Forestry Technician​/FFTR​/Wildland Firefighter

These positions are located in a USDA Forest Service Unit.

The purpose of these positions is wildland fire suppression/management/control, as a firefighter on an engine, hotshot, helitack or hand crew. Other wildland fire related duties might involve fire prevention, patrol, detection, or prescribed burning.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional contacts.

• Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-05 level.
• Moves dirt, chops brush, fells small trees, etc., to build fire line using hand tools such as axe, Pulaski, shovel and McLeod, and power saws to control spreading wildland fire.
• Performs as a member of fire crew assigned to suppress the full range of difficulty and complexity of fires.
• Patrols areas of controlled fires to "mop-up" by searching out and extinguishing any remaining burning material.
• Operates specialized fire suppression equipment such as portable pumps or drip torch. Observes, records and preserves evidence of cause of fires.
• May be assigned to other resource management activities such as fuels, recreation, timber or reforestation when not performing fire suppression duties.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
• Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
• There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
• Under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the requirement.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

Applicants must have six months of any type of work that demonstrated the ability to perform the work of the position or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation; OR successful completion of 1 year of study above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in a combination of courses such as range management or conservation, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences;

OR an appropriate combination of general experience and education above high school as described above; OR completion of an intensive, specialized course of study of less than one year at a technical school or through a military or government sponsored training program that was designed specifically as career preparation for the work of the position being filled. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, technical school, junior college, college or university.

Examples of General experience include: Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, e.g. unpaid experience includes volunteer work, such as at a park, youth camp, scouting organization, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.;
Worked with tools and equipment used in laboratories or at field sites;
Observed field work projects and recorded data;
Identified plant or wildlife species;
Collected data and used computers to input data and generate reports;
Identified and cataloged artifacts and/or cultural resources.

Applicants must have six months of general experience (any type of work that…