Smokejumper (Forestry Technician)

**Note: Some positions may require a CDL; information will be provided at job offer. You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment. All positions have medical qualification requirements. Hours worked per week must be stated for each season and position held in your resume. ***Experience listed will need to include specific duties about the work being performed and should not be only the general language stated below in the examples. To qualify for a GS-05, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factors: 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include: On-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trained wildland firefighter, utilizing a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. Experience may also include instructing or leading firefighters in both fire and non-fire assignments. -OR- A successful completion of a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree with either: 1. a major study in forestry, range management or agriculture; or a subject matter field directly related to the position; OR 2. at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: 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 hours of mathematics is creditable. The level of the course work must have been equivalent to at least the junior- and senior-year levels of a baccalaureate program. -OR- 3). A combination of education and specialized work experience described above. Selective Factors for GS-05: In addition to the basic qualifications listed above, you must have possessed the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualification and experience to be considered eligible. 1. Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) And 2. 90 days of wildland firefighting experience Wildland fire experience is defined as any non-structure fire duties that occur 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. Periods of wildland firefighting experience gained through militia and rural fire departments can also be credited. For more information regarding basic qualifications and combining education and experience click here. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: The incumbent must be able to work under extreme physical exertion regularly working 16 hour shifts or longer on the fireline. Work on the fireline requires considerable strenuous physical exertion, e.g., long periods of standing; digging; bending; kneeling; running chainsaws; and hiking over rough, uneven, rocky surfaces and through wooded or brush areas. These activities can be performed day or night, when the incumbent may be required to respond immediately from a sedentary activity to an extremely arduous activity. This can include carrying a 120 pound pack for up to 5 miles or more through rugged terrain. Incumbent is expected to parachute into this remote terrain under hazardous conditions. The duties of this position are so rigorous that an annual physical examination and smokejumper fitness tests are required to ensure that the employee assigned can perform the duties without physical injury to self or others. Employees must meet the arduous physical and medical standards identified in the lnteragency Standards for Fire and Fire Operations. The incumbent must be prepared, at all times, to respond to a fire situation requiring the quick escape from a potentially fast moving fire in extreme terrain. Work Environment: The majority of the work is performed out of doors in a wide variety of weather and terrain conditions or in a crowded airplane. Meals frequently consist of cold rations and sleeping accommodations may be a sleeping bag and a piece of plastic. The remainder of the work is accomplished in a sometimes tense and stressful warehouse environment. Incumbent risks death or serious injury during parachute jumps, cargo dropping, or firefighting.
Explore a new career with the BLM – where our people are our most precious resource. This is a Public Notice for positions being filled under the Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) for Wildland Fire. Under this recruitment procedure applications will be accepted for each location identified in this Public Notice. Veterans Preference is not applicable to this announcement. To learn more about Direct-Hire Authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information – DHA.