Training Program Officer

About the company

This position is located within the National Office Fire and Safety, Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) organization. The incumbent is responsible for providing technical/administrative oversight and management of the Forest Service training program, as well as supervision of the FAM Training and Workforce Development Staff. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Heath Cota at heath.cota@usda.gov. USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Your tasks

• Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-14 level.
• Oversees and coordinates the national efforts to provide comprehensive oversight of Fire and Aviation training and delivery, including training curriculum, course content, and instruction methodology against short and long term agency needs.
• Serves as an advisor and consultant on applicability of new and emerging technologies, instruction methods, and solutions to unusual and unprecedented fire problems that require new approaches to training techniques and workforce development.
• Plans long term development and short term strategy for continuing development and application of fire and aviation training and technology transfer to Forest Service personnel to improve skills at all levels.
• Continually integrates findings from internal and interagency fire and aviation reviews and program direction into National Training efforts.
• Coordinates with National and Regional training staff experts on the development of informational and advisory technical reports and articles on the latest technical improvements to apply at national level.
• Provides oversight to Forest Service as well as interagency steering committees such as but not inclusive of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) as well as other initiatives and programs to be developed.
• Responsible for coordinating and overseeing that FAM Training Branch programs goals and funding is included in Washington Office program direction, annual budget allocations, and integrated with WO program of work.
• Determines need for, initiates, recommends and implements policies, programs, procedures and standards to be used in assigned activities as broad guides by contractors, cooperators, and agency personnel.
• Serve as program lead for the development, review, and updates to agency policies as it relates to fire and aviation training, refreshers, and workforce development.

Requirements

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. 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.

Specialized Experience Requirement: GW-13: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-12 level. Examples of specialized experience may include: Assisted in coordination of regional or national efforts and/or provided limited oversight regarding Fire and/or Aviation training programs and/or standards that include items such as the training delivery, recommending and/or updating curriculum, evaluating course content and/or instructional design methodology to align with agency and/or interagency standards; Assisted in regional or national efforts to review qualifications, certifications, and/or operational guides regarding agency and/or interagency standards. GW-14: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-13 level. Examples of specialized experience may include: Managed and coordinated regional or national efforts and provided oversight of Fire and/or Aviation training programs and/or standards that include items such as training delivery, establishing training curriculum and/or curriculum updates, approving course content, and/or instructional design methodology to align with agency and/or interagency standards; Participated in regional or national efforts to review qualifications, certifications, and/or operational guides to validate or update agency and/or interagency standards; Experience as a program manager determining training needs for the unit.

Selective Placement Factors FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: 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. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Other

Requirements Conditions of Employment: Must be a U.S. Citizen or 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. Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.gov. Must be 18 years of age. The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations. This is a drug testing 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. Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable). There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here; however, applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made. New Forest Service supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.