Forestry Technician (Smokejumper)

JOB SUMMARY: BLM is seeking a dynamic and energetic individual to join the team to serve as a highly trained and skilled member of a parachuting fire suppression squad.The BLM manages more land – approximately 253 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estates throughout the nation. The BLMs multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.  For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website. This position is located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho.  Information about the Boise area can be found at www.boisechamber.org.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you
• have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land
• Direct Deposit Required
• Background Investigation is required.

DUTIES:Back to top

• Incumbent parachutes into rugged terrain and performs fire suppression and related duties.
• Incumbent maintains smokejumper and firefighting equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Repairs, packs and maintains parachutes and related equipment.
• As a fire crew member or Initial Attack Commander incumbent utilizes fire behavior knowledge and firefighting experience to perform wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire operations safely and effectively in accordance with identified appropriate management response.
• May direct fire line activities and tactics for firefighters, equipment, aircraft and other resources.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top Specialized Experience Requirements:  In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement; please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled.To qualify for the GS-05 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 is required.  Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: wildland fire suppression as a member of a handcrew, a helitack crew, or an engine crew, including one (1) season of smokejumping using either Ram-Air or FS parachutes.To qualify for the GS-06 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required.  Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: wildland fire suppression as a member of a handcrew, a helitack crew, or an engine crew, including one (1) season of smokejumping using either Ram-Air or FS parachutes, supervision of one or more employees (with little or no direct supervision) on wildland fires while anticipating fire behavior, determining suppression tactics, and taking the necessary action to control fires.Substitution of Education for Experience:  GS-05:  Successful completion of a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelors degree with either a major study in forestry, range management or agriculture; or a subject matter field directly related to the position; OR at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours of mathematics is creditable. The level of the course work must have been equivalent to at least the junior- and senior-year levels of a baccalaureate program; OR a combination of education and experience that is directly related to the work of this position.GS-06:  9 semester hours of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement.
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.Prior on-the-line firefighting: 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 for no less than 90 days.  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.Prior smokejumping experience required. HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED: Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

Ability to manipulate a parachute into forested and mountainous terrain and the use, maintenance, and field repair of all hand tools. 

Ability to serve as a work supervisor or work leader without direct supervision to meet the needs of the organization.

Knowledge of fire suppression, fire behavior and control procedures in various fuel types and under a variety of weather and terrain conditions.

Knowledge of prescribed fire operations and tactics.

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Country: USA, State: Idaho, City: Boise, Company: Bureau of Land Management.