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Fire Equipment Specialist (Project Leader-Wildland Fire)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

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Summary

These positions are located on National Technology and Development Program. Serves as a Project Manager specializing in specifications writing and fire equipment design, development, and evaluation. Works individually or leads task groups to design, fabricate, evaluate, and perfect equipment utilized for wildland fire protection or emergency management.

For additional information about the duties of this position, contact shawn.steber@usda.gov (Missoula) and ralph.gonzales@usda.gov (San Dimas)

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/21/2025 to 07/30/2025
Salary
$82,812 to - $125,582 per year
Pay scale & grade
GW 11 - 12
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
San Dimas, CA
Missoula, MT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnight on fire suppression, fire related assignments, meetings and/or training for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
25-FIRE-PXR5-EQSPEC-1112DH
Control number
841105200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GW 12 level.
  • Serves as a Project Manager specializing in specification writing and fire equipment design, development, and evaluation. Develops project charters and project plans.
  • Develops project timelines and milestones. Documents project status and communicate with portfolio managers and stakeholders.
  • Assists in the drafting of policy, technical guidelines, and standards that improve fire safety equipment and training. Studies requirements for specialized equipment and prepares project plans to accomplish development.
  • Prepares specifications for equipment items or equipment systems. Determines specific requirements concerning quality of components, design, and construction details for completed items or systems.
  • Performs analyses of engineering drawings, military specifications, blueprints, commercial catalogs, and other documents for the purpose of revising, collaborating on, and incorporating information into specifications and technical publications.
  • Plans and supervises investigations or reviews of equipment related failures or deficiencies. Evaluates equipment failures or deficiencies and makes recommendations for corrective actions.
  • Conducts quality assurance inspections and/or technical evaluation of items manufactured by contractors to Forest Service or accepted industry specifications.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GW-11: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-09 level; OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.,(coursework must be directly related to the position being filled such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester/54 quarter hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Specialized experience is defined as assisting in field evaluations and testing programs, including fire vehicles, water handling equipment, and personal protective equipment. Making recommendations for safe and efficient program for wildland fire management. Participating as an interdisciplinary team member to provide specific knowledge in the design, fabrication and evaluation of equipment related to wildland firefighting.

For the GW-12: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS/GW-11 grade. Specialized experience is defined as providing advisory services related to wildland firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment design, textile design, production, operation, and maintenance requirements for major components of new or extensively modified equipment systems or commodity classes. Addressing quality control issues related to major components of new or modified equipment systems related to wildland firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and accessories. Preparing test plans, arranged for field testing of equipment used for wildland firefighting equipment.

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.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS:
Experience performing on-the-line (Primary/Rigorous) wildland fire suppression duties as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression, containment or control techniques and practices under various conditions. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See QUALIFICATIONS section for education requirements.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, and telework may be available. Some positions filled via this announcement are bargaining unit positions represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW. This is dependent upon unit location.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS) Wildland Firefighters under Pay Plan GW. Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing may be available.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12760011

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