Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fire Management Officer) - Direct Hire Authori

Summary This Supervisory Wildland Firefighter position serves as the Fire Management Officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Plains Region, Standing Rock Agency, Branch of Fire Management, Duty Station in Fort Yates, North Dakota. This announcement will be used to fill vacancies utilizing the Direct-Hire Authority (5CFR 337.201). Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy. Responsibilities Serves as the Fire Management Officer Directing all phases of the assigned fire program unit to include fire management planning, aviation management, training and workforce planning, fire preparedness, fuels management and fire prevention, dispatching, suppression, post-suppression, and all hazard and emergency response activities. Performs/supervises administrative program management functions such as planning; budget formulation and execution; stewardship of physical facilities, equipment, vehicles, and accountable property; development and implementation of training and development programs; and implementation of cooperative agreements. Facilitates fire management planning activities; and develops local/annual operating plans and provides staff technical direction in the execution of master plans. Collaborates with unit/tribal leadership while also serving on and representing the units and BIA on various interagency teams, and work groups dealing with specific local, geographic, or national fire management issues. Works with a variety of complex technical problems relating to fire weather, smoke management, fire behavior, and computer fire modeling. Makes periodic inspections of the fire management organization and operations for compliance with approved plans, rules, regulations, and standards to ensure that an adequate and effective fire management force is being maintained. Establishes priorities for fire hazard reduction, prescribed burns and fuels management based on minimizing potential damage and maximizing multiple resource benefit and enhancement. Ensures the fuels management program is consistent with ecosystem management principles and land use plans. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; and evaluates work performance of employees. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: NOTE: This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) - Moderate Complexity and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. GS-11: 1 year of specialized wildland fire management work experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service that includes directing multiple phases of fire management programs on Federally managed lands to include fire management planning, aviation management, training and workforce planning, fire preparedness, fuels management and fire prevention, dispatching, suppression, post-suppression, as well as all hazard and emergency response activities. Examples of specialized experience include work involving all phases of the fire program management including planning, program direction, coordination, evaluation; and assigning wildland firefighter crews. Providing leadership and supervision for fire management staff during preparedness and incident response assignments. Developing, reviewing and evaluating fire management plans for ecological soundness or consistency with land management goals and/or potentially adverse impacts to cultural and natural resources. Analyzing and/or applying fire management strategies in mobilization and/or dispatch coordination, fire prevention and education, training, logistics, equipment development and deployment, fire communication systems, suppression and preparedness or aviation/ Supervising administrative program functions such as planning, budget formulation/execution. Conducting field inspections before and after prescribed or wildland fires to determine if resource objectives were achieved and/or evaluating the effectiveness of actions taken. Analyzing fuel loadings and determining appropriate fuel treatment methods (i.e. prescribed fire, mechanical, chemical, or biological treatments). Evaluating prescribed burn plans or fire management plans to ensure fire containment is possible and identify appropriate suppression contingencies if fire containment is not obtained. Developing agreements to support fire management activities across multiple units. Participating in fire management review processes including program reviews, incident reviews, and/or fuels treatment reviews. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. This position is one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard categorized as a Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) - Moderate Complexity, and requires the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position: Moderate Pathway #1: Primary Core Requirement - Task Force Leader (TFLD), or higher. Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), or higher. -OR- Moderate Pathway #2: Primary Core Requirement - Helibase Manager (HEBM), or higher. Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3), or higher. -AND- Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience: This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. Wildland firefighting experience is required to meet qualifications for secondary (administrative) covered positions. The Department of Interior defines wildland firefighting experience as: On-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: 1) Wildfires - unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; 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. Required Training: *Fire Program Management (M-581) *This training requirement will be a condition of employment that must be completed within one year of entry on duty date. NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration. You MUST provide a current copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other agency equivalent documentation which verifies you meet this required qualification for this position when submitting your application. Selectees for IFPM positions requiring currency will be required to obtain and maintain currency for the NWCG qualifications listed above. FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the qualification requirements, but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system. FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). Physical Demands: Normally the work is sedentary but often requires physical exertion while overseeing fire suppression activities including walking over rough, steep, uneven terrain in all types of weather. The incumbent is faced with emergency situations at all hours and must respond quickly. The position may require long shifts or multi-day assignments under primitive living conditions during emergencies. During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions. Working Conditions: Although work is generally performed in an office setting. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire suppression work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn during fire assignments. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education Additional Information Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). Indian Preference Policy: Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC Section 472). Verification form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. No other documents will be accepted as proof of Indian Preference. All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2024 Salary Tables here and select the duty station from Fort Yates, North Dakota to choose the appropriate pay chart. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart. A supplemental pay increase of $20,000 or 50% of base pay per year, is currently authorized under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will apply as long as funding is available. This is a supervisory position. Under provision of the Civil Service Reform Act, first-time supervisors are required to serve a one year supervisory probationary period before their appointment becomes final. Those who do not satisfactorily complete this probationary period will be returned to positions of no lower grade and pay than those they occupied before assuming their supervisory assignment. TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL BE AUTHORIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS. The pay flexibilities of relocation bonus may be authorized by the manager(pending availability of funds and higher management approval). The incentive will required a 2-year service agreement. TELEWORK: Indian Affairs management has determined that the duties of the position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. This position has been designated as an Incidental Operator under the Indian Affairs Motor Vehicle Safety Program and requires the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle in order to properly carry out his/her assigned duties but whose principal duties are not operating a motor vehicle and his/her position is not classified as a motor vehicle operator. The incumbent will be required initially and annually to acknowledge and certify possession of a valid state driver's license. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) OR Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF50 noting position, grade level, duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For more information visit: pm.gov/rif/employee\_guides/career\_transition.asp