Job Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Plains Region, Deputy Regional Director-TS, Natural Resources, Fire Management in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It will be filled from SPD# DOI122.

Major Duties

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions and Individual Occupational Requirements for GS-0401: General Biological Science Series and Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standards and Guide for Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist (PFFS) - Moderate Complexity). BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR GS-0401:

A. Degree (bachelor's or higher) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR-

B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in biological sciences, agriculture or natural resources management, or at least 24 semester hours in biological sciences, natural resources, wildland fire management, forestry, or agriculture equivalent to a major field of study, plus appropriate experience or additional education that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in the biological sciences, agriculture, or natural resources. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE GS-0401 SERIES, APPLICANTS MUST ALSO HAVE THE FOLLOWING: GS-11: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 grade level in the Federal service with experience performing all of the fire program management elements as described below: Reviewing and evaluating fire management plans for ecological soundness and adequacy; Conducting field inspections before and after prescribed or wildland fires to determine if resource objectives were achieved and/or to evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken; and Developing analysis on the ecological role of fire and its use and/or exclusion, and smoke management. In addition to fire program management, appropriate experience must have included either prescribed fire/fuels management -or- fire management operations as described below: Prescribed fire/fuels management - experience in broad range of activities such as: Professional forest or range inventory methods and procedures (e.g., Brown's planar intercept for dead and down fuels; live fuel loading assessments); Analysis of fuel loading and determination of appropriate fuel treatment methods and programming; Land use planning and environmental coordination; Evaluation of prescribed burn plans or fire management plans to ensure fire containment is possible and identification of appropriate suppression contingencies if containment is not obtained. Fire management operations, analyzing and applying fire management strategies, plus experience in at least five of the following activities: Mobilization and dispatch coordination Fire prevention and education, Training, Logistics, Equipment development and deployment Fire communication systems; Suppression and preparedness, Aviation. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree (54 semester hours, 81 quarter hours or equivalent) or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, in a field of study that is directly related to this position. GS-09: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 grade level in the Federal service with experience performing at least two of the following three categories: 1) Experience that demonstrated understanding of fire effects on cultural and natural resources. The assignments must have shown participation in activities such as: developing fire management plans to ensure resource objectives can be met from a fire management standpoint, or conducting field inspections before and/or after prescribed fires or wildland fires to determine if defined resource objectives have been met. 2) Prescribed fire/fuels management - experience in activities such as: professional forest or range inventory methods and procedures, or analysis of fuel loading and determination of appropriate fuel treatment methods and programming, or evaluating prescribed fire plans or fire management plans to ensure fire containment is possible and identify appropriate suppression contingencies if containment is not obtained. 3) Fire management operations - analyzing and applying fire management strategies, plus experience in at least four of the following activities: Mobilization and dispatch coordination -Fire prevention -Training -Logistics -Equipment development and deployment Fire communications systems, Suppression and preparedness. OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or equivalent) or master's or equivalent graduate degree, in a field of study that is directly related to this position. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. This position is one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Prescribed Fire Fuels Specialist - Moderate Complexity, therefore, the applicant must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/.Primary Core Qualification: Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).

Secondary Core Qualification: Engine Boss (ENGB) or Crew Boss (CRWB) or Helicopter Manager (HMGB). Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience: This position requires a minimum of 90 days previous wildland firefighting experience which provided knowledge of the techniques, policies, and practices of wildland fire management. Wildland fires are categorized into two distinct types: 1) Wildfires - unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires; 2) Prescribed Fires - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fireline experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard, but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration. You MUST provide a current copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other agency equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required NWCG qualifications for this IFPM position when submitting your application. FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered as a secondary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary firefighting position with no break in service as a firefighter to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date. Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472).

Pay Range

$51,440.00 - $80,912.00

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