National Park Service Logo
Position Title
Fire Chief
Agency
National Park Service
Announcement Number
NPSFAM-25-2744058-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, June 6, 2025 to Friday, June 20, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position?   If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center. 
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
3. Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Current Federal or former employees with career or career- conditional appointments in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced; or,
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligibles
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation.  For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your competitive status or a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.  All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?  If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.  
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
5. Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) who:
  • was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,
  • served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and,
  • performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,
  • if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and departed that position in good standing.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must provide documentation for the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) eligibility, which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations, for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
For more information, review Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA).
(limit characters)
6. Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Disabled veteran receiving 30% or more disability compensation from the VA;
  • Transfer, reassignment or reinstatement eligible:  current Federal or former employee with career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced; or,
  • Individual eligible under other non-competitive appointment authorities such as: Veterans Recruitment Authority; Military spouses under E.O. 13473; Certain former overseas employees; Present and former Peace Corps, Vista or Action volunteers; Former White House staff; Present and former Foreign Service officers and employees; Certain National Guard technicians; Schedule A; OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation.  For example, a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service; a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50); etc.  All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. My performance is at an acceptable level and I am not serving under a formal Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). (limit characters)
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating. (limit characters)
2. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (MUST include beginning and ending month/year e.g., 5/2019-10/2019 or 5/10/2019-10/20/2019), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the exact hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. (limit characters)
3. Merit Promotion applicants who are in a current GS position or have held a GS position any time in the previous 52 weeks (one year) must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks (one year) at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. SF-50(s) that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application (e.g. Promotions, STEP Increases, etc.). Award SF-50s will not be accepted for determination of time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal civilian employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Read all responses before making your selection. If you do not meet one of these basic requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position. Your responses to the following minimum qualifications question, as well as the other questions in the questionnaire, in conjunction with the information provided in your completed application, will be evaluated to determine your qualifications for this position. Read all responses before making your selection. YOUR RESUME OR APPLICATION MATERIALS YOU SUBMIT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SUPPORT THE ANSWERS YOU CLAIM UNDER THIS AND OTHER QUESTIONS. (limit characters)
1. This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d). This is a secondary/administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission, and is clearly in an established career path. Prior structural firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. Please select A or B below to indicate whether you meet this mandatory requirement.
(limit characters)
2. Do you possess IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation Congress) or Pro-Board Fire Officer III, Fire Inspector II, and Fire Instructor II Certification. (limit characters)
Your firefighting duties must be clearly documented on your resume with pertinent information regarding duties performed, this includes the number of fires fought, names of fires fought, dates of fires, and position occupied while on firefighting duty. Certifications with names and dates must be documented on resume. Proof of certifications must be submitted with your application. (limit characters)
3. Please select one response that best describes how your background meets the experience requirement of the Fire Protection Specialist, GS-0081-11 position.
(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. Utilizes fire prevention, protection methods and equipment to effectively identify, reduce or eliminate fire hazards.
(limit characters)
5. Reviews, and recommends suitable policies, rules, operating guidelines, company evolutions, regulations, and procedures for effective fire operations.
(limit characters)
6. Ensures uniform conformance with National Park Service Structural Fire Management policies, directives and guidelines, applicable OSHA regulations, and NFPA and Uniform Fire Code standards are met.
(limit characters)
7. Performs technical review of contractor prepared designs and specifications for fire suppression/detection systems.
(limit characters)
8. Reviews projects, plans, and designs requiring the coordination of several parts (i.e., sprinklers, smoke detectors, manual pull stations, etc.) tying into a single end (Fire Alarm Panel/Transmitter), etc.
(limit characters)
9. Determines information needed concerning characteristics, capabilities, and limitations of fire suppression/detection items.
(limit characters)
10. Reviews detail and assembly drawings to determine whether the design and drawings are complete and correct and whether the design conforms to production requirements.
(limit characters)
11. Assists with performing acceptance tests of varied fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems in conformance with NPS and NFPA Standards.
(limit characters)
12. Conducts periodic and special inspections of buildings to determine adequacy of life safety systems and implement appropriate regulations in compliance with prescribed methods, codes and type of facility.
(limit characters)
13. Performs visual inspection of installed sprinkler systems, C02 systems, total flooding halon systems, etc., to determine if they are operational, properly maintained, and adequate for fire protection and control purposes.
(limit characters)
14. Assists in planning, developing, and reviewing the concessionaire's fire safety program
(limit characters)
15. Periodically reviews existing fire pre incident plans to ensure currency.
(limit characters)
16. Reviews and revises park Evacuation Plan as needed.
(limit characters)
17. Assists with development and updates the Park Structural Fire Management Plan, and ensures that it follows NPS policies and directives, applicable fire codes and standards, and state-of-the-art fire protection concepts and procedures.
(limit characters)
18. Ensures plans include all fire protection and preventive measures as prescribed by NPS adopted building codes, standards, and policy.
(limit characters)
19. Conducts training in basic firefighting and fire inspection methods to ensure operability of life safety systems.
(limit characters)
20. Conducts training for all employees requiring basic knowledge in fire inspection methods for insuring operability of life safety systems as required by their job
(limit characters)
21. Serves as an active member of the training cadre for fire and emergency response type disciplines.
(limit characters)
22. Represents the region at meetings to coordinate system integration to the Emergency Communication Center and response computer systems.
(limit characters)
23. Prepares clear and concise briefing statements, public information releases, internal and public meeting materials, and presentations on complex projects.
(limit characters)
24. Communicate effectively with park, region, and office staff.
(limit characters)
25. Prepares and delivers oral presentations related to findings or resolutions to complex or controversial elements of planning projects.
(limit characters)
Certification Statement (limit characters)
26. As previously explained, your ratings in this Occupational Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting your or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probation period. Please take this opportunity to review your ratings to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement below, you are confirming that you: 1) understand this warning; 2) have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy; and 3) verify that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability. Failure to agree to the statement below will disqualify you from further consideration for the position. (limit characters)