Bureau of Indian Affairs Looking for Wildland Firefighter. at Cherokee, NC Full Time

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is looking for temporary employees to work on Engine and Wildland Fire Module (WFM) crews. For more information on Crew Types,

A Wildland Firefighter (GS-04) is a trained wildland firefighter. May be assigned to carry out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfire, and burnout operations; utilizes a variety of specialized tools, equipment and techniques while actively managing wildfires. May be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4s.

Locations for these positions are:

Cherokee, NC (Cherokee Agency)

Belcourte, ND (Turtle Mountain Agency)

For contacts and information regarding housing availability visit

For more information about temporary fire positions with DOI, go to the following link:

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service or exempt. To register or verify your registration, go to the

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS: Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Failure to satisfy the background check will result in cancellation of offer of employment or may be grounds for termination.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TESTING: You must pass an initial pre-employment physical examination and must be able to pass the work capacity fitness test (must carry a 45 lb pack for 3 miles within 45 minutes). Failure to meet any of the required medical qualifications will disqualify you for employment. Any condition, which would cause you to be a hazard to yourself or to others, will disqualify you for employment.

DRUG TESTING: Positions require a mandatory pre-employment drug test. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. The drug test will be provided at Government direction and expense. Once hired, employees are also subject to random drug testing during employment. This is in accordance with Executive Order 12564 and under the Department’s Drug Free Workplace Program.

Positions may require a valid state driver’s license.

Some positions may require a CDL; information will be provided at job offer.

You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment.

All positions have medical qualification requirements.

Form BIA-4432, Verification of Indian preference for Employment (if claiming Indian Preference).

Qualifications

Hours worked per week must be stated for each season and position held in your resume.

• Experience listed will need to include specific duties about the work being performed and should not be only the general language stated below in the examples.

To qualify for a GS-04

You Must Meet At Least One Of The Following

• Six months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-03 level duties.

Examples Of Specialized Work Experience May Include The Following

• Wildland Fire Suppression such as digging hand line, building or patrolling fireline, suppressing spot fires, mopping up fires, hose lays, connecting buckets to drop water or retardant during firefighting operations, etc.
• Wildland Fuels Management such as prescribed burning, clearing up burned areas within fireline, felling snags or trees and/or cutting brush around fireline, collecting fuel loads, etc.
• Monitoring Wildland Fire such as weather, topography, smoke, fire effects, fire behavior, fire location, collect and record fire related data, etc.
• Wildland Fire Preparedness such as maintains fire tools and equipment – Pulaski’s, shovels, McLeods, chainsaws, fire hose, pumps, drip torches, power equipment, vehicles, radios, etc.

-OR-

• Successful completion of a 2-year course of study above high school in an accredited college or university in Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Technology or in other related fields which included at least 12 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, or natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography).
• OR-
• A combination of the education and work experience described above.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: 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.

Work Environment: 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.

Additional information

INDIAN PREFERANCE POLICY: Preference is filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC Section 472). Verification form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. No other documents will be accepted as proof as Indian Preference.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM’s Career Transition Resources website at

Temporary employees hired in wildland fire or wildland fire support positions are eligible for the following:

• Annual, sick leave, and paid federal holidays
• Depending on tour of duty – Sunday, holiday, shift differential and/or hazard pay
• Participation in the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) program – Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.