Packer

Summary

This position is located within a National Forest. The incumbent is responsible for packaging, kit building, loading/unloading of supplies and equipment as well as repairing and refurbishing supplies and equipment.

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Duties

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• Collates, assembles, inventories, and build kits from individual components according to National Fire Equipment System (NFES) standards.
• Determines packing configuration assembles items according to kit component packing lists and inspects for accuracy.
• Incumbent may participate in the development of prototype kits, developing the packing configuration and kit component requirements for field use.
• Arranges, seals and tags items and equipment that requiring specialized handling. Packs tools, materials and equipment using a wide variety of standard packing methods and techniques that include items of a large, heavy or fragile nature.
• Selects the packing materials taking into account such factors as size, type, weight, fragility, method of transportation, storage facility and final destination. Packs items wood, fiberboard boxes, metal containers, and cartons.
• Makes independent judgements and decisions within the framework of oral and written instructions and accepted methods, techniques and procedures.
• Uses and maintains various types of equipment for the purpose of packaging such as heat sealers, hand powered and mechanical shrink wrap, banding and stapling machines.
• Coordinates, suggests and makes substitutions to packing list and configuration as needed. Packs and labels material following agency, federal and international packing and shipping requirements for hazardous and non-hazardous materials and items.
• Provides for the care of supplies in storage (COSIS) to protect from deterioration or damage. Applies first in, first out (FIFO) and monitors date procedures for food and other expiring items.
• May assemble specialized kits transported by air and delivered via parachute to remote work sites.
• Packs kits using protective material to withstand impact and avoid breakage and spillage (i.e., initial attack kits containing equipment such as chainsaws and hazmat containers of petroleum products and food subsistence.
• May also mix fuel and oil to correct ratio per equipment type as well as fills and seals fuel containers. Repairs and rehabilitates fire supplies and equipment to NFES standards.
• Incumbent researches and refers to manufacturer's specifications, stock catalogs, manuals, research and technology data and cache memos to prevent damage and preserve the lifespan of items.
• Cleans fabric materials (i.e. nomex, coated nylon cordura, fiber reinforced vinyl) using proper water pressure and temperatures.
• Disassembles and reassembles supplies to replace parts, apply oils, rust inhibitors and other preservation materials to ensure proper working condition. Some items may require painting.
• Provides and/or recommends possible substitutes and interchangeable items, or refurbishment procedures, such as for changes to kit configuration, component packing lists, and refurbishment guidelines.
• Maintains issue records against special projects and reports items charged. Monitors working condition of tools and equipment.
• Performs visual and operating checks to determine when tools and equipment should be tested, repaired, and/or calibrated. Determines equipment damage or receives reports from users on the condition of tools and equipment.
• Identifies when it may be cost effective to replace rather than repair tools or equipment.
• Handles or oversees one or more product lines within assigned area, instructing, training, and inspecting the work efforts of temporary seasonal personal as the senior employee.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US 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.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
• Must be 18 years of age.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Wage System Qualifications Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to perform the duties of the position rather than length of experience. Eligibility will be determined by the relevance, scope and quality of all experience and training, regardless of where or how acquired.

Applicants will be ranked and rated based on their knowledge of the job elements identified in this announcement.

Job Elements:

• Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
• Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
• Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (other than blueprints)
• Use of Measuring Instruments
• To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Knowledge of Materials
• Dexterity and Safety

There is no substitution of education for this position.

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.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2027 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between January 10, 2027 to April 4, 2027.

By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates in your duty location State.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay.

This position is not eligible for telework.

Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

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.

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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.

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.