Job Information
Forest Service Forestry Technician (Dispatch) in Missoula, Montana
Summary This position is located on a USDA Forest Service. The incumbent is responsible for carrying out priorities for the mobilization, reassignment and demobilization of firefighting resources to incidents as deemed necessary in light of changing fire conditions and incident priorities nationally. See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for location representative details. Responsibilities Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-09. Monitors the availability and recommends geographical placement of shared resources (e.g. air tankers, lead planes, aerial delivered firefighters (smokejumpers and rappelers), and aerial delivered firefighter aircraft) within the Geographic Area. Arranges transport flights for crews, personnel and cargo utilizing large or light government-owned or contracted aircraft, as well as the use of infrared aircraft, in accordance with local and national agreements. Provides input to the Geographic Area mobilization plan and dispatch operating plans and guides. Implements plans governing the supply and use of resources such as personnel, equipment, supplies, aircraft and fire retardant. Provides operational oversight for up to ten support/supervisory dispatchers and other support personnel during emergency 24-hour/7 days-per-week sustained operations. Performs required validation of aircraft and pilots certification to ensure interagency requirements are being met. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 GS-08: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level( GS-07) in the Federal Service. OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Specialized Experience Requirement: Assisting in prioritizing distribution of aid, supplies, and equipment in wildland fire incidents. Assisting in coordinating and monitoring the use of airspace over and around wildland fires. Conducting inventories of equipment or service organizations to document the resources available for fire suppression activities. Assisting in maintaining documents such as dispatching guides and handbooks, staffing and action guides, mobilization plans, directives, and/or reference materials. For the GS-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level( GS-08) in the Federal Service; OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Specialized Experience Requirement: Assisting in coordinating and implementing logistical operations to ensure the adequate distribution of resources. Performing dispatch duties such as assisting in coordinating ground and air transportation, and determining the nature of the resources needed including personnel, equipment, and services. Collecting information for statistical and narrative reports on wildland fire activities or situations. Assisting in developing mobilization plans, emergency and disaster plans, and dispatch handbooks, policies and procedures. Selective Placement Factors A minimum 90-day 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. 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. 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 For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov) Region 1: Northern Region - Tiffany Counts at tiffany.counts@usda.gov Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region - Scott McDermid at scott.mcdermid@usda.gov Region 3: Southwestern Region - Tobe Haught at tobe.haught@usda.gov Region 4: Intermountain Region - Celeste Hancock at celeste.hancock@usda.gov Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - Deirdre Cherry at deirdre.cherry@usda.gov Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region - Jason Heinz at Jason.heinz@usda.gov Region 8: Southern Region - Russ Marchion at russell.marchion@usda.gov Region 9: Eastern Region - Brian Hicks at brian.a.hicks@usda.gov Region 10: Alaska Region - Jason Heinz at jason.heinz@usda.gov Job Corps Center: All Region- Dirk Huber at dirk.huber@usda.gov 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. 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). 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 at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/ 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.