Intelligence Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority
This Wildland Firefighter (Situation Intelligence Assistant) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-11 working at the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) in the following location:

• Boise, Idaho

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Duties
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As a Wildland Firefighter (Situational Intelligence Assistant) your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Independently coordinates fire intelligence activities supporting operations within an interagency coordination center and provides analytical support related to intelligence functions that support wildland fire suppression, preparedness, and prescribed fire activities.
• Interprets fire danger indices, fuel conditions, weather forecasts, wildfire intelligence center information, and historical fire occurrence data to assess current and anticipated fire activity within the geographic area or nationally, depending on the coordination center assignment.
• Analyzes fire potential and evaluates burning conditions across fuel models to support fire behavior assessments used by fire managers, agency administrators, and incident management personnel.
• Evaluates multiple sources of fire intelligence information to identify emerging fire activity trends, potential problem areas, and resource shortages affecting coordination center operations.
• Prepares intelligence products summarizing fire activity, incident complexity, resource commitments, environmental conditions, and projected fire potential.
• Provides technical information and analytical support for development or revision of operational guidance, information bulletins, and coordination center procedures related to intelligence activities.
• Participates in agency and interagency meetings, working groups, and committees related to fire intelligence, predictive services, and coordination center operations.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• 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.
• A condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• Subject to frequent extended travel up to 25% of the time, particularly during fire season, and you must obtain a government charge card for travel.

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.
1.) Prior Primary Wildland Firefighting Experience: 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. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement.
In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.
Only experience and education obtained by 08/24/2026 will be considered.
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:
For the GW-11 level:
To qualify for the GW-11 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-09 or higher, within of the Federal service is required. Examples of qualifying experience include but are not limited to: Collecting and consolidating wildland fire incident situation data and assisting in preparing situation reports or briefings; Monitoring fire activity, weather, fuels, and resource status to identify developing issues or potential shortages; Using wildland fire intelligence systems to gather data, produce standard reports, or support users; Communicate with interagency partners to verify incident information and help maintain accurate national resource and incident status; Assist with maintaining reporting procedures, operating plans, and other intelligence related administrative documents.
OR
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-10 level, or higher, outside of the Federal service; Examples of qualifying experience include but are not limited to: Directing the collection and consolidation of wildland fire incident situation data and independently preparing situation reports or briefings; Monitoring fire activity, weather, fuels, and resource status to identify developing issues or potential shortages; Using wildland fire intelligence systems to gather data, produce standard reports, or support users; Communicate with interagency partners to verify incident information and help maintain accurate national resource and incident status; Maintaining reporting procedures, operating plans, and other intelligence related administrative documents.
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.
Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office or coordination center environment. Duties involve extended computer use and may require long work hours during emergency operations.
Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily in a coordination center environment. During periods of high fire activity the incumbent may work extended hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Education
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at this grade level.
Additional information
The new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025 was used to indicate the salary in this announcement. Salaries may vary dependent upon location selected. You can access the new pay schedule here.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on an RPL, you may be given priority consideration.
PCS INFORMATION:-Yes, entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. All moving expenses are taxable.
Telework: This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.
Additional Vacancies: 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.
Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.
Probation/Trial Period Con't: Probationary period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Under completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.