Airworthiness Branch Chief

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management (WO-FAM).

The incumbent is responsible for developing and recommending aviation objectives, plans, policies, standards, and procedures for the full range of aviation programs in support of National Forest System resource management and protection activities.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Paul Linse at paul.linse@usda.gov.

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 General Schedule Qualification 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.

Basic Requirement Applicants for the Airworthiness Branch Chief (Aviation Safety Inspector) position must meet all the following requirements: Experience involving the maintenance and repair of FAA civil certificated airframes, power plants, and systems of multi-engine aircraft of 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight OR more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight maintained under an airworthiness maintenance and inspection program.

Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency.

Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.

Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years.

The incumbent for this position is required to hold a current and valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airframe and Power plant (A&P) Certificate.

The incumbent for this position is required to hold a current and valid FAA Inspection Authorization (IA).

The incumbent must be on the Forest Service Approved Aircraft and Avionics Inspector List as an Airplane or Helicopter inspector in one or more of the following approval areas: MA1, MA2, MA3, MH1, MH2 or MH3.

Certificates and experience must be submitted as part of you application package. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement: GS-14: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include: Provided leadership and program responsibilities in the development and implementation of policies, standards, and procedures to guide and control the whole range of complex and/or hazardous aviation and fire management activities; and/or advised and consulted with employees, contractors and cooperators to assist in the evaluation and implementation of proposed complex aviation regulatory changes; and/or participated in the development of a budget and acquisition strategy that serves as the framework for integrating functional activities essential to the planning effort and serves as the basis for specific program management documents; and/or provided expert technical guidance and assistance on diverse and complex hazardous conditions that require specialized safety approaches; and/or participated in the development of aviation management data systems to track costs and utilization of aviation operations.

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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

• Provide national and interagency airworthiness leadership/program responsibility in the development and implementation of all policies, standards, and procedures to guide/control the whole range of complex, often unique/hazardous aviation activities.
• Apply technical airworthiness knowledge in the formulation of aviation plans, direction, controls, and procurement of aviation resources to support specific functional natural resource activities.
• Exercise national leadership in establishing, implementing, and modifying a long-term national program for recruiting aviation personnel and developing career progression procedures.
• Analyze needs and synthesize requirements information to develop requirements for program initiatives and planning.
• Participate in the development of a budget and acquisition strategy that serves as the framework for integrating functional activities essential to planning efforts.
• Initiate and coordinate development of aviation management data systems to track costs and utilization of aviation operations.
• Analyze and interpret data from the aviation suppliers and on-the-ground resource managers to evaluate aviation responsiveness to mission requirements and cost effectiveness.
• Represent aviation management in more broadly-based committees or work groups.