Wildland Firefighter (Assistant Module Lead)

Job Details

Qualifications & Requirements

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. SPF #1. This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration. Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims. SPF #2. Requirement for GW-06 and GW-07 grade levels ONLY: 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 Senior Firefighter, 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): A.) Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1); AND B.) Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290) If selected at the GW-05, you must meet the IFPM training requirements above for the GW-06/07 as a condition of employment before being eligible for promotion to the GW-06/07 grade level. In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required. Only experience and education obtained by 08/26/2026 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 Qualification To qualify for a GW-05 grade level, you must meet at least one of the following: - One year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GW -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 skilled wildland firefighter, utilizing a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. - Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, from an accredited college or university, in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields. - A combination of education and specialized work experience described above. For the GW-06 level: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GW-05 is required. Examples of work experience include: experience serving as a senior wildland firefighter on a wildland fire module or crew with on-the-line wildland fire experience in fire control, prevention or suppression work; utilizing and maintaining a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. For the GW-07 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-06 level in the federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: experience serving as a lead wildland firefighter on a wildland fire module or crew with on-the-line wildland fire experience in fire control, prevention or suppression; utilizing and maintaining specialized wildland fire equipment; assisting with analyzing and predicting fire behavior when responding to wildland fire incidents. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at the GW-06/07 grade level. This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter. Applicants must be 18 years of age but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system. Physical Demands: The work of this position requires arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Working Conditions: This position is expected to work in forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing). Work may require travel by fixed wing or rotor-wing aircraft.

Position Overview

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This Wildland Firefighter (Assistant Module Lead) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-5/6/7 working in the following location(s): Mescalero, New Mexico

Duties

• As a Wildland Firefighter (Assistant Module Lead) your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Serves as a senior tactical leader. Directs fireline resources and supports more complex fire suppression and fuels management operations. Plans and implements suppression strategies on less complex fire and leads operations on more complex incidents. Ensures crew readiness, coordinating equipment and logistics. Completes administrative tasks such as timekeeping, training support, and performance documentation.