Summary Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.
To serve as a Lead Firefighter responsible for a major piece of firefighting equipment and its regularly assigned crew of three or more firefighters engaged in airfield and structural firefighting and rescue operations and the reduction and/or elimination of potential fire hazards. Duties
- Leads a crew of three or more firefighters, including at least one firefighter (GS-07 or military equivalent) assigned to man a major piece of motorized firefighting equipment such as a pumper, aerial ladder truck, or Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle in firefighting and rescue operations.
- Directs firefighting crew in the operation of firefighting vehicles and equipment. Directs driver-operator or drives to the scene of the fire following a predetermined route or selecting an alternate when necessary, and positions vehicle considering factors, such as wind direction, sources of water, and hazards from falling structures.
- Directs assigned crew in the performance of crash/rescue and firefighting duties at airfields handling complex (e.g. bombers, cargo, and passenger) aircraft; the performance of structural firefighting duties for a variety of facilities which may include research and/or large industrial complexes; and the performance of hazardous material (HAZMAT) containment and control and/or Basic Life Support duties.
- Leads assigned crew and performs emergency rescue of personnel and a variety of first aid measures to alleviate further injury and prepare the victim(s) for transport to a medical facility.
- Assigns crew members to perform maintenance of firefighting equipment and fire station facilities. Complies with health, safety, and environmental rules and procedures and performs work in a manner that enhances the safety of the work environment.
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, to include the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the GS-0081, Fire Protection and Prevention Series.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-07 have at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-07 (or higher) grade level or equivalent in other pay systems which demonstrates the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the positions: (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communication Note: Your resume must show supporting detail in describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.
FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-08 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.
Special Retirement Provisions Authority: FERS Position covered as rigorous under the FERS special retirement provisions for Federal firefighters [5 U.S.C. 8401(14), 5 U.S.C. 8412(d), and 5 CFR 842.802].
OR
Position covered as rigorous under the CSRS special retirement provisions for Federal firefighters [5 U.S.C. 8331(21), 5 U.S.C. 8336(c), and 5 CFR 831.902].
MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: Title 5 U.S.C. 3307 authorizes the head of any agency to establish a maximum entry age for the original appointment of individuals to the position of primary and rigorous firefighter. For initial appointments, applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by date of appointment. This age restriction does not apply to those who have previously served in a Federal civilian firefighting position covered by title 5 U.S.C. section 3307 provisions OR to qualified veteran preference eligibles who may be eligible for waivers in accordance with section 3 of DoDI 1400.25-V336. NOTE: Applicants who are past the maximum entry age, are re-entering into a primary/rigorous position and have previous special retirement coverage service - may be eligible to be rehired or reinstated to a primary/rigorous covered position without requiring a maximum entry age waiver if he/she will be able to complete 20 years of covered service by age 57.
Effective 1 Jun 00, all DoD firefighters and contract fire and emergency service personnel must be certified at the next higher level before being eligible for promotion to that level. Applicants must list their current firefighter related licenses and certificates on their resumes. Please attach copies of certifications when you submit the resume to verify qualification requirements for the position. Certification requirements for this position are: Fire Officer I, Fire Instructor I, Fire Inspector I, HAZMAT Awareness, HAZMAT Operations, HAZMAT Technician, Airport Firefighter (includes Firefighter I, II), Apparatus Driver Operator- Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Apparatus Driver Operator Pumper, Basic Life Support (EMT-B) certification, Current National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (NREMT-B) certification.
IMPORTANT: Please upload copies of your FF certs. If you have received a Student ID# for the DoD Fire and Emergency Services Certification Program website (https://go.usa.gov/xdsTR) please provide a copy of your most recent certification transcript. Note: If you do not know your Student ID, you may contact the AFCEC Reachback center at afcec.rbc@us.af.mil. If you do not have a Student ID and/or cannot access the Certificate Program site, you must upload a copy of your individual certifications or transcript at the time of your application or you will be removed from consideration.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
- Knowledge to drive and operate firefighting vehicles of significant complexity, of the principles of hydraulics as they pertain to water flow, water pressure, water levels, line (friction) losses, etc.; and of basic and specialized firefighting equipment (fire alarm system operation, fire extinguishing equipment operation, etc.), techniques, and procedures.
- Knowledge of emergency first aid techniques; safety requirements as outlined in applicable safety standards, regulations, and/or technical orders; and HAZMAT emergency response procedures, equipment, and identification.
- Knowledge of basic building design, construction, and occupancy; and of the latest changes in aircraft cockpit design, ordnance placement, and cabin layouts to include the operation of hatch or canopy release mechanisms, ejection seat mechanisms, and/or oxygen supply systems.
- Skill in detecting and recognizing lire hazards (potential and immediate), and operating communications equipment.
- Ability to maintain good working relations; communicate orally and in writing: and lift and carry heavy loads. Ability to provide leadership and integrate the actions of a crew under emergency conditions.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.How you will be evaluated Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
BASIS OF RATING:
Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable.
Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements
Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements.
Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements.
The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.
For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here.
APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.
Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. How to apply The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/05/2026
To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13104152
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Your Resume. If you submit more than one resume, only the most recent will be reviewed. The "most recent" is considered the resume with the latest timestamp.
- Resumes may not exceed two pages. The two-page resume ensures the most relevant experience is reviewed and considered, which is a common practice in both the public and private sectors. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Additional information on how to complete or update your resume may be located here.
- For qualification determination your resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient, and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Current Federal Civilian Employees may list any relevant performance related rating (given within the last three years) and/or incentive awards in your resume.
- Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy.
- Your name, first and last, MUST be included on your resume.
- A complete Application Questionnaire
- Additional Required Documents (see Required Documents section). Ensure all submitted documents contain your full name.
- Help recruiters find you. Make your resume and profile searchable, which means recruiters may contact you about possible jobs. Additional information may be located here.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant. Other information Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.
Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.
120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.
Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.
If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.