United States Department of the Interior Ge?
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 4

Washington, DC 20240 TAKE PRIDE?
'INAMERICA

MAY 1 3 2004
PERSONNEL BULLETIN NO. 04-10

SUBJECT: Wildland Fire Program Standardized Position Descriptions (PDs)

ts Purpose. This bulletin establishes Department of the Interior (DOI) policy and
distributes standardized wildland fire position descriptions (PDs), established by the National
Wildland Fire Plan Human Resources Advisory Group (HRAG). The use of standardized PDs
will assist efforts to strategically address human capital management issues related to
recruitment, training, development, and retention of wildland firefighter personnel.

2. Background. The HRAG chartered a standing Position Classification Sub-group to
address position management and position classification issues related to fire positions. This
Sub-group is composed of DOI wildland fire managers; DOI human resources specialists who
are delegated national level position classification authority representing their bureaus; and a fire
manager and a human resources specialist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest
Service. The Sub-group’s initial task was to develop standardized wildland firefighter PDs for
GS-2 through GS-5 positions. These PDs were distributed via Personnel Bulletin No. 03-11,
dated April 3, 2003. This Bulletin releases the second group of standardized fire PDs.

3. Policy. Effective immediately, bureaus must use the attached standardized position
descriptions and standardized PD numbering system for all applicable wildland fire positions, for
both permanent and temporary appointments. The official standardized PDs with standard PD
numbers covered by this Personnel Bulletin are:

- Lead Range/Forestry Technician (Fire), GS-455/462-05/06 (PD Number DOI006)

- Supervisory Range/Forestry Technician (Fire), GS-455/462-06/07 (PD Number

DOI007)

- Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-03/04 (PD Number DOI008)

- Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-04/05 (PD Number DOI009)

- Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-06/07 (PD Number DOIO10)

- Range/Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch), GS-455/462-04/05 (PD Number DOIO11)

- Range/Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch), GS-455/462-06/07 (PD Number DOIO12)

A. Organizational Titles. The organizational title for the above PD’s, if any, is recorded
in item 16 of the PD cover sheet, Optional Form 8 (OF-8).

B. Standardized PD Numbering System. Bureaus must continue to use the DOT
standardized PD numbering system when using these PDs for newly established positions and
when replacing existing PDs with the standardized ones. The DOI PD number must be entered
into FPPS, in accordance with bureau procedures, so it prints on the incumbent’s SF-50
(Notification of Personnel Action). A standardized PD number has been recorded in Block 14 of
the OF-8 for each DOI standardized PD.


C. Effective Date. Bureaus are to distribute this Bulletin and the attached PDs to their
field areas as soon as possible, with Bureau instructions, as necessary. Bureaus must replace
existing PDs with the DOI standardized PD, where applicable, and process the necessary
personnel actions as soon as possible, but not later than 90 days from the date of this bulletin.

4, Requests for Exceptions. Requests for exceptions to this policy must be in writing, and
must show conclusively why the standardized PD is not applicable to the position assignment.
Requests should be forwarded through proper channels to the respective bureau Fire Director for
approval or disapproval. The bureau Fire Director will then forward the request to the Director,
Office of Wildland Fire Coordination, and the Director, Office of Personnel Policy, for
concurrence. Bureau Fire Directors may contact their servicing personnel office or Sub-group
members for advice and guidance.

5. Key Fire Management Positions. The PDs for Lead and Supervisory Wildland
Firefighters (DO1006 and DOI007) and for Fire Dispatcher and Senior Fire Dispatcher (DOIO1 1
and DOI012) have been designated key fire management positions. When implemented, the
applicable Interagency Fire Management Qualification Standards (IFPM) are to be used in
conjunction with these PDs.

6. Firefighter Retirement Program. The Firefighter retirement coverage/non-coverage
determinations have been made for these PDs, as follows:

A, Primary/Rigorous Firefighter Positions: The following PDs describe rigorous
positions whose primary duties are the control and extinguishment of fires, and have been
approved as primary/rigorous firefighter positions under the fire retirement system. Therefore,
when using these PDs the maximum entry age requirements must be applied if the incumbent
will be subject to retirement deductions (Note: The maximum entry age does not apply when
filling a primary/rigorous position that is not subject to retirement deductions, e.g., temporary
appointments). See DOI Personnel Bulletin 03-3.

- Lead Range/Forestry Technician (Fire), GS-455/462-05/06 (PD Number DOI006)
- Supervisory Range/Forestry Technician (Fire), GS-455/462-06/07 (PD Number
DOI007)

B. Secondary/Administrative Firefighter Positions: The following PDs describe
positions in a firefighting organization with a firefighting mission. In addition, in order to
perform the fire support duties described, prior primary/rigorous (on-the-fire-line) firefighting
experience is a mandatory prerequisite/selective factor to qualify for these positions. Therefore,
these PDs have been approved as secondary/administrative firefighter positions under the fire
retirement system. Please note, in accordance with 5 C.F.R. 831.904 and 5 C.F.R. 842.803(b),
incumbents of secondary firefighter positions who do not meet the applicable transfer
requirements are not eligible for coverage under firefighter retirement and must be placed in the
regular retirement system. See your servicing personnel office or the above regulations for more
information.


- Range/Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch), GS-455/462-04/05 (PD Number DOIO11)
- Range/Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch), GS-455/462-06/07 (PD Number DOI012)

C. Not Covered. The following PDs do not require prior primary/rigorous firefighting
experience and have been determined to be Not Covered under the firefighter retirement system.

- Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-03/04 (PD Number DOI008)
- Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-04/05 (PD Number DOJ009)
- Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-06/07 (PD Number DOI010)

For more information on the Firefighter Retirement System, see your servicing personnel office,
or visit the DOI Firefighter and Law Enforcement Officer Special Retirement Resource Center at
http://www.doi.gov/training/flert .

7. Electronic Library of DOI Standardized Fire PDs. An Electronic Library of these
DOI Standardized Fire PDs will be established on the DOI Firefighter and Law Enforcement
Officer Retirement Team (FLERT) Web-site at http://flert.nife.gov in the near future.

Questions concerning this standardized PD policy should be directed to the respective bureau
Personnel Office or to Winford Hooker, Office of Personnel Policy, at telephone (202) 208-7949.

Director, Office of Personnel Policy

7 Attachments

1. Lead Range/Forestry Technician (Fire) (Lead Wildland Firefighter), GS-455/462-05/06 (PD Number

DOI006)

2. Supervisory Range/Forestry Technician (Fire) (Supervisory Wildland Firefighter), GS-455/462-06/07
(PD Number DOI007)

3. Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-03/04 (PD Number DO1008)

4, Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-04/05 (PD Number DO1009)

5. Fire Logistics Dispatcher, GS-2151-06/07 (PD Number DOI010)

6. Range/Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) (Fire Dispatcher), GS-455/462-04/05 (PD Number

DOIO11)

7. Range/Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) (Senior Fire Dispatcher), GS-455/462-06/07 (PD Number

DOIO12)