Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) - Direct Hiring Authority

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. 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.

This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission, and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. Candidates must possess Primary/Rigorous wildland firefighting experience, gained through fire line work in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire.

You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your resume, including the months, days, and hours per week at which the work was performed to be considered.

Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization; - OR - At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).

Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement. 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 (insert IFPM title and complexity level if appropriate) EXAMPLE: Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist - HIGH 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 here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM).

To meet IFPM requirements, you 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 (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected): For the GW-08 - (CURRENCY REQUIRED) Engine Boss (ENGB) or Crew Boss (CRWB) or Firing Boss (FIRB) or Helicopter Manager (HMGB) -AND- Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) For the GW-09 - (CURRENCY REQUIRED) Engine Boss (ENGB) or Crew Boss (CRWB) or Helicopter Manager (HMGB) -AND- Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2) If selected at the GS-08, you must meet the IFPM training requirements above for the GS-09 as a condition of employment before being eligible for promotion to the GS-09 grade level.

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required. Only experience and education obtained by 11/09/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Minimum Qualifications For the GW-08 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-07 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience include: Assisted preparation and implementation of prescribed fire plans; Assisted evaluating treatments, monitoring methods and new technologies; Assisted with conducting fuels management surveys to document types of hazardous fuels.

For the GW-09 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-08 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following; Examples of specialized experience include: Planned and/or implemented prescribed fire or managing wildfire to ensure resource objectives can be met from a fire management standpoint; Developed and/or implemented initial attack incident management strategies and tactics to meet the stated resource objectives; Implemented mitigation measures during wildland fire activities to protect sensitive habitats, endangered species, sensitive plants, or cultural values. *Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting.

Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions.

This description includes only fire line 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. Physical Demands: Work in the office is primarily sedentary.

Field work does require frequent physical exertion, involving walking over rough terrain sometimes for extended periods, ad working under occasionally inclement (hot, cold, snow, wind, etc.) weather conditions. The incumbent must be in good physical condition in order to safely perform field activities. The incumbent must be able to perform duties in areas of uncontrolled wildfire where hazardous conditions exist.

The incumbent must be able to fly as a passenger in helicopters and single engines fixed wing aircraft Working Conditions: Work is performed in both an office and field setting with field work. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire management work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn.

The incumbent must exercise a varier of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.

As a Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) - Direct Hiring Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Operations & Preparedness: Supports prescribed fire and fuels treatment operations, including planning, ignition, holding, mop-up, rehabilitation, monitoring, and documentation while following safety standards and regulations.

Fuels Management & Monitoring: Conducts field surveys, reconnaissance, and pre/post treatment monitoring to assess fuel conditions, fire behavior, treatment effectiveness, and progress toward management objectives. Planning & Analysis: Develops routine project plans and schedules, evaluates fuels and fire effects data, assists with treatment prescriptions and monitoring plans, and uses modeling tools to support project prioritization.

Fire Management & Training: Participates in fire prevention, suppression, prescribed fire, post fire activities, equipment operations, and structured classroom/field training. Program Coordination: Assists with fuels program planning, budgeting, contract administration, smoke management, interagency coordination, and evaluation of treatment strategies and Fire Management Plan components.