Forestry Technician (Helitack) Job in Throughout The Nation - 91391915 - ZAFA6C3HX.JT6

Job Title:
Forestry Technician (Helitack)

Department:
Department Of Agriculture

Agency:
Forest ServiceSub

Agency:
Forest Service

Job Announcement Number:
OCRT-462-5-HLTK-DT

SALARY RANGE:
$31,315.00 - $31,315.00 /year

OPEN PERIOD:
Monday, October 11, 2010 to Monday, October 10, 2011
SERIES & GRADE:GS-0462-05/05

POSITION INFORMATION:
Full Time Temporary, not to exceed 6 Months

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
05

DUTY LOCATIONS:
100 vacancies - Throughout the Nation

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:
US citizens

JOB SUMMARY:

Applications for this position are being processed through an on-line applicant assessment system that has been specifically configured for USDA Forest Service applicants. Even if you have already developed a resume in USAJOBS, you will need to access this on-line system to complete the application process. To obtain information about this position and TO APPLY, please click on http://www.avuecentral.com/vacancy.html?ref=BVQYZ.


KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• See Other Information.

Additional Duty Location Info:
100 vacancies - Throughout the Nation


DUTIES:

Provides aerial and ground support in the suppression of wildland fires. Operates radios, telephones, and other equipment to exchange information for fire weather and other forest suppression activities. Compiles payment sheets for mileage, task time, and pilot flight time. Inventories and inspects helicopter accessories, specialized fire equipment, and tools. Ensures that tools and equipment are available.

Serves on crews performing duties in fire prevention and suppression. Performs prescribed burning crew duties in order to reduce fuel hazards and disease, while protecting wildlife. Assists with fire dispatch through operation of radios, telephones, and other necessary equipment to exchange information for fire weather and other forest suppression activities. Lays or directs hose in the use of water. Moves dirt, chops brush, and fells trees to build fireline using various hand tools such as axes, shovels, Pulaskis, and McLeods to control spreading wildland fire and/or to prepare lines prior to controlled burning. Chops, carries, and piles logging slash. Searches out and extinguishes burning materials by moving dirt, applying water by hose or backpack pump. Patrols fireline to locate and extinguish sparks, flare-ups, and hot spots that may threaten loss of control of the fire. Cleans, reconditions, and stores fire tools and equipment.



QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants for this position must have successfully completed and maintained currency for the Primary NWCG Core Requirements of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1). A copy of the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training document) which contains documented proof of my certification or attainment of this requirement will be attached to my application.

Applicants for this position must have successfully completed and maintained currency for NWCG Course # S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior. A copy of the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training document) which contains documented proof of my certification or attainment of this requirement will be attached to my application.

Applicants must have 90 days on-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the Work Experience, Additional Information portion of the application or Resume.

MINIMUM FEDERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifying experience for the GS-5 level includes one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4. Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Experience requirements may be met by successful completion of a four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelors' degree or the equivalent. Education must include at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester/9 quarter hours in mathematics is creditable.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the experience requirements.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION

Specialized experience for this position is defined as one or more of the following: Loading helicopter cargo and completed manifests of crews and equipment, Patrolling areas of controlled fires to mop-up by searching out and extinguishing any remaining burning material, Rappelling from helicopter near ground level, Operating specialized fire suppression equipment such as portable pumps or drip torches, Serving on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) to suppress the full range of difficult and complex fires.

See Other Information for further requirements.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledges, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.


BENEFITS:See Other Information.
OTHER INFORMATION:

Positions may be filled as a temporary appointment up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year which can be extended 1 additional year.

Hourly wage as shown is for Albuquerque, NM (RUS). Specific wage rate will vary by location and may be higher or lower than the amount shown on the vacancy announcement.

This vacancy announcement is for a Forestry Technician, Senior Firefighter. This position will be filled as a GS-462-05.

Since this position is being filled as a GS-05, the applicant MUST meet the IFPM qualifications for this position.

This position has been identified under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy. IFPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training. The applicant must possess these qualifications to be considered eligible for this position. For further information: http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/standard/electronicver/electronic.htm

In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training document) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.

Please attach a Resume documenting your Fire Experience and Wildland Firefighting experience relevant to this vacancy.

Those applicants not able to scan required documents can fax those documents to: (253) 573-9869 to have them attached to your application. Please make sure your name is on all documents.

These are temporary positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full-time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay period's full-time employment).

Please read the vacancy announcement thoroughly and follow all instructions to ensure proper consideration. If you are unable to apply on-line or have questions about the meaning of items in the vacancy announcement, please contact Human Capital Management at 1-877-372-7248 Option 2.

The closing date will be dependent on USDA Forest Service needs (e.g.,budget, length of season, etc.) Individual units will be issued Referral Lists to selecting officials throughout the life of this recruitment bulletin.

Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state drivers license; a commercial drivers license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or “medical� examination. There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.

Applicants may choose up to nine (9) different location codes during the application process. Applicants are encouraged to contact those specific locations you are interested in working for to inquire about position availability.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

Please check Job Posting Information, Summary, for the area of consideration (i.e., Who May Apply), and time limit information.

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.'' The Arduous fitness (Pack) test consists of 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 you are applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements.

Position requires overnight travel 11 nights or more per month.

Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible - Coverage is dependent upon unit location.

BASIS OF RATING: The category rating procedure is used to rank and select eligible candidates. Under category rating, applicants who meet basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position and whose job related competencies have been assessed are ranked by being placed in one of the following categories: Quality, Well Qualified, and Eligible. Candidates placed in the Quality category will be assessed based on Education, High Ability, or Experience. Well Qualified candidates are those who clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements but do not necessarily meet the criteria for the Quality category. Candidates in the eligible category meet basic minimum qualification requirements but do not meet the criteria for the Well Qualified category. Preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Drug testing is a requirement for certain positions. See "Other Significant Facts" portion of this announcement for information specific to position being filled.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements as of the closing date of the announcement or on the date a referral list is generated from an Open Continuous announcement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure the work history portion thoroughly documents the duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments that are directly related to this position in order to verify specialized experience.

To ensure that you receive consideration, the scannable application package must be postmarked on or before the closing date stated in the announcement and must be received at the correct address within 7 days.

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. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.

If you are unable to attach these documents to your application, you may fax them to 253-573-9869 to have them scanned and attached to your electronic application. Please include your name on all documents.

Applications submitted in postage-paid Government envelopes will not be accepted.

Applications received become the property of the USDA Forest Service and will not be returned.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: The USDA Forest Service provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the point of contact listed on the vacancy announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer of Station/Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Some positions have other conditions of employment not specified in this announcement. Applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer.

This is a temporary, time-limited appointment. However, an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early if there is a lack of work or funds.

As a condition of employment, all male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service. If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Check our website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs for specific information on the organization and duty location of positions, the promotion potential, the bargaining unit status, the availability of Forest Service affiliated day care facilities, and government housing.

TEMPORARY OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: Typically, positions are expected to work from April through September. There may be some positions that start earlier and/or end later. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the recruitment process.

The first certificate of eligibles will be issued to the hiring unit no sooner than five working days after the opening date of the announcement. Additional lists will be issued upon request from he hiring unit.

Some positions will have varying work schedules and will involve working weekends or irregular work hours. Considerable travel may be required.

ARDUOUS FIRE POSITIONS: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be employed in a position performing hazardous duties.

An initial pre-employment medical examination is required for arduous fire positions in the U.S. Forest Service. Failure to meet any of the required medical qualifications will be considered disqualifying for employment. Units in the following locations of California, Southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Southwest Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico will not be subject to these medical requirements until 2009.

Applicants may choose up to nine (9) different location codes.

HOW TO APPLY: In order to determine if you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for this position, please submit the following information:

1. Experience/Employment Information:

a. Apply On-Line at www.avuedigitalservices.com/usfs/applicant.html. This online application process allows applicants to submit employment information that can be printed for personal use and saved and/or edited on the website for future use. The application process contains all the data elements that are required for resumes submitted for federal employment and may be submitted electronically. OR

b. Apply by Scannable Questionnaire: This Questionnaire requires completion of a scannable form. You must request the instructions and form and submit the scannable application form and supporting documentation by mail. Locations and their codes will be listed in the application package. A facsimile of the scannable form cannot be accepted.

2. Eligibility Information: The following documents must be electronically attached to your application to verify your eligibility and basic qualifications. Failure to provide this documentation may result in disqualification.

a. If you are claiming 5-point veteran's preference, you must submit a DD-214, Member 4 copy. If you are claiming 10-point preference you must submit a DD214, Member 4 copy, an SF-15 (Application for 10-Point preference) and a letter (dated 1991 to present) from the VA or military department indicating your disability rating. Applicants claiming preference based on service performed after October 14, 1976, must specify on the application the Campaign Badge upon which they are basing their claim. If you are still on active duty and claim veteran's preference, then you must submit documentation such as a: (1) official orders or citation entitling you to a campaign badge; (2) statement of service from a commanding officer or someone else in authority attesting to your active duty which identifies dates of entry and anticipated separation; rank at time of discharge; and anticipated character of discharge; or (3) in the case of someone claiming service during the first Gulf War or since 9/11/01, any official document attesting to your presence on active duty during the appropriate calendar periods. Veterans who fail to submit the supporting documentation with their application will not be granted veterans preference. If you are not able to attach the forms to your application, you may fax to 253-573-9869, please include name on all documents.

b. Transcripts (official or unofficial) are required if education is used to meet basic qualifications requirements or meet education criteria in the quality category. Transcripts should be attached to the Avue profile or faxed to 253-573-9869; please include name on all documents.

3. CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Notice of Expected Separation, performance appraisal information for current Federal employees or other proof documents are required if requesting priority placement consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). CTAP and ICTAP candidates must be well qualified. Submit SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action or equivalent document to verify current or former federal employment status should also be submitted.

TO REQUEST A SCANNABLE FORM: Please refer to the contact name and phone number listed in this vacancy announcement.

The position requires that the incumbent must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

HOW TO APPLY:Applications for this position are being processed through an on-line applicant assessment system that has been specifically configured for USDA Forest Service applicants. Even if you have already developed a resume in USAJOBS, you will need to access this on-line system to complete the application process. To obtain information about this position and TO APPLY, please click on http://www.avuecentral.com/vacancy.html?ref=BVQYZ.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:See Other Information.
AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

ASC HRM STAFFING
Phone: 877-372-7248
Email: fsjobs@fs.fed.us Agency Information:
USDA
Do not send mail .Refer to
vacancy on how to apply.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
US

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:You will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledges, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.