JobSummary
Positions serve as a developmental trainee as a Registered Wildland Firefighter Apprentice on wildland fire crews involving the operation and maintenance of specialized tools or equipment. Information on the Wildland Fire Apprenticeship Program can be found at: https://www.nafri.gov/wfap/ Open to the first 500 applicants or until the closing date of 05/06/2026, whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.LowGrade
3HighGrade
5PromotionPotential
5SubAgencyName
US Wildland Fire ServiceOrganizationCodes
IN/IN01Relocation
FalseHiringPath
MCOTags
TotalOpenings
13AgencyMarketingStatement
Please visit find a park for additional park information.TravelCode
7ApplyOnlineUrl
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplyDetailStatusUrl
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatusMajorDuties
Education
When submitting college transcripts, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For more information, contact: Denali National Park and Preserve, Denali Park, Alaska - Matt Koller @ matt_koller@nps.gov Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake, California - Christopher Orr @ christopher_orr@nps.gov Lake Mead National Rec. Area, Boulder City, Nevada- Brian Kitchen @ brian_kitchen@nps.gov Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone, Wyoming- Jon Dentinger @ jon_dentinger@nps.gov Hawaii National Park, Hawaii-Matthew Desimone @ matthew_desimone@nps.gov or eric_m_johnson@nps.gov North Cascades National Park, Marblemount, Washington-Matt Ellis @ matt_ellis@nps.gov Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, California-Sara Martinez @ sara_martinez@nps.gov Santa Monica Mountains National Rec Area, Agoura Hills, California- Erik Rodriguez @ erik_rodriguez@nps.gov Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos, New Mexico-Brian Bolser @ brian_bolser@nps.gov Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park Colorado- Nate Williamson @ nathan_williamson@nps.gov Buffalo National River, Marble Falls, Arkansas-Tim Fondriest @ timothy_fondriest@nps.gov PCS may be available in the Marblemount, WA location only. APPOINTMENT TYPE: Full-Time, Career Seasonal These are Career-Seasonal positions in all locations except Hawaii. Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. Selectee is guaranteed to work at least 6 months per year but not more than 50 weeks per year, with the work schedule determined upon appointment. Work schedule and periods of non-pay status are contingent upon funding and operational needs. On an annual basis, employee signs a "career-seasonal" agreement with the supervisor which defines the work schedule for that year. NOTE - Please contact park for work schedules, most positions will work for 22 pay periods and be in non-pay for 4 pay periods from December through January of each year and will be expected to be in pay status from late January through November of each year. APPOINTMENT TYPE for Hawaii National Park: Full-time career/career conditional. Housing may be available depending on location, please reach out to the parks individually to find out what may be offered. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) OR Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF50 noting position, grade level, duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For Information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: Career Transition (opm.gov)Requirements
U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. High School or GED Certificate. Incumbents are required to sign the US Department of Labor apprentice agreement and adhere to the standards established by the National Interagency Joint Apprentice Agreement Committee. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training. As part of the apprenticeship program, you will travel and attend compulsory training in a residential academy setting. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. 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. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotorwing aircraft. You may be required to wear a uniform and comply with the US Wildland Fire uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Subject to frequent extended travel up to 21 or more nights per month particularly during fire season and you must complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card obtain a government charge card for travel. Prior to appointment, you must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. You will also be required to periodic medical examinations throughout employment. 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. *Learn more in Next Steps Section. Firearms in the back-country, or other locations, for non-law enforcement reasons such as protection from animals for positions is required at DENALI NPEvaluations
Applicants will be evaluated based on how well they meet the qualification requirements. Upon receipt of the completed application package, a review of the application will be made to ensure basic qualification requirements are met. This vacancy will be filled through DOI's Direct Hire Authority. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this Authority. All qualified applicants, as determined by the SHRO, will be referred for consideration. While managers and supervisors are not required to conduct interviews, it is highly recommended that they do so in order to assess the competencies of each applicant. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. If an applicant's resume is incomplete or does not support the requirements for minimum qualifications or specialized experience a rating of "ineligible" or "not qualified" will be applied and no consideration for employment will be granted. If a determination is made that an applicant has inflated qualifications or experience on the resume, the employee will receive no consideration for the position, as per OPM regulations.HowToApply
To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/05/2026. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account. Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application." Click here for USAJobs Help with "How to create an application" To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12930247 Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS. Select documents you want included in this application. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed. Select if you want to include your demographic information. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site." Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown. Upload any missing required documents or optional documents. Review and Submit Application. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job. Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. It is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.WhatToExpectNext
Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the qualified candidates, your name will be referred to the hiring official, and you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.RequiredDocuments
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/05/2026: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount qualified specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) - If you are applying under CTAP and ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record or other equivalent documentation which reflects completion of the required NWCG qualifications for this position. If a qualified veteran preference eligible as applicable to the Selective Factor Maximum Entry Age (MEA) under the Qualifications Section above: Qualified Veterans Preference Documentation that you meet Exception #2 under MEA: If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability. Other Supporting Documents Documentation that you meet Selective Factors. College transcripts are required if qualifying on education. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.Benefits
BenefitsUrl
https://home.nps.gov/aboutus/benefits.htmOtherInformation
Alaska currently does not have a state income tax. Salary and COLA subject to annual review and adjustment. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Statement: COLA pay in Alaska is 3.00% with the exception of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, which is 1.49%. COLA pay for the island of Hawaii is 2.91%. The salary annotated on this announcement do not includes locality OR the cost-of-living allowance. This notice is being issued to recruit personnel to occupations for which a critical hiring need has been identified. To assist in filling these positions, OPM has granted the Department of the Interior "Direct Hire Authority". A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the US Wildland Fire Service either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Physical Demands: Contacts are primarily with other members of the work unit, project, crew, and others outside the immediate wildland fire management organization. Other contacts may include the public, private land owners, tribal representatives, or local residents. Contacts are made to exchange information about wildland fire suppression activities. Contacts with the general public during incident operations may be to ensure the safety of others. Working Conditions: The work is primarily performed in forest, range and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Personnel must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework. This is a developmental bridge position which functions in a training environment in order to gain the necessary experience to prepare the incumbent for meeting and obtaining the wildland fire qualifications required, to be placed into the fully qualified Wildland Firefighter, GS-0456-5 position.KeyRequirements
WithinArea
FalseCommuteDistance
0ServiceType
01AnnouncementClosingType
03AnnouncementClosingTypeOption
500AgencyContactEmail
melissa_love@ios.doi.govAgencyContactPhone
0000000000SecurityClearance
Not RequiredDrugTestRequired
TruePositionSensitivitiy
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low RiskAdjudicationType