Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper Loft Manager)

About the role

These positions are located on a USDA Forest Service Unit. Serves as the Smokejumper Loft Manager for a national shared resource smokejumper program. The incumbent is responsible for all aspects of loft operations such as parachute rigging, gear manufacturing, and research and development for the smokejumper group. See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for Regional Contacts. Smokejumpers are a National resource. Jumpers travel all over the country, including Alaska, to provide highly-trained, experienced firefighters and leadership for quick initial attack on wildland fires in remote areas. For more information about the smoke jumping program in the Forest Service click Here. 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. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GW-10: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-09 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience are: Assisting with one or more program responsibilities such as: loft, operations, training, loadmaster, and/or prescribed fire. Directing initial and extended attack suppression actions such as determining incident needs, and dispatch/deployment of personnel and equipment. Assisting in anticipating needs for loft-related equipment. Assisting in maintaining service life records of parachuting equipment and determining air worthiness of equipment. For the GW-11: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-10 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience are: Assisting with more than one smokejumper program responsibilities such as: loft, operations, training, loadmaster, and/or prescribed fire. Assessing various fire management factors such as fuels, suppression capability, resistance to control, ignition probability, predicted rate of spread, and flame height and weather. Maintaining accurate inventory of loft materials, parachutes, supplies, and equipment. Assisting in researching and/or developing smokejumper equipment design improvements and development of new equipment. Smokejumper duties present unusual hazards and require that personnel be in excellent physical condition and possess a high degree of emotional stability and mental alertness. The health of individuals must be such that they have the capacity to meet demands for performance in the position and for human reliability. Before entrance on duty, and periodically during employment, smokejumpers must undergo a medical exam, physical conditioning, and an adeptness test. Failure to meet any of the required standards will be considered disqualifying for employment or a basis of termination. See Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions During the training period, incumbents are continually evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various aspects of parachute jumping and smokejumper-related tasks, including aircraft exit procedures, parachute landing falls, parachute maneuvering, timber let-down procedures, parachute and cargo retrieving, tree climbing, and chainsaw and hand tool use. Incumbents who cannot perform up to the required standards of proficiency will be terminated from the smokejumper program. Smokejumpers must perform safely and efficiently in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, often with severe smoke and dust. Terrain may be extremely steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with thick tangled vegetation. Conditions riding in aircraft may be hot, cramped, and extremely turbulent, which may promote airsickness. The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (jump suit, helmet, boots, gloves, fire resistant clothing, etc.) be worn and protective equipment, including fire shelters, be carried. Selective Placement Factors: Serves as, or has previously served as, an active smokejumper. If not currently qualified, applicant must have the ability to recertify as an active smokejumper and perform as a smokejumper spotter. Be qualified as a Division Group Supervisor (DIVS) and Incident Commander T3 (ICT3) or Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS), and complete Fire Program Management (M-581) with in last 3 years. Must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Master Parachute Rigger. 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

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