on resume could result in ineligibility for consideration.

To qualify for the GS-08 grade level, 1 year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 is required.

Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: Forest or range fire control, prevention or suppression.

Experience utilizing technical skills as related to smokejumper operations.

Experience with loft operations, paracargo operations, aircraft operations, and fire suppression and management.

Experience with loft equipment, sewing, sewing machines, materials, blue prints, and written instructions.

OR Two full years (36 semester hours) of graduate level education or a master's degree directly related to the work of a forestry technician OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.

To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, 1 year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 is required.

Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: Forest or range fire control, prevention or suppression.

Experience utilizing technical skills as related to smokejumper operations.

Experience with loft operations, paracargo operations, aircraft operations, and fire suppression and management.

Experience training new and existing employees on use of loft equipment, sewing, sewing machines, materials, blue prints, and written instructions.

Supervisory/leadership experience in planning, organizing and assigning work to subordinates to meet workload accomplishments.

OR Two full years (36 semester hours) of graduate level education or a master's degree directly related to the work of a forestry technician OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604.

If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level.

If selected at the lower grade, subsequent promotion to the next grade level will be processed without further competition dependent upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.

Medical Requirements Please see the Department of Interior Medical Standards Program website for the Federal Interagency Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for your position: http://www.nifc.gov/medical_standards/index.html Physical Requirements Employment in this position is conditional upon your successful completion of the following BLM smokejumper physical fitness performance tests: When you report for duty, you will be given a physical condition test.

The test is given in one time period with a 5-minute break between exercises.

The test consists of performing the following exercises: 30 push-ups 6 pull-ups Run 1.5 miles in 10.47 minutes or less OR backpacking a 110 pound load three miles in less than 65 minutes.

Work Capacity Test at the Arduous Level: All arduous wildland firefighters must backpack a 45 pound load for three miles in 45 minutes or less.

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Boise Smokejumpers at 208-387-5426.

Physical Demands: The incumbent must be able tow work under extreme physical exertion regularly working 16 hour shifts or longer on the fireline.

Work on the fireline requires considerable strenuous physical exertion.

Work Environment:nThe majority of work is performed outdoors in a wide variety of weather and terrain conditions or in a crowded airplane.

FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL RETIREMENT:nThis is a primary fire 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 MEA for this position shall not exceed age 37; unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter or you are a preference eligible veteran.

If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position on or 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.