Forestry Technician

Duties

Serves on prescribed fire and fuels projects in positions for which qualified. Administers routine aspects of the prescribed fire/fuels plan, ensuring that preparation, ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation are completed to the standards specified.

Assists in monitoring fire behavior, evaluating fire effects, identifying potential problems and making basic recommendations by reviewing fuel treatment alternatives and designing a prescribed fire to achieve the objective.

Participates in wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression. Assists in resolving problem situations when performing a wide variety of nonstandard fire planning assignments.

Conducts routine project assessments which determine the presence or absence of hazardous wildland fuels. Participates in drafting prescribed fire/fuels management plans following the interagency template. Updates and uses a database to model and analyze fire behavior and fire effects observation data.

Performs wildfire suppression support as directed within training and physical and other duties as assigned. Duties listed are at the full performance level.

Qualifications

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible for this position. Transcripts must be provided if qualifications are based on education above the high school level. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the appropriate experience requirements. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service program, 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.

GS-6: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5). Examples of specialized experience are: Participating in prescribed fire operations including line preparation, igniting, and/or holding strategies. Collecting and compiling fuels management field inventory data where a variety of fuel variations were involved. Inventorying fuel beds, preparing associated reports, performing hazard fuel reduction projects, monitoring burning conditions, piling vegetation debris and/or acted in assigned positions such as ignition or holding specialist or other designated positions during actual fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire.

GS-7: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6). Examples of specialized experience are: Participating in routine aspects of inventorying and monitoring for wildland fire, prescribed fire, and/or natural resource activities. Planning and directing field resource data collection for fuel hazard management program. Assisting in developing and implementing specific plans for fuels treatment projects.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS:

• A minimum 90 days experience performing on-the-line (Primary/Rigorous) wildland fire suppression duties as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression, containment or control techniques and practices under various conditions. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.
• Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Firefighter 1 (FFT1).
• Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5).

In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification. Red cards are not acceptable documentation.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.