National Firefighter Health Branch Chief

This position is located within the National Office Fire and Safety, Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) organization. The incumbent serves as the National Firefighter Health Branch Chief within the Risk Management Program with a focus on wildland firefighter health and wellness program coordination and leadership, working closely with the Department of the Interior's Wildland Fire Service in the implementation of programs. USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties listed are at the full performance level GW-14.

Plan and coordinate national firefighter studies and analysis of feedback and trends to determine the effectiveness in the implementation of federal health and wellbeing programs.

Develop new ways to measure program accomplishments, results, and effectiveness.

Responsible for the effective design and implementation of the Forest Service’s wildland firefighter medical program, encompassing pre-employment medical screening and Medical Qualifications.

Evaluate the expansion of firefighter health and wellness efforts across the federal agencies, and partner with non-federal entities for comprehensive approaches across the broader wildland fire system.

Coordinate and evaluate firefighter health training with clinical experts and peers in training management programs to meet the needs of the federal wildland fire programs.

Organize and supervise work groups and committees responsible for scoping, developing, revising and implementing programs or policies intended to improve the health and resilience of wildland firefighters.

Determine priorities for initiatives, programs or capabilities that would serve to increase wildland firefighter support before, during, and after critical incidents.

Studies and analyzes the wildland firefighter behavioral health program and develops national policy to provide for consistency across the entire fire management program.

Recommends the preferred course of action for adoption of new and evolving programs or capabilities to reduce trauma and increase resilience.

Provide consultation and advice on safety management systems; Agency doctrine, policy, principles; standards; and current and proposed legislation and regulation.

Actively participates in high level conferences, negotiations and meetings concerning integration of the agency interest in behavioral health programs, which includes cancer prevention, physical wellness, medical surveillance, and suicide prevention.

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. 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. 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.

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