Wildland Firefighter (AFMO) - Direct Hire Authority
Agency
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Location
Ronan, Montana, Montana
Salary
$96,598 - $135,312 Per Year
Open & closing dates
Posted: October 15, 2025
Closes: October 29, 2025 (11 days left)
Job Description
This Wildland Firefighter position will serve as an Assistant Fire Management Officer with Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest Regional Office, Division of Wildland Fire Management, Duty Station TBD from Ronan, MT, Portland, OR, Warm Springs, OR, Toppenish, WA, or Vancouver, WA. This announcement will be used to fill vacancies utilizing the Direct-Hire Authority (5CFR 337.201). Category rating, veteran's preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do NOT apply for this vacancy.
Qualifications
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: 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 Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) - High Complexity 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 at http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/ GW-12: 1 year of specialized wildland fire work experience equivalent to the GW/GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include work involving managing a Wildland Fire Program, i.e., assessing the effectiveness of fire management programs including operations, aviation, fuels management, prevention, planning and training; serving as a technical resource providing guidance, advice and support for policy interpretation and implementation to fire management programs, in addition to resource need forecasting and allocation. Financial management, project planning, and workforce development. Developing Cooperative Agreements and Annual Operating Plans (AOPs) with federal, state, and local agencies, enhancing interagency collaboration and resource sharing. Operational experience in fire suppression and prescribed fire activities, managing and supervising initial attack modules, with engines, crews, and/or aviation resources, trains, certifies, and prepares personnel for wildland fire operations and prescribed fire implementation. Developing strategies and treatments in fire behavior, designing fuels treatments, overseeing mechanical fuels treatments, budgeting, and expenditure tracking. Conducting safety and risk assessments for projects. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS: These are MANDATORY qualification prerequisites to qualify for this position. The applicant must have possessed the following qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position: High Pathway #1: Primary Core Requirement: Division Supervisor (DIVS), or higher. Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), or higher. -OR- High Pathway #2: Primary Core Requirement: Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS), or higher. Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ITC3), or higher. Additional Required Training for both Pathways: *Fire Program Management (M-581). *This training requirement will be a condition of employment that must be completed within one year of entry on duty date. NOTE: Selective factors are knowledges, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants who do not meet the selective factors are ineligible for further consideration. You MUST provide a current copy of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other agency equivalent documentation which verifies you meet this required qualification for this position when submitting your application. Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience: This is a secondary-administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission, and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered under the secondary/administrative firefighter special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(FERS) when it is filled by an incumbent who transfers directly from a primary or another secondary law enforcement or firefighting position with no break in service to this position. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent will depend upon his or her individual work history. You may meet the qualification requirements, but not be eligible for special retirement coverage. If you are not eligible for special retirement coverage, you will be placed in the regular retirement system. FERS TRANSITION REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary coverage position. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, however, some physical exertion related to site visitations and fire line assignments is required. Walking on rough, uneven terrain, long periods of standing, and exposure to extreme heat, smoke, and temperatures is required. Work Environment: Work is normally performed in an office setting. During the wildland fire season, field work may involve high risk exposure to potentially dangerous situating or stress. The above work environment involves occasional exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which usually require protective equipment to be worn. A range of safety and other precautions are required. Exposure to risks such as wildfire, heat, smoke, falling rocks and trees, etc., are a part of the job during wildland fire season. NOTE: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Required Documents
The following documents are required for this position: Resume which details work experience including dates worked (mm/yy-mm/yy); position title; position series and grade (if federal service); work schedule; hours worked per week; relevant duties performed; supervisor with contact information, and 3 professional references and contact information (Do not include current/former supervisors), etc. Important! If your resume does not show complete information for each job entry, your application will be considered incomplete. Specifically: Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Beginning and ending dates (mm/yy) of employment, Work schedule (Full-time or Part-time), and Hours worked per week. For more information see What should I include in my federal resume On-line Assessment Questionnaire Transcripts (if using education to qualify) - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, an official transcript may be requested at a later time. BIA Form 4432 The Form BIA-4432 must be completed as stated in the Instructions on the Form and this form with must be submitted with your application for Federal employment (if claiming Indian preference). Copy of current Incident Qualifications and Certification System (IQCS) Individual Master Report or agency equivalent documentation, if applicable. If required, failure to provide this documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in you being rated as not qualified. If you are a current federal employee, submit a copy of your latest non-award SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting your current position and grade level. Veteran's documentation - (if applicable) VA letter on VA letterhead stating your overall combined rating, SF-15, DD-214 (Member 4 Copy Only) reflecting an honorable discharge and dates of active duty military service. If you are applying under CTAP and ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. If you are former federal employee that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) as a buyout in previous employment with the Federal government, you are required to submit a copy of the applicable SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action documenting the VSIP payment. Most individuals who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment. ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM Eastern Time ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. If your application package is incomplete in any way, you will not be considered for this position, and requests for extensions will not be granted. Please double check your application package before you submit it. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE SOLICITED OR ACCEPTED BY THIS OFFICE.
Department Information
Agency
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Department
Department of the Interior
Location
Ronan, Montana, Montana, United States