Evaluating an Employee against the IFPM Standard

1. Evaluating an Employee against the IFPM Standard A Human Resource Management Job Aid Prepared by the IFPM Implementation Team

2. Minimum Qualification Standards (MQS) • The IFPM Standard defines MQS for 13 key fire management positions. The MQS include: 1. Basic OPM Requirements for GS-0455, GS-0462 or GS-0401 positions 2. Specialized Experience for GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist positions (Supplemental Standards) 3. NWCG Incident Management Qualifications 4. Additional Required Training (if applicable)

3. Minimum Qualification Standards (MQS) • Before October 1, 2010 • Incumbents must meet all of the MQS by October 1, 2010 to be considered fully qualified for their position. • New hires will have until October 1, 2010 to meet the NWCG Incident Management Qualifications and Additional Required Training for their position. All OPM requirements must be met at the time of hire.

4. Minimum Qualification Standards (MQS) • On or After October 1, 2010 • All qualified applicants selected for IFPM positions must meet the minimum qualifications standards at the time of hire. • Fire Management and Human Resource Specialists are responsible for determining when the MQS are met.

5. Example of MQS Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity OPM Standard Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or a related discipline appropriate to the position being filled; OR a combination of education and experience as defined in the Supplemental Qualification Standard for the GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist. NWCG Incident Management Qualifications (Currency is not required): Primary Core Requirement: Task Force Leader (TFLD) AND Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss (RXB2) Specialized Experience Requirements: Applicants must have a minimum of one year of creditable specialized wildland fire management experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Refer to the GS-0401 Supplemental Qualification Standards for Fire Management Positions for examples of specialized experience based on grade level. Additional Required Training: M-581, Fire Program Management

6. Evaluating the Employee • Incumbents and applicants are evaluated against the MQS differently: • Incumbents: Use the “HR Qualifications Review Checklist for IFPM” found in Appendix D of the IFPM Implementation Plan (applicable only through October 1, 2010) or, • Applicants: Job application • In either case supporting documentation will be required (discussed later)

7. Evaluating the Employee • It’s important to know which IFPM position to evaluate the incumbent or applicant against to make sure the correct MQS are being used. • It’s important to note that there are two different HR Qualification Review Checklists for IFPM positions, one for GS-0401 positions, and one for GS-455/462 Positions • In the example to follow, we will use the IFPM position of “Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity”

8. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist - Basic Qualification Determination • The “Basic Qualification Determination” section of the HR Qualification Review Checklist has two sections: • The first should be used if the employee has a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, or a related discipline. • The second should be used if the employee is trying to qualify through a combination of education and experience as defined in the Supplemental Qualification Standard for GS-0401 Fire Management Specialists.

12. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist - Specialized Experience Determination • Does the employee have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade of the position being filled as defined in the Supplemental Qualification Standard for GS-0401 Fire Management Specialists? • NOTE: If the employee met the positive education requirements through a combination of education & experience, credit for experience given in the basic qualification section above cannot ALSO be used to determine specialized experience.

13. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist - Specialized Experience • For incumbent’s & applicants, specialized experience is evaluated by reviewing the supporting documentation submitted with the incumbents package

14. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating NWCG Incident Management Qualifications • The Incident Qualification & Certification System (IQCS) is the System of Record for NWCG Incident Management Qualifications, training and experience • The IQCS Responder Master Record (or equivalent for non-federal employees) should be used to determine if an incumbent or applicant meets the NWCG Incident Management Qualification requirements for the IFPM position • HR should consult fire management on questions related to incident management qualifications

15. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating NWCG Incident Management Qualifications Continuing our example for a Unit Fire Program Manager – Moderate Complexity the NWCG Incident Management Qualification requirements are: Primary Core Requirement: Task Force Leader (TFLD) AND Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) OR Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2)

16. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating NWCG Incident Management Qualifications The IQCS Responder Master Record can be somewhat confusing. However, by locating the “Employee Qualified Jobs” list, the HR Specialist will find everything they need to determine position qualifications – including currency (if required).

17. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating NWCG Incident Management Qualifications Note that this employee meets the Primary Core Requirement (TFLD) and the Secondary Core Requirement (ICT3)

18. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating NWCG Incident Management Qualifications The CURRENCY DATE column can be used to validate currency. (Note that currency has expired for some of these positions.)

19. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating NWCG Incident Management Qualifications If you have questions please consult your FMO or your agencies wildland and prescribed fire qualification guides

20. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Evaluating Additional Required Training • The last MQS that needs to be checked is the Additional Required Training. The Unit Fire Program Manager – Moderate Complexity requires Fire Program Management (M-581) • The “Employee Training History” section of the IQCS Responder Master Record should be used to determine if the employee has the required training

21. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Completing the Evaluation Process • After evaluating the employee against the MQS requirements of: 1. Basic OPM Requirements for GS-0401 positions 2. Specialized Experience for GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist positions (Supplemental Standard) 3. NWCG Incident Management Qualifications 4. Additional Required Training (if applicable) an official “Determination of Qualifications” can be made. • This is done by notifying the employee through official correspondence of their qualification status.

22. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Completing the Evaluation Process • Each employee should be sent a copy of the HR Qualification Worksheet used in the determination process and a “Qualification Review Memorandum” • Sample Qualification Review memos for both GS-0401 and GS-455/462 positions can be found in Appendix D of the IFPM Implementation plan • The sample memos should only be used for incumbents, applicants for IFPM positions should be notified through normal HR processes

24. Unit Fire Program Manager - Moderate Complexity Example • Completing the Evaluation Process • Management has an obligation to provide employees opportunities to successfully obtain the MQS requirements prior to October 1, 2010. • The IFPM employee also has an obligation to fulfill the MQS requirements and work with management. • In order to clarify these responsibilities each incumbent who does not meet the MQS is required to sign an “Employee Agreement”. • Sample Employee Agreements can be found in Appendix D of the IFPM Implementation Plan

25. Condition of Employment • Applicants who are offered IFPM positions prior to October 1, 2010 and do not meet the NWCG Incident Management Qualification and/or additional required training requirements must sign a “Condition of Employment” which clearly identifies the missing requirements and states that the employee will be removed from their position if they do not meet the requirements by the implementation deadline.

26. Summary • A thorough knowledge of the following documents is critical to properly evaluating an employee against the MQS: • DOI Personnel Bulletin 07-13: Qualification Requirements for GS-0401 Fire Program Management or Forest Service Equivalent document • IQCS Responder Master Record • Your agencies wildland and prescribed fire qualification guides • HR NWCG Qualification Hierarchy Job Aid which can be found on the IFPM website

27. Summary • Human Resource(s) is encouraged to work closely with Fire Management throughout the IFPM Implementation process. • Current developments and all supporting documentation can be found on the IFPM website: http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov • If you have questions please contact your agency’s HR representative on the IFPM Implementation Team.

28. IFPM Implementation Team • The IFPM Implementation Team and advisors consists of human resources, training and fire management personnel from the USFS, BLM, BIA, FWS, NPS and DOI.

29. Summary, cont. • Your support of the IFPM program has been greatly appreciated. • Thank you for your contribution toward effecting an important workforce development effort!