Wildland Firefighter (Aviation - Airtanker Base Technician) - Direct Hire Authority

Summary This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. These positions are located in, Battle Mountain, NV; Reno, NV; Wells, NV; and Winnemucca, NV. Information about these locations can be found by clicking on the location name listed. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 Required. Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination. Failure to possess or obtain a favorable determination will result in the cancellation of the offer or will be grounds for termination. You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wildland fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualification. You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position. Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use. This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work during peak fire season. May require completion of a one year probationary period. Applicants appointed to this position MUST POSSESS (or OBTAIN within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license. Driver’s License required – GSA Form 3607 will be required to be completed during onboarding process. Qualifications 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(s); please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. 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 GW-05 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-04 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: experience with general airtanker base operations and utilizing computer systems for general data and reports. To qualify for the GW-06 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS/GW-05 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: experience with safety operations at an Airtanker Base; consolidating and inputting data using computer programs; and assisting with recording and maintaining retardant and aircraft logs. 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. Substitution of Education for Experience: GW-05: Successful completion of a 4 - year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, from an accredited college or university, in a major study in Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Technology or other related fields which included 24 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography). Education and experience may be combined to meet the specialized experience requirement. GW-06: There is no education substitution for this position at the GS-06 grade level. Physical Demands: Long irregular hours are required, much of it occurring during periods of fire operations. Frequent standing, walking and long periods outside in high temperatures and direct sunlight may be required while working around multiple arriving and departing aircraft. Activities in and around moving aircraft and other equipment require constant monitoring and alertness for hazardous conditions and safety of personnel. Work in an office environment and long periods of sedentary work occurs when reports and flight records are prepared. Lifting and carrying heavy equipment/materials and operating a variety of hand and power tools is required for base set-up, tear down, and maintenance/repair. Work Environment: Majority of activities are performed in an airbase environment, both inside and outdoors. Extreme variations in temperature and climactic conditions are common. Work requires use of safety equipment including hearing and eye protection and high visibility clothing. Exposed to irritant chemicals is possible. The work involves exposure to operating aircraft that result in high noise levels and exposure to turning propellers, prop wash, jet intake areas and jet-blast, and flying dust and debris. Concurrent movement of multiple mixed aircraft types and service vehicles in the ramp area creates potential for serious accident, injury, or property damage. Fatigue and mental stress could be present due to extensive work periods and emergency nature of work. This is a secondary/administrative firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position (3 years of service in primary/rigorous position(s)) and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION. FACT SHEET for Fire Positions: Information on Special Retirement. Education See Qualifications Section. Additional information DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify. This is a permanent career seasonal appointment. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months; but less than 12 months. When work/funds are unavailable, you will be placed in non-pay status. Pay status may be less than 6 months at initial appointment. This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GW-06. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. The new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025 was used to indicate the salary in this announcement. Salaries may vary dependent upon location selected. You can access the new pay schedule here. Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service. Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they exceed minimum qualifications for this position. Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration. The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas. Read more Benefits Review our benefits