Forestry Technician (Smokejumper Specialist)

About the role

This position is a Forestry Technician (Smokejumper Specialist), GW-0462-8 working in Boise, Idaho for the US Wildland Fire Service. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work for a minimum of 6 months, and any add'l employment is dependent on the organizational needs. During periods when you are not scheduled to work, you may be placed in a non-pay status. This announcement will fill four positions (multiple vacancies per position): Training Specialist, Loft Specialist, Fire Operations Specialist, and Paracargo Specialist. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. Selective Placement Factors (SPFs): 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: Required for ALL vacancies: 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 : Required for ALL vacancies: Prior Primary Wildland Firefighting Experience: Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization;- OR - At least 14-days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive). Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement. SPF #3: Required for ALL vacancies: Prior smokejumping experience required. This experience must be documented in the online application or resume with specific to AND from dates (MM/YY), description of work performed, AND hours worked per week. SPF #4: Required for Loft Specialist and Fire Operations Specialist ONLY: FAA Certified Senior or Master Rigger: To be FAA certified as a Senior or Master Rigger, a person must complete the required number of parachute packs and complete written, oral, and practical exams administered by the designated FAA examiner(s). Documentation must be submitted at the time of application. SPF#5: Required for Fire Operations Specialist ONLY: Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) qualified. You must provide a copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which verifies you meet the required NWCG minimum qualifications In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required. Only experience and education obtained by 06/11/2026 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. For the GW-08 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-07 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: experience in forest and rangeland fire suppression as an initial attack incident commander coordinating multiple firefighting resources, and interfacing with land managers, cooperators, and the public; experience in Smokejumper operations including parachuting into rugged terrain, parachute rigging and repair, and the use of smokejumper specific firefighting tools and equipment;