Wildland Firefighter (Prevention).

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is hiring a Wildland Firefighter (Prevention) in Durban, South Africa. The role involves leading fire management efforts, conducting risk assessments, managing ignition sources, and implementing hazard mitigation strategies. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and possess specialized experience in wildfire management and prevention. The position requires a valid state driver's license and may involve a probationary period.
Duties
• Serve as the Regional Prevention/Wildland Urban Interface Specialist.
• Lead Regional Offices, agencies, and tribes in key fire management areas.
• Focus on wildland fire prevention.
• Conduct risk assessments to mitigate fire hazards.
• Manage ignition sources to reduce fire occurrences.
• Implement hazard mitigation strategies to protect communities.
• Direct fire management programs to minimize losses.
• Coordinate efforts across agencies to enhance interagency cooperation.
• Oversee pre-suppression components to strengthen fire preparedness.
• Determine, develop, and provide program expertise and materials to all supported programs.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Indian Preference applies.
• Eligibility Documentation Required (i.e. DD-214, BIA Form 4432, SF-50 etc.).
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
• You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
• Be sure to read the “How to Apply” and “Required Documents” Sections.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:

In order to be rated as minimally qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the minimum qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. Failure to provide required information on resume could result in ineligibility for consideration.

For GS-12: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples:
• Sufficient knowledge to interpret and apply wildfire investigation techniques, policies and procedures and responsibilities pertaining to wildfire trespass.
• Experience in interpreting Departmental policy to provide input to revise, rewrite or draft state/regional policy and direction for the wildfire prevention program.
• Knowledge of educational training principles and techniques, meeting management skills, and the ability to effectively organize, coordinate and present workshops and training sessions involving all aspects of wildland fire prevention and education.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience of wildland fire management, fuels management, fire behavior, fire mitigation, fire prevention risk assessment and planning, and fire effects on ecosystems to comprehend, utilize and apply these principles to mitigate the effects of unwanted fire and to convey these concepts to target audiences.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level.

BIA Statement Of Indian Preference

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles. For more information about Indian preference or to obtain BIA Form 4432 application instructions, please visit:

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA): You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance documentation for each period of temporary/term employment if you are requesting to be considered Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibility. Applicants eligible under PL-114-47,

Your performance must have been evaluated as being at an acceptable level for the entire applicable period(s). "Required documentation" includes:
• SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action: first, any extension of appointment, and the last SF-50 for each appointment verifying the Position Occupied code (Block 34) is-Competitive Service.
• Documentation supporting satisfactory performance (i.e. Employee Performance and Appraisal Plan (EPAP)) for each appointment.

Applicants are encouraged to combine all required documents into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping documents into files will simplify the application process. Failure to submit required documentation will result in loss of consideration.

Public Land Corps (PLC): A copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Competitive Hiring Based for Public Land Corps Service.

Physical Demands

The work is primarily sedentary, although a level of physical fitness is required which will allow for work during periods of extended stress.

Work Environment

Although work is generally performed in an office setting. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions were falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire investigation work requires that

protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.

FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL RETIREMENT: This is a secondary/administrative fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION.

Note: The salaries listed in this announcement reflect the permanent pay increases for federal wildland firefighters, effective March 23, 2025. The new pay schedule is accessible here: . In addition to the listed special base rate salary, this position is also eligible for Incident Response Premium when incumbent is deployed to a qualifying incident, which may significantly increase overall compensation.

THIS IS A DRUG TESTING DESIGNATED POSITION in accordance with Executive Order 12564, and under the Department's Drug Free Workplace Program. Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

Education

There is no substitution of education for specialize experience at the GS-12 and above grade levels.

Additional information

Verify Employment Eligibility (E-Verify): DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they receive a minimum score of 85 based on the rating criteria used for this position.

Permanent Change in Station (PCS): Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. See "Other" section for additional information on 2017 Tax Cuts as related to Permanent Change in Station (PCS).

For additional information on WTA/RITA allowances and eligibilities, please visit:

Telework: The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Incentives: Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. 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. For information visit: or or

FOLLOW UP: Check your application status before the announcement closes. It is your responsibility to ensure that a complete application (including a resume, on-line questionnaire, and applicable supplemental documentation) is received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on of the vacancy announcement. NOTE: Technical problems may take at least 1 business day to resolve; therefore, you are highly encouraged to complete the application process prior to the closing date.
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.