Careers and Jobs

Outreach Notice —
Fall Temporary/Seasonal Fire Hire Event

With this upcoming hiring opportunity, Region 2 will be filling approximately 200 temporary seasonal Wildland Firefighter positions for the 2027 Fire Season. Firefighter positions include engine operators, hotshot crew members, hand crew members, helitack crew members, fuels technicians, fire lookouts, dispatchers, and other essential fire management positions.

The vacancy announcements for these positions will be posted on the U.S. Government's official website for employment opportunities at USAJOBS.

The vacancy announcements will open for 14 days beginning on 10/30/2026. To be considered for these positions, applications must be submitted by the application deadline, 11:59 Eastern standard time on 11/12/2026.

Positions being announced for the temporary seasonal fall hiring event

The following announcements will include all potential duty stations that a position may be hired at if a vacancy occurs. Local forests will be conducting focused outreach for known vacancies to be hired under the announcements listed below. Selections for this hiring event will begin as early as December 16, 2026. Primary selections will be completed by January 27, 2027. 

Positions

Each announcement will cover the respective duty locations within that region. When applying in USAJobs, select the duty locations you are interested in applying. Keep in mind you may have to apply for more than one announcement if you are willing to work in multiple locations or in different regions.

This outreach will be continuously updated and re-distributed as announcements open in USAJobs and links become active.

Direct Hire Authority

These positions will be filled utilizing a Direct Hire Authority. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Who May Apply

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill these positions.

Preference Eligibility (veterans’ preference) and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to these vacancies.

How to Apply

Please thoroughly review the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin.

Ensure you completely read and address specialized experience in your resume as denoted in “how you will be evaluated”.

You must complete the application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the cut-off date or closing date of the announcement. Assistance is available during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday). Applying online is highly encouraged. If applying online poses a hardship, please contact FS HRM Contact Center Phone: 877-372-7248 Option 2 well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages with supporting documents must be received no later than noon on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to closing. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact FS HRM Contact Center if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

• Step1 – Create a USAJOBS account (If you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It’s recommended as part of your profile to set up automatic email notifications to be informed when the status of your application changes. Without automatic notification, you must log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.
• Step 2 - Create a TWO-PAGE Resume with USAJOBS or upload a Resume into your USAJOBS account. – Resumes are now limited to two pages. Make sure any specialized experience and time in grade of previous positions is documented clearly with specific dates as needed to qualify as stated in the announcement. It is advised to create your own resume and upload it instead of using the USAJobs resume builder. 
  
  You may want to customize your resume to ensure it documents duties and accomplishments you have gained that are directly related to this position to verify qualifications are met. In addition, your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire (you may preview the online questionnaire by clicking on the link at the end of the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement). 
  
  Helpful Links for 2 Page Resume:
  • Applicant Guidance on the  Two-Page Resume Limit  
  • How do I write a resume for a federal job?
• Step 3 - Click "Apply Online" 
  
  Follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire and attach any additional documents that may be required. You can update your application or documents anytime while the announcement is open. Simply log into your USAJOBS account and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title and select "Update Application” to continue. Please read the required documents section of the announcement. The required documents must be submitted to constitute a complete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents are received by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to submit required legible documents will result in elimination from consideration. 
  
  NOTE: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) and Forest Service - Fire Program Management (FS-FPM) qualifications must be met prior to vacancy closing date. A current copy of your IQCS Master Record or other documentation will be required for these positions. 
  
  If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document.

Agency Contact Information:

HRM Contact Center 
Phone: 877-372-7248 Option 2 
TDD: 800-877-8339 
Email: HRM_Contact_Center@usda.gov Agency Information: USDA Forest Service 
Do not mail in applications. See instructions on How to Apply.

Things to keep in mind when applying:

• Vacancy Announcements on USAJOBS will give examples of the specialized experience for each position advertised. Ensure your resume matches the listed specialized experience requirement in plain This should be listed under a work experience that shows title, series, grade and time period performed so HR can properly credit. Ensure all required documents are properly loaded into USAJOBS.
• Ensure all required documents listed in the vacancy announcement are attached to your
• Allow yourself plenty of time to apply for The announcements close at midnight Eastern on the closing date.
• Print and read the entire vacancy announcement to ensure you have included all required information and
• Ensure you have a current IQCS or IQS Master Record

Other places to get further information:

• For application and resume tips and webinars, visit the Forest Service Application Tips and Webinar Webpage.
• USAJOBS YouTube Videos: How to Apply for Federal Jobs

Please direct questions or outreach responses directly to the Fire Management organizations at each Forest:

Arapaho/Roosevelt NFs and Pawnee NG 
Supervisor’s Office: Ft. Collins, CO 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/arp 
Contact Information: Scott Nutt, Zone Training Officer scott.nutt@usda.gov 
Alternate: Jason Miller, Deputy Fire Staff Officer jason.a.miller@usda.gov

Bighorn National Forest 
Supervisor’s Office: Sheridan, WY 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/bighorn 
Contact Information: Michael Holloway, Zone Training Officer mailto:Michael.Holloway@usda.gov 
Alternate:  Jon Warder, Forest Fire Management Officer jon.warder@usda.gov 

Black Hills National Forest 
Supervisor’s Office: Custer, SD 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills 
Contact Information: Jared Hohn, Deputy Fire Staff Officer jared.j.hohn@usda.gov
Alternate:  Aaren Nellen, Zone Training Officer aaren.l.nellen@usda.gov 

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison NFs 
Supervisor’s Office: Delta, CO 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug 
Contact Information: Justin Reece, Forest Training Officer justin.reece@usda.gov 
Alternate: Cande Read, Administrative Officer Candance.Read@usda.gov

Medicine Bow/Routt NFs, Thunder Basin NG (MBRTB) 
Supervisor’s Office: Laramie, WY 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/mbrtb 
Contact Information: Melanie Morgan, Forest Training Officer Melanie.Morgan@usda.gov 
Alternate: Jeremy McMahon, Deputy Fire Staff Officer Jeremy.McMahon@usda.gov 

Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands 
Supervisor’s Office: Chadron, NE 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/nebraska 
Contact Information: Jason Haug, Forest Assistant Fire Management Officer jason.r.haug@usda.gov 
Alternate: Caleb, Meyer, Forest Fire Management Officer Caleb.Meyer@usda.gov 

Pike/San Isabel NFs, Cimarron/Comanche NGs (PSICC)
Supervisor’s Office: Pueblo, CO 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc 
 Contact Information: Tom Barter, Zone Training Officer thomas.barter@usda.gov 

Rio Grande National Forest 
Supervisor’s Office: Monte Vista, CO 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/riogrande 
Contact Information: Josh Erickson, Forest Fire Management Officer joshua.erickson@usda.gov 
Alternate: Tom Barter, Zone Training Officer thomas.barter@usda.gov

San Juan National Forest 
Supervisor’s Office: Durango, CO 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/sanjuan 
Contact Information: Lance Martin, Forest Training Officer lance.martin@usda.gov 
Alternate: Toby Cook, Deputy Fire Staff Officer toby.cook@usda.gov

Shoshone National Forest 
Supervisor’s Office: Cody, WY 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/shoshone 
Contact Information: Michael Holloway, Zone Training Officer Michael.Holloway@usda.gov 
Alternate: Beau Kidd, Deputy Fire Staff beau.kidd@usda.gov

White River NF/Upper Colorado FMU 
Supervisor’s Office: Glenwood Springs, CO 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver 
Contact Information: Eric White, Zone Training Officer eric.white@usda.gov 
Alternate: Brent Davidson, Deputy Fire Staff Officer michael.davidson@usda.gov

Looking for outdoor jobs and career growth? The Rocky Mountain Region of the Forest Service offers exciting career opportunities in wildland fire, public land management and visitor services. 

Why Work with Us?

• Adventure & teamwork – Ideal for people who love the outdoors and working with others.
• Career advancement – Entry-level roles include paid training and traveling opportunities.
• Competitive pay – Includes overtime, hazard pay, and full federal employee benefits.
• Support & guidance – We offer help with applications, resume tips, and webinars.

Careers Across Fields

Explore hundreds of permanent and seasonal jobs, including:

• Wildland fire
• Visitor services
• Recreation management
• Natural resources
• Administrative support
• Forestry, wildlife biology, GIS, fire management, and more

Get Ready to Apply

Launch your application process early in USAJOBS:

1. Browse current and future job openings on the Forest Service Outreach Database or USAJOBS.
2. Make a USAJOBS account and set up your profile and make a resume. You must apply for positions through USAJOBS.
3. Upload transcripts, recommendation letters, and veterans' preference forms (if applicable).
4. Save job searches and get email alerts for new postings.

Permanent and seasonal jobs are listed on USAJOBS. Some roles are limited to current federal employees; others are open to everyone.

More Resources

• Learn how to build a two-page federal resume (YouTube webinar)
• Visit the national Forest Service careers page for internships and student programs
• Tips for Job Seekers: Learn how to apply, get resume tips, and access application webinars
• Find veteran hiring info on the Office of Personnel Management
• Find information for people with disabilities