Forestry Technician (Lookout) (Fire) GS 5

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Forest Service

Baker City, Halfway, Oregon

Job Type: Full-Time (Seasonal)

Salary: $19.33 per hour

Start / End Dates: 06/29/25 to 10/5/25

Duties

  • Uses standard fire finders, compass, binoculars, protractors, and geographic maps to locate observed smoke. Estimates distance to smokes and probable size and characteristics of fires.
  • Plots location of fires using specialized equipment. Reports azimuth, distance, location, volume, color, behavior of smoke, and other pertinent information by radio.
  • Continues to observe the area and reports significant changes such as increased smoke, wind conditions, changes in color or volume of smoke, etc to dispatch.
  • Evaluates changing conditions with the use of weather instruments to interpret fire weather data, then advises Fire Suppression personnel of those changes.
  • Uses radio communications to warn personnel involved in the response to fires of changes that may affect them. Observes ground lightning strikes, reports resultant fires, and records storm path to assist in the observation for hold over fires.
  • Records and reports daily weather observations and records. Maintains photo records and log books identifying the source and duration of smoke plumes.
  • Makes minor adjustments to and maintains lookout equipment. Maintains station and grounds in a neat and orderly condition.
  • Operates a radio communications center which connects to other lookout stations, lookouts, agencies, and two interagency dispatch centers.
  • Receives and relays messages and information received relating to weather forecasts, fire hazard conditions, fire emergencies, accidents, and location of work crews and personnel.
  • Communicates the location of known down strikes and fires to aircraft during recon activities.
  • Serves as key contact at a lookout station visited by large numbers of people during the fire season.
  • Promotes the fire prevention program by explaining State and Federal laws, policies, and regulations, as well as fire prevention methods and procedures and fire hazard conditions.
  • Patrols district one day per week; maintains prevention signs; changes out prevention signs as needed; issues campfire permits; explains state and federal laws to visitors during patrol.
  • Reviews documents and reports for completeness and enters pertinent information into an automated tracking system; independently conducts the full range of database searches.
  • Reviews and processes documents and reports in accordance with established procedures.

Qualifications / Experience Level Required:

Conditions of Employment
  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-Verify.
  • Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver’s license; a commercial driver’s license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
  • This is a Test Designated Position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.
  • Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters.
  • This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336© (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions.

Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

GS-05: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level; OR a bachelor’s degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable); OR 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 college or university.

Examples of specialized experience includes: Serving as an advanced trainee performing specific wildland fire suppression duties, such as extinguished burning materials by moving dirt, or applying water by hose or retardant. Using a variety of hand and power tools, including chainsaws, firing equipment, or portable pumps to suppress fires. Or performing standard fuels management duties involving broadcast burning, hand and machine piling, helitorch, and other brush disposal techniques.

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.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information
PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2025 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between June 29, 2025 to October 5, 2025.

By selecting the “Location Negotiable” option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management’s website for additional information on pay rates.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency’s definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay.

This position is not eligible for telework. Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Housing: No

Contact:

Apply for This Position: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/832913700#

Application Closes: 03/13/25

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