Forestry Technician (Smokejumper Specialist)

This position is a Forestry Technician (Smokejumper Specialist), GW-0462-8 working in Boise, Idaho for the US Wildland Fire Service.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work for a minimum of 6 months, and any add'l employment is dependent on the organizational needs. During periods when you are not scheduled to work, you may be placed in a non-pay status.

Qualifications:

This announcement will fill four positions (multiple vacancies per position): Training Specialist, Loft Specialist, Fire Operations Specialist, and Paracargo Specialist.

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement Factors (SPFs): 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.

SPF #1: Required for ALL vacancies:

• This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration. Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

SPF #2 : Required for ALL vacancies:

• Prior Primary Wildland Firefighting Experience: Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either:
  • At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization;- OR -
  • At least 14-days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).

Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement.

SPF #3: Required for ALL vacancies:

• Prior smokejumping experience required. This experience must be documented in the online application or resume with specific to AND from dates (MM/YY), description of work performed, AND hours worked per week.

SPF #4: Required for Loft Specialist and Fire Operations Specialist ONLY:

• FAA Certified Senior or Master Rigger: To be FAA certified as a Senior or Master Rigger, a person must complete the required number of parachute packs and complete written, oral, and practical exams administered by the designated FAA examiner(s). Documentation must be submitted at the time of application.

SPF#5: Required for Fire Operations Specialist ONLY:

• Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) qualified. You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required NWCG minimum qualifications

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.

Only experience and education obtained by 06/11/2026 will be considered.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

For the GW-08 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-07 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: experience in forest and rangeland fire suppression as an initial attack incident commander coordinating multiple firefighting resources, and interfacing with land managers, cooperators, and the public; experience in Smokejumper operations including parachuting into rugged terrain, parachute rigging and repair, and the use of smokejumper specific firefighting tools and equipment; experience in the development of training syllabi and schedules; experience in the repair and construction of smokejumper equipment.
-OR-
Two full years (36 semester hours) of graduate level education or a master's degree directly related to the work of a forestry technician
-OR-
An equivalent combination of experience and education.

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.

Physical Requirements:
Employment in this position is conditional upon your successful completion of the following smokejumper physical fitness performance tests:

When you report for duty, you will be given a physical condition test. The test is given in one time period with a 5-minute break between exercises. The test consists of performing the following exercises:

• 30 push-ups
• 6 pull-ups
• Run 1.5 miles in 10.47 minutes or less and backpacking a 110 pound load three miles in less than 65 minutes.

Work Capacity Test at the Arduous Level: All arduous wildland firefighters must backpack a 45 pound load for three miles in 45 minutes or less.

Physical Demands:
The incumbent must be able to work under extreme physical exertion regularly working 16 hour shifts or longer on the fireline. Work on the fireline requires considerable strenuous physical exertion.

Working Conditions: Forty-five percent of the work is performed outdoors in a wide variety of weather and terrain conditions or in a crowded airplane. Meals frequently consist of cold rations and sleeping accommodations may be a sleeping bag and a piece of plastic. The remainder of the work is accomplished in sometimes tense and stressful office environment. Incumbent risks death or serious injury during parachute jumps, cargo dropping or firefighting.

Eligibility and Qualification Requirements: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement. Specifically,
i. Area of Consideration.
ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.
iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions.

Responsibilities:

This announcement will fill four types of positions (multiple vacancies per position).

• Training Specialist: This position develops and implements a schedule and syllabus for parachute and fire training, leads a cadre of smokejumpers in various phases of smokejumper training, and evaluates the performance of individuals in such training.
• Loft Specialist: This position supervises parachute rigging, maintenance, and repairs, constructs and maintains smokejumper parachuting equipment, and trains less experienced smokejumpers in parachute loft equipment and procedures.
• Fire Operations Specialist: This position serves as an Incident Commander Type 3 or interim incident commander on complex and emerging wildfires and smokejumper rigging supervisor, providing oversight during ram air rigging and assessing parachute equipment airworthiness.
• Paracargo Specialist: This position serves as loadmaster and oversees and trains others in paracargo rigging, aircraft ramp operations, and aircraft loading.

As a Forestry Technician (Smokejumper Specialist), your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Parachute into rugged terrain to perform fire suppression and related duties.
• Perform as an initial attack Incident Commander on wildfires nationwide.
• Cooperate with land managers, aerial and ground firefighting resources, dispatch centers, and other Incident Command Teams.
• Repair, pack, and maintain parachutes and related equipment.
• Assist with establishing, writing, editing, and updating internal protocols and guidelines.
• Assist with work assignment planning, prioritization, and scheduling.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Salary : $67,617