USDA FOREST SERVICE, SOUTHERN REGION, R8
National Forests in Florida, Apalachicola National Forest
Apalachicola Ranger District
Supervisory Forestry Technician (Fire Engine Operator), GS-0462-06/07
The Apalachicola National Forest will be announcing a Supervisory Forestry Technician
(Fire Engine Operator) position for the Apalachicola Ranger District based out of Bristol,
Florida. This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of the upcoming
opportunity.
How to Apply
The vacancy announcement for this position will be posted on the U.S. Government's official
website for employment opportunities at www.usajobs.gov under an Open Continuous
Recruitment vacancy announcement OCR14-462-SFEO(M)-6/7G & DP. Insure you select
Bristol, Florida as the desired duty location. This is an Open Continuous vacancy
announcement with no closing date.
Those that wish to be considered for this position must apply to the vacancy announcement by
November 16, 2013. The Referral List for this position will be issued to the selecting official on
or about November 22, 2013. All applicants who have applied to the announcement on or before
the closing date and are found to be qualified and in the quality group will be referred for
consideration.
Outreach Response
Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, contact or submit the below response
to Steve Parrish at (850) 926-3561 extension 6523, fax (850) 926-1904, or email at
sgparrish@fs.fed.us.
About the Position
This is a standard wildland fire management position description intended for use in the USDA
Forest Service. This position serves as a first line supervisor on a Fire Engine Module.
The primary purpose of this position is to perform wildland firefighting work and to supervise
crews performing such work. These crews perform work directly related to wildland fire
suppression and control activities including suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring,
hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed burning.
May operate a vehicle requiring the incumbent to obtain and hold a State Class A Commercial
Driver’s License. This license must be obtained prior to being assigned these duties. If
Commercial License is required, this position will be a Test Designated Position (TDP) under the
Forest Service/Department of Transportation Alcohol and Controlled Substances Testing
Program. Driver is subject to the requirements of the Department of Transportation drug and
alcohol testing program.
Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Primary - This is an arduous position.
This position is categorized as a Supervisory Engine Operator (SEOP) in the Interagency Fire
Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide as designated by the W.O. Fire and Aviation
Management. The IFPM selective placement factors for this position must be attained by
October 1, 2010, and thereafter must be met prior to entrance into the position as a condition of
hire.
Refer to the Forest Service IFPM Standard Position Description Crosswalk for a full description
of the selective placement factors.
Supervisory Duties 25%
Provides technical and administrative supervision to handcrews, prescribed fire crews, wildland
fire engine crews, or helitack crews. The incumbent spends at least 25% of the time on
supervisory duties. Plans the work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short
term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. Assigns work to subordinates
based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and
the capabilities of the employees. Develops performance standards and evaluates work
performance of subordinates. Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work
and administrative matters.
Hears and resolves minor complaints from employees. Refers group grievances and more serious
unresolved complaints to higher-level supervisor or manager. Effects minor disciplinary
measures such as warnings and recommends other action in more serious cases. Interviews
candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointments, promotions, and reassignments
to such positions. Identifies and provides for training needs. Finds ways to improve production or
increase the quality of work directed.
Solicits applications and conducts diversity outreach for permanent workforce vacancies.
Conducts interviews, hires for seasonal vacancies. Employees may work at more than one
location, requiring coordination through the use of telephone, radio, or computer.
Provides leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish multi-cultural
organization direction and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirements, goals, policies, and
objectives.
Provides for crew safety and welfare and implements a training program in compliance with
applicable requirements. Ensures work conditions conform to agency safety programs. Identifies
and corrects job safety and health hazards, instructs employees on safety requirements of
assignments, reviews and reports loss incidents in accordance with Department, Forest Service,
and OWCP regulations. Identifies corrective measures for violations of the Occupational Safety
and Health Act standards in the workplace.
Major Duties 60%
Supervises crews and performs duties in the following functional areas:
-Wildland Fire Engine. Serves as a supervisory wildland firefighter on a wildland fire engine.
Directs the operation of a wildland fire engine, ensuring the correct positioning, proper use and
operation. Personally performs and directs others in starting pump engine, priming pump,
adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles and nozzle
adjustment in effective use of water and additives. Responsible for maintenance of specialized
equipment used to respond to wildland urban interface/intermix situations. Ensures the engine is
kept in a full state of readiness for emergency fire dispatch. May be required to be a fully
qualified chain saw operator. Serves as initial attack Incident Commander.
-Prescribed Fire. Serves as a supervisory wildland firefighter on a prescribed fire crew. Directs
and performs prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and
mop-up. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather on prescribed fires and wildland
fire use. May use specialized firing equipment (e.g. fuses, drip torches, flares, and terra torch).
May be required to be a fully qualified chain saw operator.
Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in
responding to wildland fire incidents. When positioning and deploying personnel and equipment,
recommends best approaches and practices to use in protection of the values at risk
Makes initial evaluation of fire situation and determines suppression method to use, determines
rate of spread, potential hazards to property and other improvements, hose lays, deployment of
crew, point of initial attack, type of tools to use and application of water.
Responsible for operation and maintenance of specialized equipment used to respond to wildland
and prescribed fire situations. Accomplishes emergency repairs as necessary to permit continued
use of equipment. In those instances when the apparatus cannot be used effectively in
suppressing the fire, the incumbent takes appropriate control action in attacking the fire.
Implements formal and informal training programs to comply with policy and regulations.
Participates in wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire
suppression and in the safe, efficient operation and use of tools, equipment, and vehicles used in
fire suppression activities, with emphasis on those used for the particular function assigned.
Participates in crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques. Ensures own
and other's welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignment.
Operates a variety of motor vehicles to transport equipment, supplies, crew members, etc.
Performs basic first aid.
NOTE: Maintenance and use duties not to exceed 5%.
Additional Duties 15%
May assist the fire management staff in developing and revising annual operating plans, annual
budget requests, fire management planning and operating procedures pertaining to wildland fire
management activities. May perform other duties as designated on incident qualification card.
May assist in the preparation of hazardous fuels treatment plans and burn plans based on
predicted fire behavior and risk assessment. Drafts prescribed fire perimeter maps. Monitors
smoke dispersal and fire effects. Collects fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel
moisture, maps projects, weather, and maintains records. May work with local homeowners,
community stakeholders, or various local, state, and federal agencies in an effort to educate and
mitigate potential threats to these communities by wildland fire. May provide input for fire
prevention plans. May assist in forestry/range research efforts; in the marketing of forest/range
resources; or in the scientific management, protection, and development of forest, range, and
other resources. Must possess a valid state driver's license. May require the incumbent to obtain
and maintain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). If CDL is required, all applicants for, and
incumbents of this position are subject to random alcohol and drug testing.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS:
DRUG TESTING: This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a
urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final
appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in
wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING
the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a ''condition of employment.'' The Arduous fitness (Pack)
Test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a
forty-five (45) pound pack.
Bargaining Unit Status: Not eligible.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous firefighter position
under the provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). This position requires the
selectee to obtain or possess a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and therefore, is a Testing
Designated Position (TDP) under the Department of Transportation (DOT)/Forest Service
Alcohol and Controlled Substance Testing Program. Applicant tentatively selected for this
position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use unless they
currently occupy a TDP under the DOT/Forest Service Alcohol and Controlled Substances
Testing Program. Final appointment is conditional on a negative drug test. This announcement
constitutes 30 days advance notice.
Performs other duties as assigned.
District Information:
The Apalachicola National Forest consists of the Wakulla Ranger District in Crawfordville and
the Apalachicola Ranger District in Bristol. The duty station for the position is in Bristol. The
Supervisor’s Office is located in Tallahassee and is within an hour drive of both locations. For
more information about the forest and local communities click on the websites below:
National Forests in Florida, Apalachicola National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/
Wakulla Ranger District, Crawfordville http://www.crawfordvillecommunity.com/
Apalachicola Ranger District, Bristol http://www.city-data.com/city/Bristol-Florida.html
Supervisor’s Office, Tallahassee http://www.city-data.com/city/Tallahassee-Florida.html
Outreach Response Form
Supervisory Forestry Technician (Fire Engine Operator), GS-0462-06/07
Apalachicola National Forest, Apalachicola Ranger District
Bristol, Florida
NAME:________________________________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS:_______________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER: _________________________________________________
CURRENT POSITION: ___________________________________________________
CURRENT LOCATION: __________________________________________________
Thank you for your interest in our vacancy!
Please send responses to: sgparrish@fs.fed.us
Hard copies can be mailed to:
Steve Parrish, ZFMO
Wakulla Ranger District
57 Taff Drive
Crawfordville, FL 32327
Or Faxed to (850) 926-1904
“The USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer”