Engineering Equipment Operator (wildland Fire Dozer) - Direct Hire Authority

Fire Equipment Operator

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Miles City, Montana. We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Responsibilities:

• Operates road graders, bulldozers, etc., to suppress wildfires or reclaim burned over areas.
• Clears brush and other debris from fire lines and clears ground and otherwise operates equipment to reclaim sites.
• Operates lowboys or water tenders.
• Operates a variety of heavy equipment on fire lines for the purpose of suppressing wildland fires.
• Maintains and repairs heavy equipment used in firefighting operations.
• Operates equipment in a safe manner according to safety rules and regulations.

Requirements:

Conditions of Employment:

Qualifications:

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 position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration. Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims. OPM Job Qualifications System for Trades and Labor Occupations will be used in determining applicant's qualifications. There is no specific length of training or experience required; however, the applicant must be able to demonstrate through experience shown in the resume materials, that they possess the skill level that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of an Engineering Equipment Operator (Wildland Fire Dozer) without more than normal supervision.

WG Screen-out Element: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. This must be verifiable on your application. Work is defined as: operating a variety of heavy equipment such as road graders, bulldozers, lowboys and water tenders. 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: Heavy physical effort is used by the operator in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle controls to operate the equipment and attachments. During fire suppression assignments, the operator is exposed to smoky conditions, fire burns, and other similar conditions.

Work Environment: Work is performed in all types of weather, often in an open driver's seat on hills, slopes, grades, rolling surfaces, and forests. The operator is subject to noise, vibration, dust, dirt, and fumes from the motor and exhaust and to smoke from wildfires.

This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements. The MEA for this position shall not exceed age 37. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. See Required Documents Section.