PDF versionJob Summary
The Fire Management Specialist (Prescribed Fire and Fuel) is a key position in field fire management organization.
Major Duties
- Provides professional expertise in the development and implementation of multiple resource objectives. Develops fuels treatment alternatives to support management decisions while adhering to applicable laws, regulations, policies and guidelines.
- Coordinates with the next higher organizational level, other agencies, cooperators and stakeholders to develop interagency fuels strategies. Represents the organization in multi-agency fuels management activities.
- Maintains awareness of technological developments in wildland fire science and related disciplines. Collects information through a variety of methods, including field surveys, computer modeling and specific literature searches.
- Stays abreast of state-of-the-art computer modeling software and scientific methods to support fire use, air quality, and fuel treatment planning an applications.
- Coordinates multi-disciplinary field studies related to fuels management program issues to determine effectiveness of treatments. Coordinates and provides transfer of findings to the appropriate personnel.
- Responsible for the smoke management program to ensure compliance with state air quality standards. Coordinates with federal, state and local government air quality officials in their development of operational procedures and reporting requirements.
- Performs fiscal analysis, assists in formulating the annual fuels management budget and maintains a system of accounts to track program expenditures.
- Serves as a member of an interdisciplinary team planning, developing, and implementing land management plans, compliance documents, and agreements. Provides input and recommends strategies for fuels and fire management.
- Provides assistance to other resource program managers in the design of fuels management prescriptions and implementation plans. Provides information on fuels management methods to enhance, restore and protect ecosystems.
- Develops, reviews and monitors fuels management plans. Works closely with other resource specialists to integrate vegetation management project designs in fuels program direction.
- Reviews environmental documents, prescribed fire plans, and wildland fire use plans of other agencies and stakeholders which will affect the unit. Participates in the development of cooperative agreements to facilitate multi-agency projects.
- Implements and administers prescribed fire activities, wildland fire use, and fuels management activities to ensure targets are achieved, management objectives are met and mitigation measures are adequate.
- Monitors fire behavior, evaluates fire effects, identifies potential problems and takes appropriate action. Designs and implements fuels management surveys to document presence, amount, and types of hazardous fuels.
- Utilizes the results of the surveys to prioritize prescribed fire and fuels management projects. Participates in preparedness reviews, proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and after action reviews.
- Ensures own and other's welfare and safety in all aspects of project implementation.
- Identifies training needs and participates in prescribed fire and fuels management, and wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression
- May serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on fuel management contracts and may be responsible for the preparation of contract specifications and performance measures.
- Supports wildland fire suppression activities.
Qualifications
One position is on the Daniel Boone National Forest, London Ranger District in London, KY. For information about this position, please contact Demarron Meadows at 606-864-4163, Demarron.meadows@usda.gov. Two positions are on the Huron-Manistee National Forest as follows:
One is on the Manistee Ranger District in Wellston MI. For information about this position, please contact Kevin Reese at 231-745-5841, kevin.reese@usda.gov One is on the Huron Shores Ranger District in Oscoda, MI OR the Mio Ranger District in Mio MI. For information about this position, please contact John Norton-Jensen at 231-878-6053, john.norton-jensen@usda.gov 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. Basic Requirement:
Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR- Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major course of study in biological sciences, agriculture or natural resources management, chemistry 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 the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required: Specialized Experience Requirement: GS-09: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal Service. Experience in 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 stand point; 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 (e.g., Brown's planar intercept for dead and own fuels; live fuel loading assessments), or Analysis of fuel loadings 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 Selective Placement Factors Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2) -AND- Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Engine Boss (ENGB) OR Crew Boss (CRWB) OR HMGB (Helicopter Manager Manager) OR Felling Boss (HELB) or HEQB (Heavy Equipment Boss). 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. 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. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. 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. 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. FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System. WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a condition of employment, which means you must maintain the required level of physical fitness in order to remain in the position. The Arduous fitness (Pack) Test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position, This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Pay Range
$52,905.00 - $68,777.00