Forestry Technician (Squad Leader)

Company: Department Of Agriculture
Location: Arroyo Grande
Posted on: June 12, 2021

Job Description:

• Duties

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Duties

Summary

These positions are established on a Forest Service unit, to serve as a lead Forestry Technician on an Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC Squad Leader) for a National shared resource hotshot program.

Information on specific locations where jobs are being filled and the dates applications are due for these locations can be found on theForest Service website.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Duties listed are at full performance level.
• Serves as a highly trained and skilled fire suppression team leader on an Interagency Hotshot crew of firefighters in wildland fire suppression situations.
• Resolves a full range of irregular or problem situations encountered when performing a wide variety of either highly interrelated tasks or nonstandard fire suppression assignments.
• Anticipates fire behavior, determines strategy and tactics, directs on-line activities, and takes action to accomplish incident objectives. Performs various technical duties that involve differing and unrelated processes and methods.
• Locates line, directs and participates in line construction, backfire and burnout, hazard tree falling, saw lines, pump and hose lays, patrol, mop-up operations, etc.
• Directs and coordinates all types of related aircraft, fireline personnel and equipment. Installs and maintains complex hose configurations. Collects and applies fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture and weather.
• Uses a variety of specialized tools, equipment, and techniques to actively suppress fires. Installs and maintains complex hose configurations. Collects and applies fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture and weather.
• Operates a variety of motor vehicles to transport equipment, supplies, crewmembers, etc.
• This position may serve as Assistant Hotshot Superintendent as needed. During this time, has responsibility for numerous technical decisions concerning Hotshot Crew readiness and deployment without technical advice and assistance.
• Leads a crew of up to ten personnel on prescribed fire implementation projects. Uses prescribed fire tools and equipment including terra, propane and drop torch, and all-terrain vehicles and engines.
• Presents formal and informal training programs in such areas as initial refresher courses, fire weather, fire behavior, power saw use, line construction, air operations, water handling/pumps/hose lays, hand tool use, and other related field courses.
• Ensures own and other's welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignment. Responsible for the maintenance and repair of tools and equipment to meet individual crew needs.
• Under the direction of the Assistant Superintendent, assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, difficulty of assignments, and the capability of employees.
• Trains by demonstrating skills in use of hand and power tools, hoses, chemicals, and hydraulic systems. Observes, corrects, and evaluates crew skills.
• Explains fire behavior characteristics, safety regulations, and work procedures. Prepares the crew to perform a wide variety of interrelated tasks, applying specific rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Articulates and communicates to the team the assignment, project, problems to be solved, actionable events, deadlines and timeframes for completion.
• Identifies, distributes, and balances workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow, skill level, and occupational specialization.
• Makes adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks.
• Prepares reports and maintains records of work accomplishments and administrative information and coordinates the preparation and presentation of work related information to the supervisor.
• Resolves simple, informal complaints of employees and refers other more formal grievances to the supervisor. Informs employees of available employee benefits, services, and work related activities.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignments.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

7

• Job family (Series)

0462 Forestry Technician

Similar jobs

• Forest Technicians

• Technicians, Forest

• Requirements

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Requirements

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.
• Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
• Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's 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.
• Under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the requirement.

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:

GS-06: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level

ORone full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that 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 and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Examples of specialized experience include: Served on a fire suppression crew under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain and/or Performed many technical specializations such as felling, saw repair, long line, rappelling, or water handling used in fire suppression and prescribed burning.

GS-07: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level

OR one full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that 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 and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Examples of specialized experience include: Independently practiced methods and procedures associated with wildfire suppression to resolve a full range of irregular or problem situations when suppressing wildland fires and/or Certified in one or many wildland firefighting technical specializations such as tree felling, helicopter operations, crew boss, incident commander type 5 which are used in fire suppression and prescribed burning and/or Served on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) or assigned to lead fire suppression under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain.

Selective Placement Factors

• Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of The Crew Boss (CRWB) -AND- Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5).
• Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

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. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification.

This position has been identified as High or Moderate or Low Complexity under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy. IFPM or FS-FPM 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 at the applicable complexity level to be considered eligible for this position.

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 primary/rigorous 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.

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, MODERATE, or LIGHT level is a condition of employment.

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

Keywords: Department Of Agriculture, Santa Maria , Forestry Technician (Squad Leader), Other , Arroyo Grande, California