Supervisory Forestry Technician (Smokejumper)

Company: Department Of Agriculture
Location: Grangeville
Posted on: June 6, 2021

Job Description:

• Duties

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Duties

Summary

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the Forest Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied. Information on specific locations where jobs are being filled and the dates applications are due for these locations can be found on theForest Service website.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for details.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Participate in the development of smokejumper training policies.
• Directly supervises smokejumper squads which include Squad Leaders and Smokejumpers.
• Perform the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised.
• Serve as an active smokejumper, smokejumper spotter, and parachute rigger.
• Prioritize attack sequence in multiple fire situations based on fire needs and principles of efficient aircraft use.
• Coordinate and provides for retardant aircraft, helicopters, and other smokejumper aircraft.
• Responsible for overall training administration, including delegation of training assignments, prioritization, procurement, purchasing, inventory, and documentation.
• Analyze and predict budget needs for all training operations and submits budget proposal for inclusion in the group annual work plan.
• Maintain individual records of smokejumper training and experience.
• Plan, schedule and coordinate all aspects of smokejumper training.
• Prepare lesson plans, write manuals, develop smokejumper specific training courses, supervises and evaluates instructors involved in training and refreshing smokejumpers in parachuting procedures and fire suppression skills.
• Establish group training guidelines; writes, edits, updates, and approves relevant guidelines for internal use.
• Performs wildfire suppression support as directed within training and physical and other duties as assigned.
• Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-11 level.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnight on fire suppression or fire related assignments for this position.

Supervisory status

Yes

Promotion Potential

11

• Job family (Series)

0462 Forestry Technician

• Requirements

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Requirements

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.
• 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.
• Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
• Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Minimum of 90 days of 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

Smokejumpers are a natural resource. Jumpers travel all over the country, including Alaska, to provide highly-trained, experienced firefighters and leadership for quick initial attack on wildland fires in remote areas.

For more information about the smokejumping program in the Forest service click Here.

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.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-10: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Coordinated with aviation program managers to establish short term objectives. For example: Assisting with one or more smokejumper program responsibilities such as loft, operations, training and loadmaster. Assisting with conducting smokejumper or other wildland fire training. Directing initial and extended attack suppression actions such as determining incident needs, and dispatch/deployment of personnel and equipment.

OR

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.,(coursework must be directly related to the position being filled such as forestry, range management, agriculture). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

For the GS-11: one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting with more than one smokejumper program responsibilities such as loft, operations, training and loadmaster. Assisting in scheduling, conducting and coordinating smokejumper training. Assessing various fire management factors such as fuels, suppression capability, resistance to control, ignition probability, predicted rate of spread, and flame height and weather.

OR

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.,(coursework must be directly related to the position being filled such as forestry, range management, agriculture). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester/54 quarter hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Smokejumper duties present unusual hazards and require that personnel be in excellent physical condition and possess a high degree of emotional stability and mental alertness. The health of individuals must be such that they have the capacity to meet demands for performance in the position and for human reliability. Before entrance on duty, and periodically during employment, smokejumpers must undergo a medical exam, physical conditioning, and an adeptness test. Failure to meet any of the required standards will be considered disqualifying for employment or a basis of termination.

See Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions

During the training period, incumbents are continually evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various aspects of parachute jumping and smokejumper-related tasks, including aircraft exit procedures, parachute landing falls, parachute maneuvering, timber let-down procedures, parachute and cargo retrieving, tree climbing, and chainsaw and hand tool use. Incumbents who cannot perform up to the required standards of proficiency will be terminated from the smokejumper program.

Smokejumpers must perform safely and efficiently in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, often with severe smoke and dust. Terrain may be extremely steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with thick tangled vegetation. Conditions riding in aircraft may be hot, cramped, and extremely turbulent, which may promote airsickness. The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (jump suit, helmet, boots, gloves, fire resistant clothing, etc.) be worn and protective equipment, including fire shelters, be carried.

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.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS:

A minimum 90 days experience performing on-the-line (Primary/Rigorous) wildland fire suppression duties as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression, containment or control techniques and practices under various conditions. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.

Serves as, or has previously served as, an active smokejumper. If not currently qualified, applicant must have the ability to recertify as an active smokejumper and perform as a smokejumper spotter.

Must be licensed, or previously licensed, and able to re-certify by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a condition of employment.

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.

Keywords: Department Of Agriculture, Coeur d'Alene , Supervisory Forestry Technician (Smokejumper), Other , Grangeville, Idaho