Wildland Firefighter (Prevention) - 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

The Wildland Firefighter (Prevention) GW-0456-08/09 positions are with the US Wildland Fire Service, working in the following location(s):

• Albuquerque, New Mexico

Qualifications:

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

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. The applicant must have possessed the following qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:

• Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience: This is a secondary-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.

Only experience and education obtained by 04/28/2026 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-08 level:

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-07 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, makes recommendations on implementing strategies and plans activities in support of wildland fire prevention and mitigation; assists with the coordination of wildland fire educational programs with tribes, other agencies, institutions, and/or communities; assists in the development and implementation of prevention campaigns for wildfire causes; and provides support to and/or serves as a qualified wildland fire investigator.

For the GW-09 level:

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-08 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, develops and implements wildland fire prevention and mitigation plans; coordinates wildland fire educational programs with tribes, other agencies, institutions, and/or communities; serves as a spokesperson on controversial issues or policies to media, interest groups, public, tribal leaders and other governmental officials; leads in the development and implementation of prevention campaigns for wildfire causes; and provides assistance to, and/or serves as a qualified wildland fire investigator.

**Note - If there are NO GW-09's in the immediate organization under the first level supervisor, specialized experience is allowable at the GW-08 level for a current federal employee and at the GW-09 equivalent if experience is outside government:

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: The work is primarily sedentary, although a level of physical fitness is required which will allow for work during periods of extended stress and in the field when wildland fire situations arise. 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, intermittent field work is involved. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire investigation work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GW-09. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.

Responsibilities:

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

• Implements comprehensive local level fire prevention education programs.
• Provides subject matter advice and guidance to facilitate wildland fire prevention and mitigation programs and activities for the local communities.
• Develops comprehensive strategic plans to mitigate human wildfire ignitions by utilizing advanced knowledge of various software applications.
• Frequently monitors fire occurrences and causes to ensure appropriate prevention and mitigation strategies are implemented.
• Provides advisory opinions on annual program budget in compliance with program policy.
• Frequently monitors wildfire prevention and mitigation activities to evaluate effectiveness of the wildfire prevention plan. Reports annual accomplishments.
• Collaborates with fire management staff across all program areas in developing a coordinated approach to wildfire hazard and risk reduction in the wildland urban interface.
• Participates in all aspects of a fire management program including fuels management, fire suppression, fire planning, monitoring, and post-fire activities.

Salary : $67,617