Wildland Firefighter (Forest-Fire Planner)
Job Description
Summary
These positions are located in USDA Forest Service Unit.
The primary purpose of the position is to provide leadership, and oversight in wildland fire planning on one or more National Forests or Grasslands.
See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional contacts.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-11 level.
Develops local plans that reflect national, regional, and local management goals, requirements, and strategic objectives related to fire and aviation management.
Implements program management direction for national forests and grasslands and/or interagency fire planning efforts.
Provides wildland fire planning technical support and coordination with fire management officers, land or resource management staffs, and planners throughout the local area.
Provides technical expertise in strategic and local fire planning analysis systems, models, and decision support systems.
Develops annual program of work which may include budget allocations and severity requests.
Incumbent responds to data requests from internal and external entities utilizing specialized software and modeling to evaluate the effectiveness of fire management strategies to meet land management goals and objectives
Requirements
Conditions of employment
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
Must be 18 years of age.
This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
Qualifications
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-09: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-07 in the Federal service. Examples of Specialized Experience are: Assisted in developing long and/or short-range plans for fire and/or aviation management; Participated in functional reviews and annual readiness inspections for fire management; Assisted in developing, coordinating, and consolidating fire management plans needed to meet fire program objectives; and Utilized systems for fire planning and analysis such as specialized software and modeling, e.g., databases, graphic tools, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications.
For the GW-11: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-09 in the Federal service. Examples of Specialized Experience are: Assisted in developing and evaluating prescribed fire plans or fire management plans; Performed data collection and evaluation of fire hazard risks; Utilized fire planning analysis systems, models, and decision support systems; and Provided analysis and advice to resolve fire and aviation management issues.
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.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.
To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
There is no substitution of education for this position.
Additional information
For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov)
Region 4: Intermountain Region - BJ Bugger at [email protected]
Geographic Area California - Brian Grabowski at [email protected]
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.
These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment).
Government housing and federal day care facilities may be available.
The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.
Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email [email protected]
New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program within a year of the effective date of the position.
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.
Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.
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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
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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Date Posted
05/19/2026
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