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Summary Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This is a Public Notice for positions being filled under the Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) for Wildland Fire. Under this recruitment procedure applications will be accepted for each location identified in this Public Notice. Veterans' Preference is not applicable to this announcement. To learn more about Direct-Hire Authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information - DHA. Responsibilities The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking for temporary employees to work as Fire Lookouts in Ashland, MT. A Fire Lookout (GS-03 Forestry Aid) maintains surveillance to detect and report the occurrence of fires, status of fires, suspicious smokes, smoke like dusts or unusual volumes of legitimate smoke. Uses standard equipment to locate smokes reported by others, estimate distances, ascertain probable distances to smokes, and supplies specific observations. Records and reports daily weather observations. A Fire Lookout (GS-04 Forestry Technician) maintains surveillance to detect and report the occurrence of fires, status for fires, suspicious smokes, smoke like dusts, or unusual volumes of legitimate smoke. Uses standard equipment to locate smokes reported by others, estimate distances, ascertain probable distances to smokes, ascertain the probable size and characteristics of fires. Reports and locates fires on maps. Records and reports daily weather observations. Maintains or directs others in maintaining records and log books. For contact information and housing availability, visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES website. To view a list of contacts by agency, select Montana. For more information about temporary fire positions with DOI, go to the following link: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/. Requirements Conditions of Employment SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service or exempt. To register or verify your registration, go to the Selective Service System website. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS: Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Failure to satisfy the background check will result in cancellation of offer of employment or may be grounds for termination. Positions may require a valid state driver's license. You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment. Qualifications Hours worked per week must be stated for each season and position held in your resume. ***Experience listed will need to include specific duties about the work being performed and should not be only the general language stated below in the examples. To qualify for a GS-03 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). Six (6) months of general work experience which can be any work experience. -OR- 2). One (1) year of education above the high school level, which included at least six (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- 3). A combination of education and work experience as described above. To qualify for a GS-04 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). Six (6) months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND six (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 or work as a wildland fire lookout. -OR- 2). Two (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 fisheries 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- 3). An equivalent combination of the education and experience specified above. For more information regarding basic qualifications and combining education and experience click here. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: The position is primarily sedentary in nature, but the employee must meet the established physical requirements for taking initial attack action on fires occuring within the immediate vicinity of the lookout tower. If assigned firefighting reposnsibilities, the employee is subject to the arduous physical requirements of the GS-455/462 standard. Work Environment: The position primarily operates within an office type environment at an isolated work location. When assigned to suppression activites, however, the employee will be exposed to various terrain, weather, smoke and fire conditions. Special safety precautions and the use of safety equipment is required during these assignments. Education Proof of Education: To qualify based on education, you MUST submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you MUST show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Pay rates vary depending on location. For additional information on pay rates: Click here for the OPM Salaries and Wages to calculate locality pay. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. For more information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified if they meet minimum qualifications for this position. Temporary employees hired in wildland fire or wildland fire support positions are eligible for the following: -Annual, sick leave, and paid federal holidays -Depending on tour of duty - Sunday, holiday, shift differential and/or hazard pay -Participation in the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) program - Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee.