Albuquerque, New Mexico · Office of the Secretary of the Interior
This job needs fire experience. New to fire? See the entry-level jobs →
Pulled from this posting's official requirements — full text below.
This role is further up the ladder. If you're starting out, you'd begin as a rookie crewmember and work up to it. Here's the path:
Crewmember (Firefighter Type 2)
Senior firefighter · squad · engine operator
Squad boss → engine captain · crew boss
Superintendent · module leader · fire management officer
Specialist track: smokejumper, hotshot, and helitack crews are a parallel path you can jump to after a season on the ground.
Federal fire career structure (NWCG / DOI). Time to advance varies by experience, openings, and qualifications.
A short summary of the official job ad below. Check the official wording before you apply.
$68,351–$95,715/yr
base salary per year · GW-8–9
GW is the wildland firefighter pay scale (new in 2024 — it pays more than the older GS scale). The number is the grade — higher means more pay and responsibility.
That's the floor. Here's how a year stacks up once overtime (1.5×) and hazard pay (+25% on the fireline) during fire season are added on top of the base salary:
Slow season — few, short fires — little deployment
Typical busy season — regular fires, steady overtime
Big fire year — heavy deployment all summer
Estimate, based on the midpoint of this posting's pay range (for salaried roles, overtime is figured at the hourly-equivalent rate). The overtime hours — roughly 300 / 700 / 1,300 in a full 6-month season, scaled to the months you pick — are modeled on reported earnings.
Want the full pay picture? See how much wildland firefighters make by grade: base, overtime, hazard, incident pay, and per diem.
The big money is for fire work — not desk time.
These rules are the same for everyone, rookie to supervisor. Base pay comes from real job postings; the rules below come straight from federal law:
Overtime — time-and-a-half
For hours over 40 spent fighting fire. On a fire, even supervisors earn full overtime — regular office hours don't count.
✓ Federal law: Firefighter Pay Reform Act · 5 U.S.C. 5542 →Hazard pay — +25%
An extra quarter on top of your pay — but only for hours actually on the fire line. Not for office or standby time.
✓ Federal law: Federal hazard-pay rules · 5 CFR 550 →Incident pay — up to $9,000 a year
A daily bonus when you're sent to a multi-day fire away from your home base.
✓ Federal law: Incident Response Premium Pay · 5 U.S.C. 5545c →After you apply, call these numbers. A personal call is a great way to stand out from other applicants and improve your chances of getting hired.
Get the 5 phone numbers for this job.
The guide gives you every office's phone number on this site, the call script, and a tracker for your calls. $79.
NOTE: These numbers are public. You can find each one yourself on government websites. The guide just makes it easy: every number for this job, in one place.
What to say when you call
Get my exact phone scripts, the words I used when I got my job: what to say to the front desk, to the crew boss, and on a voicemail.
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This job is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. See the Forest Service buildings there, how often it hires, and the fires nearby.
Map: each dot is a town. Click a dot to open that town's page.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/23/2026, unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified. This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission, and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE Candidates must possess Primary/Rigorous wildland firefighting experience, gained through fire line work in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your resume, including the months, days, and hours per week at which the work was performed to be considered. Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization; - OR - At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive). Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement. -AND- In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. Only experience and education obtained by 11/23/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. Minimum Qualification To qualify for the GW-08 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GW-07 is required. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in the following; Dispatching and tracking of resources in an Initial Attack fire center, tracking and reporting of large fires and support of Fire Intelligence at the local or GACC level. This involves reporting fire indices, weather and spot weather occurrence. Identify shortages of critical resources and providing information for determining allocation and priority setting for these critical resources relating to personnel, aircraft, crews, equipment and supplies. Utilizes and maintains various computer programs and files: fire danger rating system, fire and aviation web applications, weather management system, automated dispatch system, and provides appropriate information and assistance to users. You must include hours per week worked. To qualify for the GW-09 grade level, 1 year or 12 months of specialized experience equivalent to GW-08 is required. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in the following; Monitoring and analyzing fire behavior; ordering, tracking and evaluating needs for suppression resources and preparedness readiness to respond to wildland fires; assisting in the development of incident priorities and strategies. Utilizes and maintains various computer programs and files: fire danger rating system, fire and aviation web applications, weather management system, automated dispatch system, and provides appropriate information and assistance to users. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Substitution of Education for Experience: For GW-08/09: Two full years (36 semester hours) of GRADUATE level college education or received a master's degree in a field related to range work such as a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a field directly related to this position. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience as listed above: To combine education and experience, first take the number of creditable credits. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts. For more information on grade progression (for candidates outside the federal government) please refer to the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) General Schedule Qualification Policies, section #5, Application of Qualifications Standards, section "o". Volunteer Experience: 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. Physical Demands: Work is primarily performed in an office setting. Long hours of sitting, intense concentration, and working at peak proficiency level with irregular breaks/mealtimes are frequent, prolonged demands of the job Employee is subject to work shifts of 12-14 hours per day for extensive periods. Vehicle and aircraft travel associated with field visits and other administrative travel may be required. Working Conditions: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and residences or commercial/government vehicles, (e.g, use of sage work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of Fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Assists with the overall execution of activities within the Fire Intelligence Section of the GACC. This involves interpreting fire indices, weather and occurrence patterns for the Area. Identify shortages of critical resources and provides information for determining allocation and priority setting for these critical resources relating to personnel, aircraft, crews, equipment and supplies. Provides assistance and support to the intelligence aspects of wildland fire suppression, preparedness and prescribed fire activities to representative to the field offices within the Area. Assists in the development of Intelligence Section planning documents, including operating plans, public affairs plans, communication plans and related sections in the Area Mobilization Guide. Assists with the collection of daily situation reports, consolidation of reports and preparations of the GACC incident situation report. Provides user training and oversight for the ICS-209, WFDSS, and other reporting programs. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
You will serve as a Forestry Technician (Dispatch - Assistance Intelligence Officer) GW-0462-08/09 working in Albuquerque, NM with Office of the Secretary of Interior. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. You may be required to occasional travel, particularly during fire season, and you must obtain a government charge card for travel.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and/or purchase authority. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the minimum qualification requirements of this position. Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine if you are minimally qualified for the position. If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted. Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All minimally qualified candidates will be referred for consideration. Please note that the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis. The competencies below provide an overview of what this position entails once encumbered: Technical Competence - Knowledge of how to perform one's job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience. Operations Support (Fire Operations) - Knowledge of procedures to ensure production or delivery of products and services, including tools and mechanisms for distributing new or enhanced software. Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13102957. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application. Applications must be received by 11/23/2026, 11:59pm ET to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. Probationary Period Continued: The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:- your performance and conduct;- the needs and interests of the agency;- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the 11/23/2026 of the announcement: Resumes must show relevant experience and other information. Your resume MUST list your education and/or work experience including (1) the dates that include month/year (mm/yy) of each employment, along with (2) the number of hours worked per week, and (3) work experience duties listed under each job entry. If experience is for a career ladder position, please ensure to clearly show how long you were working in each grade level. Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. No assumptions will be made about your experience and/or education. You are welcome to submit a cover letter. Resumes must also include name and how to best contact you, including email address and phone number. Do not include the following types of information in your resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information on What should I include in my federal resume and/or OPM Resume Writing Tips. In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the questionnaire), you are required to submit the following supplemental documentation as applicable: College Transcripts: If you are qualifying with education, you must provide copies of all your official or unofficial transcripts for verification from an accredited U.S. college/university by the closing date. Transcripts must include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average, or class ranking, institution name, and student name. from an accredited U.S. college/university by the closing date. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution, See Foreign Education. All selections and tentative offers of selection are contingent upon submission and verification of 'official' transcripts. CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: documentation verifying your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of the agency notice and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Failure to submit any required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents are submitted. Do not submit photographs or Adobe portfolio documents with your application package.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement. If you were not referred and/or have questions or concerns regarding your rating determination or referral status, in the interest of time, please submit your inquiry in writing within seven (7) calendar days of receiving a Notice of Results and Referral notification email. Inquiries may be submitted to contact listed on this announcement. Be sure to include the announcement number to assist our team in reviewing your inquiry.
**PLEASE NOTE - these positions are covered under the new GW pay table specific to Wildland Firefighters. The salary listed in the announcement is for the Locality Pay Area of Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay table. GW-08/09 Step 1 salary - Step 10 annual salary. Pay will vary based on grade level for which you're selected. PCS INFORMATION: Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. Telework: The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on an RPL, you may be given priority consideration.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), an organization within the Department of the Interior (DOI), responds to wildfires and promotes fire-resilient landscapes across more than 500 million acres of public and tribal lands nationwide. The USWFS has full program authority and coordinates the DOI wildland fire management program in its entirety. It ensures coordination within DOI, the Bureaus it serves, other federal agencies -- particularly the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service -- as well as non-federal agencies, state foresters, tribes, and a variety of stakeholder groups representing volunteer firefighters.
alyssa_onan@ios.doi.gov
(208) 387-5950
Have questions?
Book a 30-minute call with Graham. He got a Forest Service fire job in Montana with zero experience and worked the summer of 2026. Ask anything: the application, the pack test, what the money really looks like, what to pack. Parents welcome.
“Talking with Graham was super helpful, he explained the hiring process and how to successfully reach out to fire crews. He is very knowledgeable on the different paths to becoming a Wildland firefighter and answered all my questions.”
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"HowToApply": "Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select \"yes\" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13102957. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application. Applications must be received by 11/23/2026, 11:59pm ET to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. Probationary Period Continued: The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:- your performance and conduct;- the needs and interests of the agency;- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.",
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"Evaluations": "Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the minimum qualification requirements of this position. Once the job opportunity announcement closes, your resume and all supporting documents will be reviewed by HR to determine if you are minimally qualified for the position. If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of \"ineligible\" or \"not qualified\" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted. Due to this vacancy being filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to positions filled under this announcement. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the announcement. All minimally qualified candidates will be referred for consideration. Please note that the hiring office may conduct interviews at their discretion. Interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis. The competencies below provide an overview of what this position entails once encumbered: Technical Competence - Knowledge of how to perform one's job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience. Operations Support (Fire Operations) - Knowledge of procedures to ensure production or delivery of products and services, including tools and mechanisms for distributing new or enhanced software. Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.",
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"Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Assists with the overall execution of activities within the Fire Intelligence Section of the GACC. This involves interpreting fire indices, weather and occurrence patterns for the Area. Identify shortages of critical resources and provides information for determining allocation and priority setting for these critical resources relating to personnel, aircraft, crews, equipment and supplies. Provides assistance and support to the intelligence aspects of wildland fire suppression, preparedness and prescribed fire activities to representative to the field offices within the Area. Assists in the development of Intelligence Section planning documents, including operating plans, public affairs plans, communication plans and related sections in the Area Mobilization Guide. Assists with the collection of daily situation reports, consolidation of reports and preparations of the GACC incident situation report. Provides user training and oversight for the ICS-209, WFDSS, and other reporting programs. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level."
],
"ServiceType": "01",
"WhoMayApply": {
"Code": "",
"Name": ""
},
"Requirements": "Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. You will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and/or purchase authority. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.",
"SubAgencyName": "U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS)",
"TotalOpenings": "1",
"ApplyOnlineUrl": "https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/Apply",
"CommuteDistance": "0",
"DetailStatusUrl": "https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatus",
"KeyRequirements": [],
"RemoteIndicator": false,
"AdjudicationType": [
"Credentialing",
"Suitability/Fitness"
],
"DrugTestRequired": "True",
"OtherInformation": "**PLEASE NOTE - these positions are covered under the new GW pay table specific to Wildland Firefighters. The salary listed in the announcement is for the Locality Pay Area of Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay table. GW-08/09 Step 1 salary - Step 10 annual salary. Pay will vary based on grade level for which you're selected. PCS INFORMATION: Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. Telework: The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on an RPL, you may be given priority consideration.",
"TeleworkEligible": true,
"WhatToExpectNext": "You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account as we will not be responding to inquiries about the status of applications as long as the system has been updated. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement. If you were not referred and/or have questions or concerns regarding your rating determination or referral status, in the interest of time, please submit your inquiry in writing within seven (7) calendar days of receiving a Notice of Results and Referral notification email. Inquiries may be submitted to contact listed on this announcement. Be sure to include the announcement number to assist our team in reviewing your inquiry.",
"HiringPathDisplay": [
"Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)",
"Open to the public"
],
"OrganizationCodes": "IN/IN01",
"RequiredDocuments": "The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the 11/23/2026 of the announcement: Resumes must show relevant experience and other information. Your resume MUST list your education and/or work experience including (1) the dates that include month/year (mm/yy) of each employment, along with (2) the number of hours worked per week, and (3) work experience duties listed under each job entry. If experience is for a career ladder position, please ensure to clearly show how long you were working in each grade level. Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. No assumptions will be made about your experience and/or education. You are welcome to submit a cover letter. Resumes must also include name and how to best contact you, including email address and phone number. Do not include the following types of information in your resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information on What should I include in my federal resume and/or OPM Resume Writing Tips. In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the questionnaire), you are required to submit the following supplemental documentation as applicable: College Transcripts: If you are qualifying with education, you must provide copies of all your official or unofficial transcripts for verification from an accredited U.S. college/university by the closing date. Transcripts must include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average, or class ranking, institution name, and student name. from an accredited U.S. college/university by the closing date. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution, See Foreign Education. All selections and tentative offers of selection are contingent upon submission and verification of 'official' transcripts. CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: documentation verifying your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of the agency notice and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Failure to submit any required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents are submitted. Do not submit photographs or Adobe portfolio documents with your application package.",
"SecurityClearance": "Not Required",
"AgencyContactEmail": "alyssa_onan@ios.doi.gov",
"AgencyContactPhone": "(208) 387-5950",
"PromotionPotential": "9",
"FinancialDisclosure": false,
"BargainingUnitStatus": false,
"PositionSensitivitiy": "Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk",
"AnnouncementClosingType": "01",
"AgencyMarketingStatement": "The U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), an organization within the Department of the Interior (DOI), responds to wildfires and promotes fire-resilient landscapes across more than 500 million acres of public and tribal lands nationwide. The USWFS has full program authority and coordinates the DOI wildland fire management program in its entirety. It ensures coordination within DOI, the Bureaus it serves, other federal agencies -- particularly the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service -- as well as non-federal agencies, state foresters, tribes, and a variety of stakeholder groups representing volunteer firefighters.",
"BenefitsDisplayDefaultText": true,
"PromotionPotentialAdditionalText": "This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GW-09. Please see \"Additional Information\" for more details."
},
"IsRadialSearch": false
},
"SubAgency": "U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS)",
"PositionID": "WFSDHA-27-13102957-ARO-B",
"JobCategory": [
{
"Code": "0462",
"Name": "Forestry Technician"
}
],
"PositionURI": "https://www.usajobs.gov:443/job/892182200",
"PositionTitle": "Forestry Technician (Dispatch - Assistance Intelligence Officer)",
"DepartmentName": "Department of the Interior",
"PositionEndDate": "2026-11-23T23:59:59.9970",
"OrganizationName": "Office of the Secretary of the Interior",
"PositionLocation": [
{
"CityName": "Albuquerque, New Mexico",
"Latitude": 35.0842,
"Longitude": -106.649,
"CountryCode": "United States",
"LocationName": "Albuquerque, New Mexico",
"CountrySubDivisionCode": "New Mexico"
}
],
"PositionSchedule": [
{
"Code": "1",
"Name": ""
}
],
"PositionStartDate": "2026-11-09T09:14:41.9430",
"ApplicationCloseDate": "2026-11-23T23:59:59.9970",
"PositionOfferingType": [
{
"Code": "15317",
"Name": "This is a permanent appointment."
}
],
"PositionRemuneration": [
{
"Description": "Per Year",
"MaximumRange": "95715",
"MinimumRange": "68351",
"RateIntervalCode": "PA"
}
],
"PublicationStartDate": "2026-11-09T09:14:41.9430",
"QualificationSummary": "All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/23/2026, unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either \"full-time\" (or \"40 hours a week\") or \"part-time\" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified. This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission, and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE Candidates must possess Primary/Rigorous wildland firefighting experience, gained through fire line work in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your resume, including the months, days, and hours per week at which the work was performed to be considered. Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization; - OR - At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive). Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement. -AND- In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. Only experience and education obtained by 11/23/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. Minimum Qualification To qualify for the GW-08 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GW-07 is required. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in the following; Dispatching and tracking of resources in an Initial Attack fire center, tracking and reporting of large fires and support of Fire Intelligence at the local or GACC level. This involves reporting fire indices, weather and spot weather occurrence. Identify shortages of critical resources and providing information for determining allocation and priority setting for these critical resources relating to personnel, aircraft, crews, equipment and supplies. Utilizes and maintains various computer programs and files: fire danger rating system, fire and aviation web applications, weather management system, automated dispatch system, and provides appropriate information and assistance to users. You must include hours per week worked. To qualify for the GW-09 grade level, 1 year or 12 months of specialized experience equivalent to GW-08 is required. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in the following; Monitoring and analyzing fire behavior; ordering, tracking and evaluating needs for suppression resources and preparedness readiness to respond to wildland fires; assisting in the development of incident priorities and strategies. Utilizes and maintains various computer programs and files: fire danger rating system, fire and aviation web applications, weather management system, automated dispatch system, and provides appropriate information and assistance to users. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Substitution of Education for Experience: For GW-08/09: Two full years (36 semester hours) of GRADUATE level college education or received a master's degree in a field related to range work such as a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a field directly related to this position. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience as listed above: To combine education and experience, first take the number of creditable credits. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts. For more information on grade progression (for candidates outside the federal government) please refer to the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) General Schedule Qualification Policies, section #5, Application of Qualifications Standards, section \"o\". Volunteer Experience: 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. Physical Demands: Work is primarily performed in an office setting. Long hours of sitting, intense concentration, and working at peak proficiency level with irregular breaks/mealtimes are frequent, prolonged demands of the job Employee is subject to work shifts of 12-14 hours per day for extensive periods. Vehicle and aircraft travel associated with field visits and other administrative travel may be required. Working Conditions: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and residences or commercial/government vehicles, (e.g, use of sage work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of Fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.",
"AnnouncementClosingType": "01",
"PositionLocationDisplay": "Albuquerque, New Mexico",
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