Job Type: Full-time, on-site, temporary
Location: National Park Service, multiple locations
Salary: $22.97-$27.36/hour
Application Deadline: November 30, 2025
Description:
These positions are located in the Fire and Aviation Management offices in the National Park Service. These positions are temporary in nature, not to exceed 1039 hours per service year. There is no career ladder implied or inferred.
Duties and Responsibilities:
GW-04 level:
Serves as a member of the wildland fire program by participating in fire response and monitoring, fuels management, and post-fire activities to achieve a wide range of program missions and goals.
Helps monitor and record fire characteristics such as rates of spread, flame length, fire behavior, and fire effects and plots fire progression on a map.
Observes, collects, and records fire-related weather, topography, and fuels data.
Participates in fire education activities such as conducting field trips, attending and presenting for public education and special events, and explaining fire management activities to visitors, youth groups, schools, and other audiences.
Enters fire effects and fuels field data into a centralized database using customized software.
Additional duties at the GW-05 level:
Serves as an experienced member in the wildland fire program by participating in fire response and monitoring, fuels management, and post-fire activities to achieve a wide range of program missions and goals.
Monitors and records fire characteristics such as rates of spread, flame length, fire behavior, and fire effects and plots fire progression on a map.
Participates in fire education activities such as conducting field trips, attending and presenting for public education and special events, and explaining fire management activities to visitors, youth groups, schools, and other audiences.
Enters fire effects and fuels field data into a centralized database using customized software.
Additional duties at the GW-06 level:
Serves as an experienced leader in the wildland fire program by directing and participating in fire response and monitoring, fuels management, and post-fire activities to achieve a wide range of program missions and goals.
Directs and ensures proper assembly of equipment and supplies needed for fire assignments or daily work assignments.
Reviews, provides input to, or drafts fire effects and fuels monitoring plans and reports.
Trains crew members and others to establish and collect fire effects and fuels data in a variety of fuel/vegetation types.
Requirements:
Conditions of employment
U.S. Citizenship required.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
This is a Test Designated Position. You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
The Work Capacity Test (WCT-Pack Test) as a method for assessing an employee's fitness levels for fire qualifications in the positions covered by this recruitment notice. Arduous fitness (WCT-Pack Test) will consist of completing a three-mile hike, within 45 minutes, while carrying a 45 pound pack. NOTE: Arduous Work Capacity Test (Physical Requirements and Work Capacity Tests | U.S. Department of the Interior)
Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and pass a medical examination given by an authorized government physician.
Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
Must be 18 years of age at time of close date of announcement.
Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
You will be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.
You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service fire uniform standards.
You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
Subject to frequent extended travel up to 14 nights a month particularly during fire season, and you must obtain a government charge card for travel.
Incumbent will be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
Government housing MAY be available, is on a bid system, and is not guaranteed.
FOR ALASKA: You may be required to carry a firearm in the back-country, or other locations, for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals. You must be free of any domestic violence charges/convictions.
Experience and education requirements
To qualify for a GW-04: You must meet at least one of the following:
1). Six months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS/GW-03 level duties in the Federal service, or equivalent. Examples of general experience include: Farming or ranching work that involved application of cultural, soil and water conservation practices, including safety and use of equipment, and that provided a basic understanding of land use; or forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work. Examples of specialized experience include: Forestry aid or technician work; farming or ranching work that provided a basic understanding of land use and management practices; forest or range fire control, prevention, or suppression work.
-OR-2). Successful completion of a 2-year course of study in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields of study.
-OR-3). Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology, or other related fields of study.
To qualify for a GW-05: You must meet at least one of the following:
1). One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW/GS-04 level in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes the following: Experience as a member of a crew performing fire effects monitoring, wildfire, fuels, prescribed fire, and/or post-fire operations, collecting vegetation, fuels, weather, fire behavior, or ecological data in any related job field; collecting data to assess burn severity or fire effects after prescribed fire or wildfire.
-OR-2). Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields of study.
-OR-3). Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology, or other related fields of study.
To qualify for a GW-06: You must meet the following:
1). One year of specialized experience at the GW/GS-05 level in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes the following: Experience as a member of a fire monitoring or wildland fire crew. The applicant must possess experience in any field that demonstrates the ability to lead or assist in leading others; executing fire management activities in fire suppression, fuels management, fire effects and fuels monitoring, and post-fire such as measuring and documenting vegetation and fuels information; identifying plant species; collecting and reporting fire behavior and weather data; performing wildfire, fuels, prescribed fire, and/or post-fire operations.
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.
