Supervisory Forest Aviation Officer (Wildland Firefighter)

Full Job Description

This position is located in a USDA Forest Service unit.

These positions provide leadership, coordination, guidance, and direction to aerial project and fire management activities, and integrates operations of the Forest Aviation Operations program and the Forest Management Programs.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION for Regional contacts. 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.

Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GW-11: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-09) in the Federal Service; OR A Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., (coursework must be directly related to the position being filled such as forestry, range management, agriculture); OR An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, (i.e., more than 36 semester/54 quarter hours leading to a Ph.D.).

The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Specialized experience is defined as: Assisting with providing oversight and management of aviation activities including fire detection, suppression, use of fire retardant, aerial non-fire projects.

Conducting contract management, safety training, and risk assessment for aviation programs. Assisting with providing technical and administrative supervision for aviation programs.

For the GW-12: You must have one-year specialized of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-11) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Providing oversight and management of aviation activities including fire detection, suppression, use of fire retardant, and aerial non-fire projects.

Conducting contract management, safety training, and risk assessment for aviation programs. Providing technical and administrative supervision for aviation programs.

Conducting analysis of aircraft use to determine long term organizational and budgetary needs to meet Aviation expectations.

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.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.

There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.

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

• Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-12 level.
• Responsible for the strategic oversight and safety management of all aviation operations; provides information and technical direction for all planned and continuing Forest aviation operations.
• Coordinates with Regional aviation management on Forest aviation operations, technical guidance, special projects for aviation support personnel, and other aviation related aspects; coordinates inspections of aviation facilities.
• Initiates procurement and oversight of aviation contract and support services; designated Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for the Forest's aviation contracts.
• Coordinates, plans, and establishes priorities for the Forest's aircraft use. Coordinates annual contract inspections of aircraft and pilots with Regional aviation inspectors.
• Provides technical and administrative supervision to the Forests Aviation Program; supervises the aviation modules, including subordinate supervisory positions, on multiple units.