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Posted: January 13, 2026 (2 days ago)

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Supervisory Forest Aviation Officer (Wildland Firefighter)

Forest Service

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Salary

$83,639 - $108,738

per year

Closes

January 22, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading and overseeing aviation programs for wildfire fighting and forest management, including safety checks, contract handling, and advising on aircraft use during emergencies.

It suits someone with hands-on experience in wildland firefighting and aviation operations who enjoys a mix of supervisory duties and fieldwork in a national forest setting.

Ideal candidates are detail-oriented team leaders comfortable with high-stakes environments like fire suppression.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GW-9 level or equivalent, such as managing aviation activities for fire detection, suppression, and non-fire projects
  • Prior wildland firefighting experience required for secondary firefighter retirement coverage
  • Knowledge of aviation safety training, risk assessment, and incident reporting
  • Experience in aviation contracting, procurement, and serving as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)
  • Ability to provide technical supervision and strategic oversight for aviation operations
  • Graduate education option: 3 years toward a Ph.D. or equivalent in a related field, or combination with experience
  • Must meet all qualifications by announcement closing date, including transcripts if education-based

Full Job Description

These positions are located within the Intermountain Region, Region 4.

This position serves as a principal assistant to one or more Forest Staff Officer(s) or Forest Fire Management Officer(s) (FFMO) in directing the complex aviation management program of the Fire & Aviation Operations on one or more Forest Service units.

See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for Regional Representative contact information.

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: You must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-9 grade level.

OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled); 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 hours leading to a Ph.D.).

Examples of specialized experience are: 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.

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:

  • Initiates or assists in submitting aircraft incident reports. Implements and or recommends corrective action for aircraft mishaps. Conducts risk assessment analyses of aviation operations.
  • May be delegated to serve as the Forest Fire Management Officer in their absence. Prepares and provides the Aviation Operations and Safety Plan.
  • Serves as the primary aviation operations advisor to the Forest Supervisor or Incident Commander during project fires, or other projects that may involve aircraft. May support fire operations in various trainee and fully qualified ICS positions.
  • Serves as subject matter expert in all phases of aviation contracting on the Forest. Initiates procurement and oversight of aviation contract and support services.
  • May be the designated Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for the Forest's aviation contracts. Coordinates annual contract inspections of aircraft and pilots with regional aviation inspectors.
  • Responsible for the strategic oversight and safety management of all aviation operations on one or more National Forests. Provides information and technical direction for all planned and continuing Forest aviation operations.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/13/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/13/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-FIRE-P2R4-SFAO-11DH