Fire Ecology Manager (Branch Chief - Fire Ecology) - Direct Hire Authority

This is a DHA advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: DHA

This Fire Ecology Manager position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0401-14 working in Boise, ID at the National Interagency Fire Center:

Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area.

Qualifications:

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the (1) Selective Placement Factor, (2) Basic Education Requirements AND (3) Specialized Experience below.

(1) Selective Placement Factor: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.

Prior on-the-line firefighting: This experience must be clearly documented in your resume with specific to and from dates, description of work performed, and hours worked per week in order to be considered. This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is 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. Candidates must possess substantial wildland firefighting experience, gained through fire line work in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. The Department of the Interior defines wildland firefighting experience as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Wildland firefighting experience is gained through work on the fire line in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal, or equivalent private sector fire position. Wildland fires are categorized into two distinct types: (1) Wildfires - Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; and (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.

(2) Basic Educational Requirements:
A. Must have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor`s degree with a major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, range management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position advertised. You must provide a copy of your college transcript.
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience - courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

(3) Specialized Experience:

For the GW-14 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-13 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: supervising or leading a staff of fire ecologist professionals responsible for a wildland fire ecology program; providing advice in formulating, establishing, and implementing policies related to fire science and fire ecology; and experience with planning, programming, budgeting and allocation funds for a fire science program.

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.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - This is a secondary/administrative firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position (3 years of service in primary/rigorous position(s)) and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION.

Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary but may require long hours and varied shifts during emergency operations. Occasional field assignments may involve extended periods of standing or walking over rough terrain.

Working Conditions: Most work is performed in an office setting. Field assignments may include work at fire or incident locations with exposure to smoke, hazards, and inclement weather.

Responsibilities:

As the Fire Ecology Manager (Branch Chief - Fire Ecology) for the U.S Wildland Fire Service, your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as the U.S. Wildland Fire Service's senior supervisory and professional authority for national fire ecology and fire science programs, providing executive-level leadership, policy direction, and technical oversight to ensure the integration of sound ecological science into wildland fire management, land use planning, and resource management nationwide.
• Directs and manages the fire ecology program to include policies, standards, and procedures to meet legislative, regulatory, and land use objectives.
• Oversees fire ecology and fire science work, including fire effects monitoring, quantitative and qualitative ecological analysis, fire science data management and analytics, smoke ecology analysis, and post-fire assessment and recovery.
• Responsible for national planning, programming, budgeting, and allocation of funds for fire science and ecology programs.
• Provides guidance and oversight for the development of fire management planning tools based on ecological and scientific research.

Salary : $129,549