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Forestry Technician (Engine Captain) Fire

This position is available in the following series:

Position Overview

Do you need a career that is as engaging as it is challenging? Becoming an Engine Captain you will be providing leadership and performing firefighting work! We are looking for highly skilled and organized individuals to make up an engine crew capable of controlling wildland fires. You will be protecting this gorgeous country and protecting its valuable natural resources, government facilities, life and private property from destruction by natural or person caused incidents. 

This position is represented at the following bureaus

Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
National Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Candidate Description

The ideal candidate will have technical knowledge of the practices, methods, and techniques of wildland fire management. Which includes fire behavior, fire organizations (i.e. Incident Command System), fire equipment, fire line construction to suppress and direct suppression of fires. Knowledge of tactics and strategies specific to the wildland urban interface, including: placement of personnel and equipment, triage techniques, backfiring operations, and urban water supply systems 

Work Environment

The work is primarily performed in forest and range environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees Fahrenheit to below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material 

Minimum Education Requirements

Please see the Individual Occupation Requirements and the Technical and Medical Support Positions Group Qualification Standard on the OPM websites.

Primary Core Education Requirement: ENGB from National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Secondary Core Education Requirement: ICT5 from National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Required Training: S-211 from National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Career Level Requirements

Responsibilities by Level

  • Mid:

    • Assist in the development and implementation of training programs (mandatory, formal and informal) to comply with policy and regulations.  
    • Interacts with regional, state, and/or national operations committees. Engine supervisors may serves as a unit representative on national committees.  
    • Conducts interviews for positions supervised; recommends appointment, promotion, and/or reassignment for such positions.  

  • Journey:

    • With assistance from the supervisor, identifies and analyzes tactics and strategies employed on these incidents, and revises and/or develops approaches in view of specific incident conditions.  
    • May attend state, regional, and/or national pre/post season meetings with supervisor or other representatives.  

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Strengths by Level

Mid 7
Journey 8
  • Accountability
    Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Decision Making
    Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Oral Communication
    Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Physical Strength and Agility
    Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Problem Solving
    Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Resilience
    Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Stamina
    Exerts oneself physically over long periods of time without tiring (which may include performing repetitive tasks such as data entry or coding).
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Teamwork
    Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Technical Competence
    Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8
  • Writing
    Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
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    Mid 7
    Journey 8