Telework eligibleFederal

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Branch Chief - Fuels & Planning)

Office of the Secretary of the Interior · Department of the Interior

Wildland Fire Management

Salary
$112,824–$172,846/year
Grade
13
Work location
Telework eligible · Wapello, Iowa; Porter, Indiana; Cambridge, Maryland +3 more
Schedule
Full-time
Posted
Oct 14, 2026
Apply by
Oct 20, 2026
Category
Wildland Fire Management

Apply on USAJOBS →

Source: USAJOBS. Applications happen on the original posting, not on this site.

Summary

This position is a Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Branch Chief - Fuels & Planning), GW-0456-13 located within the Department of the Interior, US Wildland Fire Service, Eastern Area Program Office. The official duty location will be based on the selectee. In order to be considered for any of the advertised duty locations, ensure desired locations are selected. Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected.

Duties

The major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Supervise and develop staff by planning workloads, setting priorities, managing performance, supporting employee development, and ensuring accomplishment of organizational goals. Provides technical planning and program oversight by leading complex projects, integrating scientific and operational information, and recommending improvements to resource management and organizational effectiveness. Coordinates policy implementation and partnerships by collaborating with Federal, Tribal, state, local, and interagency partners to ensure consistent program execution. Evaluates program accomplishments, identifies emerging issues, recommends corrective actions, and develops process improvements that enhance program effectiveness, workforce development, and strategic initiatives. Leads strategic planning for wildland fire management programs by developing long-range goals, priorities, implementation strategies, and performance measures aligned with agency objectives. Physical Demands - Work is primarily sedentary, although it does require frequent travel by scheduled and chartered aircraft or ground vehicles to various destinations in the western U.S. Occasionally the incumbent must travel by foot to remote field locations to conduct technical investigations and site visits. During fire season, the position demands extended, and variable work shifts and on-call status while away from work. Work Environment - Most work is performed in an office or meeting room setting; occasionally exposure to risk or discomfort is encountered while conducting visits to the field due to extreme temperatures, topography, and remote living conditions. While on incident assignments, the incumbent may be exposed to temperature extremes, dust, smoke, noise, rugged topography, high-risk flight in fixed or rotor wing aircraft, extended outdoor living and high-stress emergency activities. Salary Information GW-13 $112,824 per annum. - $172,846 per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. This position requires completion of a one year supervisory/managerial probationary period, if one has not previously been completed. Direct Deposit participation required. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify registration with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Prior to appointment, the selectee will be required to take and pass, at Federal expense: a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use. From thereon, the incumbent may be subject to random drug testing. Selectee must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if they are maintaining the fitness standards for this position. Pass the work capacity test for arduous positions. Must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position. Subject to frequent extended travel, particularly during fire season. Complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at the GW-13 level.

How you will be evaluated

--Basis of Rating: Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., two-page resume, supporting documents) and the result of the identified assessment required for this position. --Structured Resume Assessment: If you meet the eligibility and basic qualification requirements for this position, subject-matter-experts (SMEs) will perform a structured review of your resume to evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and competences as they directly relate to the duties of this position. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume. The assessments will evaluate you on the following general/technical competencies required to perform the job; please do not provide a separate written response: Fire Management Planning and Evaluating Leadership Administration and Management --NOTE: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration. --Resume Length: Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. DUE WEIGHT Due Weight Consideration is a review process used to provide consideration to performance appraisals and awards submitted with each application on a used merit promotion certificate and factoring the results into the merit promotion selection process. Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. It is your responsibility to obtain and upload your performance appraisal/evaluation and/or list of awards prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement. To preview the application click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13088111

About this listing

Office of the Secretary of the Interior has 13 open listings on the site: all telework eligible. This one is telework eligible, based in Wapello, Iowa and 5 other locations. See all Office of the Secretary of the Interior listings, or read what fully remote and telework eligible mean.

Advertised pay is $112,824 to $172,846 a year.

This announcement is open for 6 days, from Oct 14, 2026 to Oct 20, 2026. Among currently open federal postings, the typical advertised window is about 14 days. As of Oct 15, 2026, it closes in 5 days.

Who can apply: federal employees eligible for career transition programs, employees of the hiring agency and land and base management employees. This announcement is not open to the general public. The announcement's "This job is open to" section has the exact eligibility rules.

Similar open roles

Context computed from the GovRemoteJobs inventory as of Oct 15, 2026, refreshed daily.

Check your resume against this job

Rule-based, on-device analysis — your resume text is never sent to our servers or stored anywhere. Not a substitute for professional resume review.