Forestry Technician (Prevention)

DutiesSummary

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.


Responsibilities
• Serves as a member of the Forest fire suppression force consistent with training and qualifications.
• Serves as a sub-staff specialist in the Supervisor's Office with primary responsibility for fire prevention and fire prevention education programs.
• Plans and directs the fire prevention program for the Forest. This includes implementation of promotional campaigns designed to motivate identified target groups among employees and the public.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of the Forest strategic plan for fire prevention and fire prevention education consistent with Regional and National plans and programs.
• Responsible for the oversight and leadership in assisting communities in the development and implementation of specific plans for fire prevention actions by the community.
• Analyzes fire suppression and occurrence data in conjunction with Zone or district fire plans to identify human caused fire threat areas, trends, patterns and future problem areas .
• Provides technical assistance to Districts in fire prevention program planning that will influence public attitudes, opinions and behavior associated with wildfire losses.
• Represents the Forest in the planning, implementation, and termination of interagency fire restrictions and closures.
• Assists Forest Public Affairs Officer with the planning and implementation of information and education programs to keep the public and media informed prior to and during wildfire and other incidents on the forest.
• Responsible for development and delivery of community-based fire prevention education programs. Gathers information from a variety of sources including interviews, reading, study, research, and observation.
• Works with Forest and District fire management and fire prevention personnel to assess personnel training needs and facilitates required and necessary forest level training in fire prevention and education.
• Establishes positive working relationships with other federal, state, and local fire agencies in fire prevention and incident information.
• Takes the lead in initiating participation in local community events to promote awareness of fire prevention including, but not limited to: parades, rodeos, fairs, trade shows, home and garden shows and other opportunities as they arrive.
• Performs wildfire suppression support as directed within training and physical and other duties as assigned.
• Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-09 level.
Travel Required

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

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

9

• Job family (Series)

  0462 Forestry Technician

• Requirements

  RequirementsConditions 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.
  • 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.
  QualificationsIn 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:
  
  GS-08: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7).OR Two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture). OR Combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
  
  Examples of specialized experience are: Assisted in planning and implementing fire prevention program for forest, coordinating with leadership to help implement and develop fire prevention plans. Knowledge of National Forest land management policies and procedures in regards to fire prevention and education plans/programs. Experience in public relations programs such as Smokey Bear, prevention signing program, etc. Experience with programs such as burning permits, maintenance programs, etc. Delivers fire prevention education programs and assists with required forest level training in fire prevention.
  
  GS-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-8). OR Two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); ORCombinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
  
  Examples of specialized experience are: Plan and direct fire prevention program for forest, providing leadership and assistance to local community leaders in development and implementation of fire prevention plans. Ensure fire prevention and education plans/programs are compliant with National Forest land management policies and procedures. Provides assistance to districts in fire prevention program planning. Serve as back up public relations officer and manages fire public relations programs such as Smokey Bear, prevention signing program, develop press releases, etc. Assists with programs such as burning permits, chainsaw spark arrestors, maintenance programs, etc. Develops and delivers fire prevention education programs and facilitates required forest level training in fire prevention.
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  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

  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.
  
  We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  
  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 not guaranteed.
  
  These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time.
  
  Government housing, federal day care facilities, and telework may be available.
  
  Some positions filled via this announcement are bargaining unit positions represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW. This is dependent upon unit location.
  
  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.
  
  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, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov.
  
  For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: Lily Huskey at lily.huskey@usda.gov

  
  How You Will Be Evaluated

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

  This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.
  
  Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
  
  To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10911962
  

  Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance

  Other

  Drug test required

  Yes

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  Trust determination process

  Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents

  Required Documents

  The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
  
  Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the responsibilities section including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
  
  If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
  
  Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
  
  Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor.
  
  Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits

  Benefits

  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. Learn 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.

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• The public

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), The public; Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.