Clarification from the agency

This position is open to career transition assistance plan (CTAP), Reemployed Priority List (RPL), and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) eligible candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for priority consideration. VEOA eligibles may also apply.

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Operating speeds are significantly slower than in comparison to other aircraft (generally 60 knots or less), at typical altitudes from ground level to 200 feet.
• Frequently pilots an airplane with a crew member, gunner, or observer on board for the purpose of locating and/or shooting predatory or other damaging animals
• Flight assignments generally involve flying at minimum speeds, at low altitudes, normally under favorable weather conditions, and over unfavorable terrain (e.g., mountains, forests, or deserts)
• Flight assignments generally involve flying at minimum speeds, at low altitudes, normally under favorable weather conditions, and over unfavorable terrain (e.g., mountains, forests, or deserts)
• Remains current on required pilot qualifications and licensing and continually reviews applicable policies, laws, and regulations. Incumbent is cognizant of aviation industry practices and methods.
• Flight assignments may also involve search and rescue projects, surveys, or other searches for various wildlife species, sometimes with the use of radio-telemetry or thermal equipment to aid in wildlife
• Missions often involve making flights over uncharted courses and using meadows or roads for landing strips.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• Assignments involve flying airplanes over unfavorable terrain, at slow air speeds and low altitude.
• Extended travel or temporary duty may be required of the position. This may involve irregular working hours, including overtime.
• To fulfill field or laboratory requirements in this position, proof of specific vaccinations and boosters, may be required as a condition of employment to prevent contracting preventable diseases.
• Appropriate FAA license
• FAA medical certificate
• Must possess and maintain a valid State-issued driver?s license in order to operate a Government-owned or leased vehicle.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Minimum eligibility requirements for positions in this occupation are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements, and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the positions.

Certificates and Ratings:

For all grade levels and specializations, candidates must possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate or the appropriate military rating; both meet the intent of the requirement. If an agency decides, for example, not to accept the military rating, the rationale for the decision should be based upon the requirements of the position and should be thoroughly described in agency operating material. For flight instructor positions, the FAA Flight Instructor Certificate or the military equivalent rating is also required. The pilot certificate must include the rating(s) appropriate to the work of the position to be filled. For example, a position that involves flying a multi-engine airplane to various destinations under instrument flight rules would require the Commercial Pilot Certificate with the airplane, multi-engine, and instrument ratings or appropriate U.S. military ratings. Positions that require flying or instructing in flying both airplanes and helicopters require a rating in both categories. Only those ratings necessary to perform the work are required.

Note:

Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot, flight instructor, or flight examiner, as appropriate. Other certificates that meet or exceed the requirements of the Commercial Pilot Certificate are also acceptable, e.g., an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.

Minimum Flight Hour Requirements

1.Total Flight Time --1500 HRS- Flight time as pilot-in-command or copilot in aircraft of any weight or category is creditable for this requirement.
3.Pilot-In-Command -- 250 HRS- Only flight hours acquired as pilot-in-command are creditable.
4.Night Flying -- 75 HRS-- For in service placement actions at the GS-11 level and above, 25 hours may be waived if the candidate demonstrates the ability to perform the work.
5.Flying Time, Last 12 Months --100 HRS-- Required only for positions that involve flying. The flight hours specified apply to competitive appointments.

In addition to the meeting the above criteria you must also show the specialized experience below:

FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Experience that demonstrates the ability to operate light (less than 12,500 lbs), single engine, tail wheel, piston powered fixed-wing aircraft or rotary in all types of terrain, to include mountainous, for the purpose of conducting aerial livestock protection and other wildlife management operations at low level altitudes and slow airspeeds.
• Experience tracking, identifying wildlife from the air.

Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For CTAP & ICTAP, well-qualified means that the applicant meets the qualification standard and eligibility requirements for the position, meets basic qualification requirements, meets all selective factors where applicable is able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry, and is rated at 85 or above on the applicant assessment. Applications and required documentation (see below) will be reviewed to determine if applicants meet eligibility and job requirements. Qualified applicants will then be rated on the quality of experience, education, and training they possess relevant to the duties of the position and the extent applicants possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (or competencies):

• Aviation Safety
• Remote Sensing
• Wildlife Biology

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10846964