Cook (Fire)

Summary This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans' Preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority. This position is a Cook, WG- 7404-6 working in Galena, Alaska for the US Wildland Fire Service. For contact information, housing availability, and additional information regarding temporary fire positions with DOI, visit the DOI FIRES website. Learn more about this agency Duties As a Cook (Fire) your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Performs as principal shift cook for firefighters, extended support groups and other programs. Prepares a variety of menu items including ethnic, vegetarian, home style meals, current food trends, and regular and special diet entrees and dessert items. Cuts, roasts, broils, bakes, fries, boils, steams and stews meats, poultry and seafood; prepares soups, stocks, broths, gravies, sauces, and puddings; bakes desserts, yeasts breads, pies, and quick breads. Adjusts standardized recipes for the number of servings required in large quantity cooking. Uses food preparation tools and maintains specialized equipment such as commercial meat slicers, commercial grill, oven and deep fat fryer, commercial steamers, tilting skillet and steam line. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Direct Deposit Required. Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Subject to occasional travel particularly during fire season, and you may need to obtain a government charge card for travel. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Qualifications In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. Only experience obtained by 04/28/2026 will be considered. By the closing date of this announcement, you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/. Although no specific amount of experience is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level, and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements. Only experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements. The screen out element for this position is: To qualify for a Cook WG-06, you must have the ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision as shown by having cooked from scratch in a restaurant or other professional establishment for more than 50 people. 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Effort: Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Work requires continual standing, walking, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Coordination and dexterity are required in the operation of food service equipment. Must be able to work long hours under stressful conditions for weeks at a time, depending on fire activity. Working Conditions: The majority of the work is performed indoors in a dining hall environment. May be assigned to work at remote dining halls or primitive field camps with limited living facilities. Exposed to extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units. The working conditions can range from extreme cold to extreme hot. There is no air conditioning on site. The incumbent is subject to exposure to steam, fumes, odors and noise in the dining hall work environment. The incumbent is frequently exposed to the possibility of injury from sharp tools, equipment, hot appliances, and chemicals, steam and wet floors. Subject to prolonged periods of standing. Must abide by personal hygiene standards and safe work procedures such as wearing a hairnet or hat and a clean uniform daily. May be required to travel in small aircraft to remote dining halls or field camps during the field season. Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional information Pay rates vary depending on location. For additional information on pay rates: Click here. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on an RPL, you may be given priority consideration. Telework: This position is not suitable for telework. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area. Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. 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. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits Review our benefits