Fire Protection Specialist

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington Office, Division of Fire. More information about the surrounding location can be found here.

Major duties

As a Fire Protection Specialist (Fire Instructor), your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Serves as an instructor for all fire related suppression classes for course disciplines delivered in the NPS to include firefighter, driver operator, fire officer, live fire instructor and fire refresher. Provides technical expertise and serves as subject matter expert to assure language within aid agreement/contracts is comprehensive and meets the needs of any one NPS site requiring fire. Serves as the principal technical advisor for the Structure Fire Training Program in the areas of education and training systems design, course development, training implementation and evaluation, and qualification standards. Responsible for planning and developing experimental programs, evaluating results, and using pertinent findings to plan, develop, and implement new service-wide programs. Provides expert guidance and counsel for protection and suppression/training/prevention aspects of structural fire management policy development and implementation.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below: Selective Placement Factors (SPF): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified: SPF #1: Candidates must possess prior structural firefighting experience. Structural Fire: The Department of the Interior defines structural firefighting experience as any firefighting experience except wildland firefighting. Structural experience may be gained though work in suppressing fires such as those in buildings, ships, vehicles, airstrips and aircraft, and other non-wildland firefighting. This experience may be gained by serving in a structural firefighting position within the federal government or in an equivalent position outside the Federal government. Periods of structural firefighting gained as a volunteer or paid call firefighter can also be credited. In some instances, candidates may be hired in a dual wildland and structural firefighting role. You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your resume, including the months, days and hours per week at which the work was performed in order to be considered. Firefighter Special Retirement (Secondary Coverage): This is a secondary/administrative fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION.SPF #2: Successful completion and have currency in the following from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or Professional Qualifications (Pro Board): International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) -OR- Pro-Board Hazmat-Awareness; AND Hazmat-Operations; AND Firefighter I; Firefighter II; AND Fire Officer I; Fire Officer II; Fire Officer III; AND Fire Instructor I, Fire Instructor II; AND Fire Inspector I; Fire Inspector II OR Fire Inspector 2024 standard Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic entry requirement, applicants must have specialized experience to be found qualified. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade. To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, 1 year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 is required. Examples of work include, but are not limited to the following: Experience working in a progressive fire department as a chief fire officer (Asst. Fire chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Chief.) Directing or assisting in directing the activities of a fire department; acting as the sole authority and command of a fire scene. Recommending and enforcing all department policies, procedures, rules, and regulations. Providing guidance to department officers in the planning and implementation of operations, programs, training, and personnel management. Responsible for the general direction, or supervision and evaluation of all paid and reserve personnel, including employee safety, training and job performance. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by 09/11/2026. Eligibility and Qualification Requirements: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502.iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Direct Deposit Required. This is a bargaining unit position. Possess and maintain a valid driver's license. 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. 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. This is a uniformed position; you will be authorized for occasional wear of the NPS Class A uniform to represent the NPS and the Structural Fire Program. Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration, visit SSS.gov. A condition of employment for accepting this position, may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. 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.