OUTREACH NOTICE
Seasonal Fire Fighter
USDA Forest Service
Manti-LaSal National Forest
Moab & Monticello Ranger Districts
October 29, 2015
The South Zone of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, which consists of the Moab and Monticello Ranger Districts, is currently advertising “Seasonal Fire” jobs. We may have up to 5 seasonal openings for the 2016 Fire Season: 1 opening on the Type 6 Fire Engine in Moab, UT (GS-3 or 4), 2 openings on a Type 4 Fire Engine in Monticello, UT (housing available, GS-3 or 4), and 2 openings on a Type 1-Wildfire Module in Monticello, UT (9 person specialized Handcrew, GS-4 or 5). There is housing available for the one (1) opening in Moab and housing available for the four (4) openings in Monticello. We also may have a Prevention Technician, GS-05 opening with a Duty Station of Monticello, UT.
The positions will be filled using the USAJOBS website: https://www.usajobs.gov/ with the following announcement #s:
Position Title / Announcement NumberForestry Aid – GS-03
Moab & Monticello, UT) / 16-TEMP-R4-0462-3FIRE-DT
Forestry Technician –Fire Suppression GS -04 (Moab & Monticello, UT) / 16-TEMP-R4-0462-4FIRE-DT
Forestry Technician/Handcrew
GS-05 (Monticello, UT) / 16-TEMP-R4-462-5HSHC-DT
Forestry Technician/Prevention
GS-05 (Monticello, UT) / 16-TEMP-R4-0462-5FTP-DT
KEY REQUIREMENTS
· You must be a U.S. Citizen.
· Positions may require a valid state driver's license.
· Some positions may require a CDL; information will be provided at job offer
· All positions have medical qualification requirements.
· You must be 18 years of age or older prior to appointment.
DUTIES:
A Wildland Firefighter (GS-03 Range/Forestry Aid) performs assignments as a wildland firefighter crew member in developing a working knowledge of fire suppression and fuels management techniques, practices, and terminology; may assist in more specialized assignments such as backfire and burnout, mobile and stationary engine attack; construction of helispots, helitack operations, and performing hover hookups.
A Wildland Firefighter (GS-04 Range/Forestry Technician) is a skilled wildland firefighter. May be assigned to carry out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfire, and burnout operations; utilizes a variety of specialized tools, equipment and techniques while actively managing wildfires. May be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4s.
A Wildland Firefighter (GS-05 Range/Forestry Technician) is a senior wildland firefighter performing all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding and mop-up. Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents. May be required to operate light vehicles and 4X4s.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
To qualify for a GS-03, you must meet at least one of the following:
- 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience; OR
- at least one year of education above the high school level, which included at least 6 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: range management; range conservation; agriculture; forestry; wildlife management; engineering; biology; mathematics; other natural or physical sciences; OR
- an equivalent combination of education and experience specified above.
To qualify for a GS-04, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factor:
- 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-03 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trainee wildland firefighter. OR
- 2 years of education above the high school level which included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours of mathematics is creditable toward this requirement; OR
- an equivalent combination of the education and experience specified above.
Selective Factor for GS-04: In addition to the basic qualifications listed above, you must have the following: 90 days of wildland fire experience. Wildland fire experience is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Wildland firefighting experience is gained through work on the fire line in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal or equivalent private sector fire position. Periods of wildland firefighting experience gained through militia and rural fire departments can also be credited.
To qualify for a GS-05, you must meet at least one of the following AND the Selective Factors:
- 12 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04 level duties. Examples include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a skilled wildland firefighter, utilizing a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. OR
- successful completion of a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with either: 1. a major study in forestry, range management or agriculture; or a subject matter field directly related to the position; OR 2. at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine biology and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 6 semester hours of mathematics is creditable. The level of the course work must have been equivalent to at least the junior- and senior-year levels of a baccalaureate program; OR
- a combination of education and experience that is directly related to the work of this position.
Selective Factors for GS-05: In addition to the basic qualifications listed above, you must have possessed the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualification and training requirement to be considered eligible for the GS-05 position.
1. Fire Fighter Type 1 (FFT1)
2. Successful completion of S-290 "Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior"
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TESTING: You must pass an initial pre-employment physical examination and must be able to pass the work capacity fitness test (Must carry a 45 lb pack for 3 miles within 45 minutes). Failure to meet any of the required medical qualifications will disqualify you for employment. Any condition, which would cause you to be a hazard to yourself or to others, will disqualify you for employment.
Interested? To learn more about the position contact:
· Jeff Flick, Zone Assistant Fire Management Officer at (435) 636-3345,
· Timothy “TJ” Wharton, Monticello, Engine Captain (SFEO)/E451 at (435)636-3315
· Benjamin Garthwait, Moab, Engine Captain (SFEO)/E641 at 435-636-3377
· Mark Atwood, Monticello, Abajo WFM Crew Foreman, 435-636-3350
This announcement is advertised through the USAJOBS website https://www.usajobs.gov/.
Critical dates:
5 Day Open Application Time –
January 5-11, 2016 (for the GS-5 Handcrew)
January 6-12 (for the Prevention position)
January 8-12 (For the GS-4 Fire positions)
January 15-19 (for the GS-3 Fire positions). **These will be the only dates that anyone can apply for the desired positions!!!
When applying; make sure to enter the Cities/Towns of both Monticello and Moab, UT as desired places to work.
THE FOREST
The 1,413,111-acre Manti-La Sal National Forest is located in southeastern Utah. It is managed for multiple uses such as range, timber, minerals, water, wildlife, and recreation. The Forest is divided into three distinct land areas: the Manti Division, the La Sal Division at Moab, and the Abajo/Elk Ridge Division at Monticello. The Manti Division is part of the remnant Wasatch Plateau (5,000 to 10,000 foot elevation) exhibiting high elevation lakes, diverse vegetation, near vertical escarpments, and areas of scenic and geologic interest. On the La Sal Division-Moab, mountain peaks, canyons, and forest add climatic and scenic contrast to the hot red-rock landscape of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The Abajo Division offers timbered slopes to provide a welcome middle ground and background contrast to the sand and heat of Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and the surrounding desert. Pictographs, petroglyphs, and stone dwellings are evidence of past civilizations. Private and state lands exist within the Forest boundaries and may be closed to public use. The Forest extends across six counties. For additional Forest information check out the M-L website at: http://www.fsweb.manti-lasal.r4.fs.fed.us
MOAB/MONTICELLO DISTRICT - THE DUTY LOCATION
The Moab/Monticello Ranger District covers approximately 530,000 acres of public land across three counties in the states of Utah and Colorado. The District boasts a varied and spectacular landscape; ranging from high alpine topography to the wide-open spaces of desert brush and red desert views. The Moab/Monticello Ranger District is located on the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah. Major landforms include the La Sal and Abajo Mountains and Elk Ridge/Bears Ears. The district has a wide range of vegetation and landforms from deep sandstone canyons, plateaus, mesas to alpine peaks over 12,000 feet in elevation. The LaSal Mountains are the second highest mountain range in Utah. District ecosystems range from low elevation desert shrub-lands through Pinyon/Juniper, ponderosa pine into high elevation spruce/fir, and aspen forests. The district has offices in both Moab and Monticello. The Dark Canyon Wilderness occupies 47,000 acres of the district. Many areas on the district provide a recreation getaway for local residents, as well as those from Salt Lake City, Utah and the State of Colorado. The district also has some of the highest and most extensive concentrations of archeological sites in the Forest Service.
THE FIRE ZONE:
The South Zone -Moab/ Monticello District combine with the area Bureau of Land Management, National Parks, and State of Utah to form the South Zone Fire/Fuels organization providing fire suppression and fuels management services for the Abajo and La Sal Mountains of southeast Utah. The Four Corners region is generally dry with mid-summer monsoons often providing opportunities to support suppression needs across the United States.
The fire season extends from March through October with an average of 300 incidents a year. Ecosystems extend from low elevation river corridors and grasslands through Pinyon/juniper into high elevation pine, spruce, fir & Aspen forests. For additional information on the Manti-La Sal National Forest visit the forest webpage.
COMMUNITY:
The area has a dry climate with moisture arriving primarily with seasonal monsoons and snowfall in the winter months. There are many area attractions including historical sites, jeep & mountain bike trails, and backcountry adventures such as hunting, and ATV riding.
Moab, Utah
If you’re an outdoor adventurer, you know Moab, Utah. Whether you mountain bike, hike, raft, or photograph spectacular scenery, you’ll love this town. Set in a stunning red rock valley at the foot of the towering La Sal Mountains, there are few places so scenic in the West. Moab is the gateway to Arches National Park and only minutes from Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. Uranium mining was the primary driver of the economy during the 1950s, but tourist dollars fuel the economy today. The population of Moab is 4,845. There are three schools: Grand High School, Grand Middle School and Red Rock Elementary. Also, Utah State University has an Extension campus in Moab. The average home sales price is $251,000. Allen Memorial Hospital and various health care providers are available locally. To learn more see http://www.grandschools.org/, http://www.grandcountyutah.net/, http://www.moab-utah.com/, http://distance.usu.edu/?campuses
Monticello, Utah
Cowboys and Indians were the real thing in Monticello. Its early history is colored with conflict between cowboys, settlers and American Indians. Now it’s a peaceful little community at the foot of the Abajo Mountains and at the crossroads of southeastern Utah. It is the southern gateway to Canyonlands National Park and is 60 minutes south of Arches National Park. Natural Bridges National Monument and Lake Powell are to the south. It is the highest of the communities where the Manti-La Sal has offices, with an elevation of 7,069 feet. Agriculture is important to the economy and culture, but most jobs are found in government, followed by the tourism industry. Monticello has a population of 1,958. Home sales prices range between $87,000 and $275,000. There is an elementary school, Mission Discovery School (private) and a high school (grades 7-12). Medical services are provided by San Juan Hospital, a pharmacy and health professionals. For more information see: http://www.monticelloutah.org/services.html, http://www.sanjuanschools.org/default.aspx
http://www.southeastutah.org/
http://www.cityofcortez.com
Blanding, Utah is a nearby full-service community approximately 25 minutes south of Monticello. This community is of similar size but with a different climate.
Durango and Grand Junction, Colorado along with Farmington, New Mexico offer more shopping and social opportunities within a 2-3 hour drive from Monticello.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin. You must complete the application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement January 8, 2016. Assistance is available during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday).
Step1 – Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It is recommended that as part of your profile you set up automatic email notification to be informed when the status of your application changes. If you choose not to set up this automatic notification, then you will have to log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.
Step 2 - Create a Resume with USAJOBS or upload a Resume into your USAJOBS account. You may want to customize your resume to ensure it documents duties and accomplishments you have gained that are directly related to this position in order to verify that qualifications are met. In addition, your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire (you may preview the online questionnaire by clicking on the link at the end of the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement).
Step 3 – Search for job by announcements by typing in the complete announcement number in the search section under “What”. You have to type in a complete announcement number.
Step 4 - Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire and attach any additional documents that may be required.