Wildland Firefighting Manager (Branch Chief - Fuels) - Direct Hire Authority

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

This Wildland Firefighting Manager position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-14 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 Factors AND (2) Specialized Experience requirements below.

(1) Selective Placement Factor(s): 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.

(1a) 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.

(1b) IFPM Requirement: 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 National Fire Program Manager, and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM). To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements below to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected):

• Task Force Leader (TFLD); AND
• Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3), OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2), OR Complex Incident Management Team Command and General Staff position (CIMT C&G). AND
• M-581 "Fire Program Management," FML "Fire Management Leadership," OR M-582 Fire Program Management, LFML "Local Fire Management Leadership".

(2) Specialized Experience: In addition to the requirements described above, the following specialized experience is required.

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 wildland fire fuels management professionals responsible for a wildland fire fuels management program; providing advice in formulating, establishing, and implementing policies related to fuels management; and experience with planning, programming, budgeting and allocation funds for a fuels management program.

Only experience and education obtained by 05/07/2026 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.

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

Responsibilities:

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

• Provides leadership, strategic direction, and national oversight for the Wildland Fire Service's wildland fire fuels management program.
• Establishes and formulates national fuels management policies, objectives, priorities, and performance measures to ensure alignment with Departmental guidance, Service wide wildland fire management strategy, and natural resource stewardship goals.
• Provides oversight and coordination of all fuels management funding sources, including base program allocations and new or supplemental appropriations, ensuring effective planning, prioritization, execution, and reporting of program accomplishments.
• Provides authoritative technical and policy expertise to agency and interagency officials on fuels management regulations, administrative requirements, and operational standards.
• Conducts national program evaluation and oversight through analysis of annual accomplishments, program performance, and compliance with agency and interagency policy.

Salary : $129,549