Wildland Firefighter (Aviation) Unit Aviation Manager - Direct Hire Authority

Full Job Description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement.

Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This Wildland Firefighter position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-11 working in the following location(s): 1 Vacancy - Location Negotiable After Selection for Nevada (Battle Mountain or Winnemucca) 1 Vacancy - Location Negotiable After Selection for Oregon (Medford, Grants Pass, Salem, Eugene, Roseburg or Coos Bay) In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Only experience obtained by 03/11/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience.

Minimum Qualification For the GW-11 level: If you are a current or former federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-09 grade level.

Examples may include, but are not limited to: assisting as an aviation specialist or related position with experience in using aviation program resources in support of natural resources in support of natural resource management and fire management operations; experience and/or assisting with oversight, budget planning, development, execution, and monitoring of aviation operations; assisting fire managers or managers on implementing firefighting or resource flight aircraft requirements; reviewing or approving project aviation safety plans, working general aviation polices for federal and state agencies; identifying and assisting with training for personnel using aviation resources; assisting in aircraft incident investigations; assisting with the coordination of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other agency officials for aviation activities; working/training as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on aviation-related contracts.

-OR- If you have never been or are NOT a current federal employee who served in a competitive or excepted appointment, your resume must show that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-10 grade level.

Examples of experience include, but are not limited to: performing as an aviation specialist or related position with experience in using aviation program resources in support of natural resources in support of natural resource management and/or fire management operations; experience with oversight, budget planning, development, execution, and monitoring of aviation operations; advising fire managers or managers on firefighting aircraft requirements; working general aviation polices for federal and state agencies; identifying and providing training for personnel using aviation resources; participating in aircraft incident investigations; coordinating with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other agency officials for aviation activities; working as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on aviation contracts.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at this grade level.

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.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C.

8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience.

In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting.

Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement.

Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland.

Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages.

Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, although a level of physical fitness is required which will allow for work during periods of extended stress and in the field when wildland fire situations arise.

During the fire season, extended fire assignments away from the unit may be required under very stressful conditions. Working Conditions: Although work is generally performed in an office setting.

Field work involves exposure to temperature extremes, both from weather and fire conditions where falling trees and the presence of smoke and/or dust conditions create hazardous conditions.

The nature of fire investigation work requires that protective clothing (boots, hard hats, etc.) be worn.

The incumbent must exercise a variety of safety practices and precautions for the well-being of self and of others. Major Duties:

As a Wildland Firefighter (Aviation) Unit Aviation Manager - Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Responsible for the unit's Aviation Program to include oversight, budget planning, development, execution, and monitoring of all aviation operations.

Serves as liaison for the interagency coordination and use of tactical and logistical aircraft on multi-agency emergency incidents, mutual aid responses, military operations/coordination.

Develops Unit Aviation Plans, manuals, handbooks, and instructional materials and conducts workshops that provide direction and guidance to field/zone/interagency offices.

Responsible for the unit's Aviation Safety and Training Program. Conducts training needs analysis and sponsors, conducts, or coordinates aviation training.

Is an Office of Aircraft Services (OAS) certified Interagency Aviation Trainer. Ensures that the unit's dispatch center(s) operates within current accident/incident response measures.

Follow-ups with recommended corrective actions issued in bureau safety reporting system record. Participates in investigations for aircraft incidents and accidents.

Exercised delegated supervisory authorities and responsibilities 15% of the time (authorities exceed those typical of a work leader and include assigning and reviewing work on a continual basis to ensure production requirements are met).

The position plans work to be accomplished by subordinates; sets and adjust short-term priorities; and prepares schedules for completion of work assignments.