Fire Chief Jobs in Hawaii (NOW HIRING)

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority
This Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Deputy Unit Fire Chief) - Direct Hire Authority position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-12 working in the following location(s):

• Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
• Yosemite National Park, California

Qualifications:

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement Factor(s): 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.

This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal Government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE for incumbents of this position. This experience must be clearly documented in your resume with specific to and from dates, description of work performed, and hours worked per week in order to be considered.

Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either:

• At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization; OR
• At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).

Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume with specific to and from dates, description of work performed, and hours worked per week in order to be considered.
This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Unit Fire Program Manager - High Complexity and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM). To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected):
SELECTIVE FACTORS: For this Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Deputy Unit Fire Chief) - Direct Hire Authority position you must also meet the following selective placement factors:

Pathway 1:
A. Division Group Supervisor (DIVS); AND
B. Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2)
-OR-
Pathway 2:
A. Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS); AND
B. Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3)
To meet additional IFPM training requirements, as a condition of employment, you must complete the following within one year of the entry on duty date: Fire Program Management (M-581)

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.
Only experience and education obtained by 08/20/2026 will be considered.
Specialized Experience: Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
Minimum Qualification
To qualify for the GW-12 level:
You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GW-11 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: advising high level management officials on multiple incident responses and/or directing suppression/fuels work projects; advising or coordinating wildland fire logistical needs, and/or interfacing with management, cooperators, and the public; reviewing wildland fire preparedness actions and operating plans; advising, coordinating and implementing policy to support wildland fire management programs and operations.
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.
*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.
Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting. Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.
FERS TRANSFER REQUIREMENT: To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under CSRS, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. To be eligible for Secondary retirement coverage under FERS, an employee must: 1) transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position, AND 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary rigorous position including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld, AND 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary rigorous position, except for any break in employment from a secondary position that began with involuntary separation (not for cause). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your special retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your work history or other documentation that demonstrates work history of approved retirement covered positions). You must let this office know if you are in a Primary retirement covered position.

Education:

IMPORTANT - There is no education substitute for experience at the GW-0456-12 grade level.
Position Information:
**PLEASE NOTE - these positions are covered under the new GW pay table specific to Wildland Firefighters. The salary listed in the announcement is for the RUS pay table: GW RUS Pay Table.

• Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii NP, HI, covered under the State of Hawaii Pay table.
• Yosemite National Park, El Portal & Yosemite NP, CA, covered under the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA Pay Table.

In order to be considered for any duty location, ensure desired locations are selected. Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected.
PCS entitlements authorized for position at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park only.
IMPORTANT, Special Consideration: The island of Hawai'i can be subject to high concentrations of volcanic fumes, especially sulfur dioxide gases and particulates. The fumes are known to be hazardous to an unborn fetus, and persons with heart and respiratory problems. Long-term effects on normal healthy persons are unknown.
In addition to the yearly salary, the position in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park entitled to a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) as determined by https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates .This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and rate decrease.
If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed.
One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area.
Physical Demands: Normally the work is sedentary but often requires physical exertion while overseeing fire suppression activities including walking over rough, steep, uneven terrain in all types of weather. The incumbent is faced with emergency situations at all hours and must respond quickly. The
position may require long shifts or multi-day assignments under primitive living conditions during emergencies. During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions.
Working Conditions: Although work is generally performed in an office setting, intermittent field work is involved. Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions. The nature of fire investigation work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn. The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others.Employment Type: OTHER