PDF versionJob Summary
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. The position will be located in either Lewistown, Montana or Malta, Montana. The final duty station will be made at management's discretion. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Major Duties
- Provides expertise in planning, implementing and coordinating all aspects of a fuels management program.
- Provides assistance in program direction, budgeting, fuels management and prescribed fire programs.
- Coordinates with agency and interagency cooperators to develop fuels strategies.
- Evaluates prescription treatments and monitoring methods for fuels management activities.
- Writes, develops and recommends plans for prescribed fire, wildland fire and fuels treatment projects.
- Plans, conducts surveys and evaluates data to develop treatment prescriptions.
- Reviews project plans and makes recommendations for monitoring activities.
- Creates, updates and uses fire modeling software to assist in treatment recommendations.
- Plans, implements and participates in prescribed fire operations.
- Designs and conducts fuels management inventories and monitoring.
- Conducts field reconnaissance of fuels treatment projects and makes treatment recommendations.
- Participates in wildland fire and safety training.
- Serves as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) on fuel management contracts.
Physical Demands: The work is normally sedentary. However, field work is evaluated as arduous and the duties include demands for strenuous activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.
Work Environment: Office conditions require long periods of sitting, working with computers and general lifting, bending and reaching. Field conditions involve being exposed to noise, dust, heat, weather, aircraft turbulence and the hazards of firefighting.
Qualifications
Basic Education Requirement:A) Must have a Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource 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 (see A above).
Additional Experience Required: In addition to meeting the basic education requirements, you must meet specialized experience requirements. 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 or the GS-07 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 is required.
To qualify or the GS-09 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 is required.
Specialized Experience Requirements: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) necessary to successfully function in the wildland fire management position.
To qualify for the GS-07:Experience that demonstrated an understanding of fire behavior relative to fuels, weather, and topography and how fire affects natural and cultural resources. Examples of experience may include: 1) Performing duties which provided a basic understanding of wildland fire management concepts, theories and practices including the assessment of fire effects on cultural and/or natural resources. 2) Assisting other fire management staffs in the development of complex presentations; presenting or conducting simple presentations of fire management concepts, topics, information. 3) Researching technical reports and/or other sources to obtain information used by higher graded professionals; applying basic formulas to routine calculations; and/or 4) Participating in the development and/or implementation of wildland fire management plans including carrying out initial attack incident management strategies and tactics to meet the stated resource objectives.
To qualify for the GS-09: Experience must demonstrate an understanding of fire behavior relative to fuels, weather, and topography and how fire affects natural and cultural resources. Examples of experience may include: 1) participating in wildland fire activities (such as planning and/or implementing prescribed fire or managing wildfires) ensuring resource objectives are being met from a fire management standpoint; 2) developing and/or implementing initial attack incident management strategies and tactics to meet the stated resource objectives; and/or 3) implementing mitigation measures during wildland fire activities to protect sensitive habitats, endangered species, sensitive plants, or cultural values.
Substitution of Education for Experience: GS-07:1 year (18 semester hours) of graduate education which is DIRECTLY related to work of the position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education OR Superior Academic Achievement, based on one of the following: (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society member. For a detailed description of Superior Academic Achievement, please visit the Superior Academic Achievement website.
GS-09:2 years (36 semester hours)of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, in a field of study that is directly related to this position OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.
* Education and experience may be combined to meet the specialized experience requirement.
Time in Grade Requirement: Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Prescribed Fires and Fuels Specialist-Moderate Complexity,and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at www.ifpm.nifc.gov.
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.
1. 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. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.
2. To meet IFPM requirements forthis position, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements belowto be considered eligible for this position (currency not required):
A.) Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2); ANDB.) Engine Boss (ENGB) OR Crew Boss (CRWB), OR Helicopter Manager (HMGB)
You must meet all selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Pay Range
$43,251.00 - $68,777.00