Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Regional AFMO) - Direct Hire Authority

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority

This Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Regional Assistant Fire Management Officer) GW-0456-12 position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, working in Fort Defiance, Arizona.

Qualifications:

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

Selective Placement Factor(s): 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) - High 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 - Division Supervisor (DIVS), or higher.
• Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), or higher.
• Required training course M-581

• Primary Core Requirement - Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS), or higher.
• Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3), or higher.
• Required training course M-581

NOTE: The M-581, Fire Program Management, training requirement for Unit Fire Program Managers will be administered as a condition of employment required to be completed within one year of entry on duty for incumbent that does not possess at the time of hire.

-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.

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

Only experience and education obtained by 06/09/2026 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.

Minimum Qualification

For the GW-12 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-11 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience include: Input Specialized Experience that includes: Developing and maintaining overall fire management plans for moderately complex fire programs covering a variety of activities. Facilitates fire management planning activities. 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. Plans, coordinates, directs, and participates in training courses for agency personnel, cooperators, and others covering all phases of the fire management program. Ensures the fuels management program is consistent with ecosystem management principles, land management plans, and evaluates the impacts to air quality standards.

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 - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting. Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. 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: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line 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.

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.

Responsibilities:

As a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Regional AFMO) - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• The incumbent serves as the Assistant Regional Fire Management Officer and provides both technical and administrative program leadership to the region.
• Advises leadership and staff at the regional and field level on fire management policy and implementation strategies.
• Implements and coordinates wildland fire protection programs on the public and Indian trust lands administered by the Bureau.
• Analyzes and assesses existing Departmental and Bureau policy and procedures to evaluate overall effectiveness in meeting Bureau objectives at the regional and/or state level.
• Serves as a senior technical expert and provides high level technical guidance on wildland fire and aviation management activities that affect resource management plans and associated region/statewide resource and land management programs for state/regional/tribal and local wildland fire management offices/units.
• Exercises delegated supervisory authorities and responsibilities a minimum of 25% of the time.

Salary : $97,564