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Wildland Firefighter - Aviation (ATGS)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service

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Summary

These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit.

The incumbent serves as an Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) for an Air Attack platform covering most interagency lands in and adjacent to the National Forest.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional contacts.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
08/22/2025 to 09/23/2025
Salary
$66,948 to - $93,743 per year
Pay scale & grade
GW 8 - 9
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Chester, CA
Fresno, CA
Lancaster, CA
McClellan, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnight on fire suppression, fire related assignments for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
26-FIRE-P1VA-ATGS-89DH
Control number
844042900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-09 level.
  • Directs air tactical operations, provides aerial supervision and establishes priorities for initial attack, extended attack and other aviation duties as required.
  • Evaluates aircraft needs to perform air tactical mission; briefs ATGS pilots on mission requirements and crew resource management; determines navigation requirements; gathers air space information; identifies available aircraft.
  • Establishes air traffic control; identifies retardant and foam use restrictions; establishes target identification and appropriate tactics and coordinates with appropriate personnel; orders additional air resources as needed.
  • Briefs pilots; ensures positive control of aircraft in incident airspace; notifies ground crews of incoming aircraft and tactics; coordinates with other incidents.
  • Monitors incident aircraft and pilot flight hour limitations. Selects locations for temporary and semi-permanent airfields, helispots, and heliports as needed for air tactical operations.
  • Serves as a technical specialist on accident investigation teams. Provides instruction on a variety of topics in fire, aviation safety and certifies aviation proficiency of Forest personnel.

Requirements

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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.
  • 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.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
  • 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.

For the GW-08: You must have one year specialized experience at least equivalent to the GW-07 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Assisted with the direction of air tactical operations for wildland fires suppression by evaluating aircraft needs to perform tactical missions, establishing target identification and/or navigation requirements; Assisted with the inspection of aviation activities, notifying ground crew of tactics, and/or ordering additional air resources as needed; Participated in aviation activities to support contract management, aviation training, and/or safety programs.

For the GW-09: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-08 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Assisted with the direction of air tactical operations for wildland fires suppression by providing aerial supervision and/or establishing priorities for initial and extended attacks; Evaluated aircraft needs to perform tactical missions, establishing target identification and navigation requirements; Performed contract management, aviation training, and safety program support activities for an aviation program.

Selective Placement Factors:

Successful completion of the NWCG Core Requirement of Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS) OR Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3).

Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service - Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications must be met by the time of selection. Most recent IQCS master record and/or signed Agency Certified task book must be attached to your application. If you are selected, you may be required to submit an updated IQCS master record or signed Agency Certified task book as proof of attainment of IFPM requirements prior to a final verbal offer.

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 position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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 1: Northern Region - Tiffany Counts at tiffany.counts@usda.gov
Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region - Timothy Griffin at timothy.e.griffin@usda.gov
Region 3: Southwestern Region - Tobe Haught at tobe.haught@usda.gov
Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - Brian Grabowski - brian.grabowski@usda.gov
Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region - Jason Heinz at Jason.heinz@usda.gov
Region 8: Southern Region - Russ Marchion at russell.marchion@usda.gov
Region 10: Alaska Region - Jason Heinz at Jason.heinz@usda.gov

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.

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12780847

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