Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Helicopter Program Manager) - Direct Hire Authority

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. DIRECT HIRING AUTHORITY will be used to fill this position.

Duties

Plans, coordinates, and directs helicopter support to execute wildfire, emergency response, and resource management missions.

Is responsible for helicopter program planning to comply with department and bureau policies, procedures, and objectives, and to assess readiness to meet short and long-term project and emergency needs.

• Plans and develops annual helicopter module budget proposals, and assists in budget allocation and execution with oversight of Fire Management Officer or Aviation Officer.
• Serves as a Project Inspector (PI) and is designated as the field Project Inspector for the helicopter service contract assigned to the park.

Air Quality : Poor air quality afflicts Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, especially during summer months - generally May to October.

High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards. For more information :

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties;

and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician.

You will also be required to undergo periodic medical examinations throughout employment.

The Work Capacity Test (WCT-Pack Test) as a method for assessing an employee's fitness levels for fire qualifications in the positions covered by this recruitment notice.

Employees required to pass a WCT-Pack Test as a "condition of employment" will be provided one opportunity to pass the required test with a second chance provided at the discretion of management based on the results of the first test.

This recruitment notice constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements. NOTE : Arduous fitness (WCT-Pack Test) will consist of completing a three-mile hike, within 45 minutes, while carrying a 45 pound pack.

You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.

You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

• Selectees will be expected to travel in (not pilot) a small single-engine aircraft.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05 / 17 / 2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month / year), and the resume must reflect either full-time or 40 hours per week.

If a part-time work schedule is reflected, the hours must be annotated to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and / or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

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 Helicopter Program Manager and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position.

For more information on IFPM, .

SELECTIVE FACTORS : The applicant must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position :

1. HEBM (Helibase Manager)

2. ICT4 (Incident Commander Type 4)

3. HMGB (Helicopter Manager)

Selectees for IFPM positions requiring currency will be required to obtain and maintain currency for the NWCG qualifications listed above.

AND-

SELECTIVE FACTOR : This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary / Rigorous Firefighter.

Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement . These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57.

Two exceptions are allowed : 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57;

or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service.

Applicants must submit proof of their previous and / or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system.

AND -

EXPERIENCE : At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-8 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.

• Specialized experience must include : (1) personally performing in Wildland Fire Helicopter Operations and at least one of the following wildland firefighting functions : Initial attack and Fireline Suppression Operations;
• Prescribed Fire Operations; Helitack Operations; and (2) personally leading or supervising others in any two of the following functions : initial attack and suppression hand-crew operations;

prescribed fire operations; wildland fire engine crew operations; helitack fire crew operations; providing on-the-job training and conducting daily crew briefings, safety sessions, and / or other basic wildland fire training.

You must include hours per week worked.

Volunteer Experience : 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.

Education

There is no education substitute to qualify at the GS-456-9 grade level.