Summary These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit. Directs air tactical operations, provides aerial supervision and establishes priorities for initial attack, extended attack and other aviation duties as required. See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional contacts. Responsibilities Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-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 Conditions of Employment 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. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-08: You must have one year specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service; OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture). OR a combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Examples of Specialized Experience include: Assisting with the direction of air tactical operations for wildland fires suppression by assisting with evaluating aircraft needs to perform tactical missions, establishing target identification and navigation requirements; assisting with the inspection of aviation activities, notifying ground crew of tactics, and ordering additional air resources as needed; and, participating in aviation activities to support contract management, aviation training, and safety programs. For the GS-09: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 in the Federal service; OR two full years (36 semester/54 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level education or master's degree if the coursework is directly related to the work of the position (such as forestry, range management, agriculture). OR a combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position (in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Examples of Specialized Experience include: Assisting with the direction of air tactical operations for wildland fires suppression by providing aerial supervision and establishing priorities for initial and extended attacks; evaluating aircraft needs to perform tactical missions and establishing target identification and navigation requirements; and performing 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. In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation. Currency Requirement: Required to maintain currency once hired into the position. Currency of NWCG qualifications is not required for selection. If not currently qualified, the applicant must provide documented evidence that they have been fully qualified in the past, and are able to regain currency within one year of being hired. Failure to provide this documentation will result in disqualification. This position has been identified as (HIGH) or (MODERATE) or (LOW) Complexity under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) or Forest Service Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) and is subject to selective placement factor requirements contained in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard and Guide when filling this vacancy. IFPM or FS-FPM selective placement factors are made up of a primary and secondary National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) core Incident Management Qualifications and Required Training. The applicant must possess these qualifications at the applicable complexity level to be considered eligible for this position. 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. 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 See QUALIFICATIONS section for education requirements. 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 4: Intermountain Region - Celeste Hancock at celeste.hancock@usda.gov Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - Deirdre Cherry at deirdre.cherry@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 9: Eastern Region - Brian Hicks at brian.a.hicks@usda.gov or Dave Dukart at david.dukart@usda.gov Region 10: Alaska Region - Jason Heinz at Jason.heinz@usda.gov Job Corps Center: All Region- Dirk Huber at dirk.huber@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). Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, and telework 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 at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/ 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 Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov 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.