Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper)

• Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-09 level.
• Manage one of the following smokejumper programs: Smokejumper Safety Smokejumper First Aid/Incident Medical Specialist Smokejumper Information/Education Prescribed Fire/Fuels Treatment and Chainsaw Safety and/or Smokejumper Spotter/Pilot Program.
• Serve as a supervisor in a smokejumper functional area such as operations loft loadmaster or training.
• Plan and assign the work to be accomplished and establish production and quality standards for work.
• Assure that subordinates fully comply with the provisions of safety regulations.
• Provide technical expertise in the field of smoke jumping operations loft loadmaster or training.
• Serve as a spotter and make critical safety decisions on jump actions fire strategies and tactics.
• Provide administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 drivers license; a commercial drivers license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger.

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 Managements General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GW-08: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-07) in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Performed as an Initial Attack Commander responsible for leading a squad of personnel in wildland suppression activities; Directed and coordinated all types of related aircraft fire line personnel and equipment; Led other crew members in all applicable smokejumper duties including parachute rigging and repair paracargo rigging aircraft loading sewing and manufacturing equipment maintenance and other duties which support the smokejumper program.

For the GW-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-08) in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Served as spotter and made critical safety decisions on jump actions and fire strategies and tactics; Assisted in managing Smokejumper Safety Programs such as Smokejumper First Aid or Prescribed Fire/Fuels Treatment and Chainsaw Safety or Smokejumper Spotter/Pilot Program; Served as a cargo dropper in charge of aerial delivery missions in a variety of aircraft involving both paracargo and free-fall delivery using systems.

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.

Selective Placement Factors

Must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger under FAR part 65.

Must be currently or have been previously qualified as a smokejumper on an organized wildland fire smokejumper crew.

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.

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.