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Airplane Pilot (Infrared)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located on USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region 4, Fire and Aviation unit. Incumbent operates and serves as pilot/second-in command of multiengine fixed wing turbo-prop aircraft flying a variety of missions detection and suppression of wildfire throughout the United States and Internationally.

For additional information about the duties and location of these positions, please contact Nikki Sandhoff at nikki.sandhoff@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/26/2023 to 12/11/2023
Salary
$71,091 to - $134,022 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Ogden, UT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You will be expected to travel overnights on fire suppression or fire related assignments for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
24-FIRE-R4OCR-PilotIFR-12DH
Control number
733705800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-12 level.
  • Fly's airplanes equipped with electronic equipment used in the detection, mapping, and identification of wildfires. Flights are often performed at night under reduced visibility conditions over remote mountainous terrain.
  • The pilot and copilot work as a team along with the infrared technician/loadmaster utilizing Crew Resource Management skills and techniques to enhance aviation safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
  • May be required to instruct and evaluate pilots in instrument techniques while flying light multiengine fixed wing turbo-prop aircraft.
  • Mapping missions using sophisticated electronic equipment at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 feet above the terrain over on-going fires to electronically map fire perimeters, growth, and to detect fires outside the fuel zone.
  • Routinely transports personnel including high ranking government officials and/or equipment in support of fire activities and administrative needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • 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 E-Verify.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.

Qualifications

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This type of announcement provides the USDA Forest Service with a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. Eligibility and qualifications will be verified when there is a vacancy for the location and grade for which you applied.

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.

Basic Requirement:
Certificates and Ratings
Must possess an FAA Airplane Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Airplane Multi-Engine Land ratings OR possess a current and valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Airplane Multi-Engine Land rating.

Medical Certificate:
Must possess a current FAA first or second-class medical certificate. Must possess all necessary certificates and ratings and flight hours in the appropriate Category and Class (Airplane - Multi-Engine) as required.

Specialized Experience:

GS-09:
Must meet all the following flight requirements and all minimum hours must be in Category (Airplane): Possess minimum flight time of 1200 hours with 250 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC); possess minimum flight time of 100 hours in multi-engine airplanes; possess minimum time of 50 hours performing Night Flight; possess minimum time of 50 hours of actual or simulated Instrument time with minimum 5 hours actual in flight; possess minimum flying time in Category of 100 hours (preceding 12 months).

GS-11 and GS-12: Must meet all the following flight requirements and all minimum hours must be in Category (Airplane): Possess minimum flight time of 1500 hours with 250 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC); possess minimum flight time of 500 hours in multi-engine airplanes; possess minimum time of 75 hours performing Night Flight; possess minimum time of 75 hours of actual or simulated Instrument time with minimum 10 hours actual in flight; possess minimum flying time in Category of 100 hours (preceding 12 months).

GS-12 only: Ability to obtain and maintain a current FAA Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, as appropriate to the position held (Airplane) with Multi-Engine and Instrument Airplane Instruction ratings or the military equivalent rating is also required.

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.

Selective Placement Factors:
A minimum 90 days on-the-line (Rigorous) wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wildland fire as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression techniques and practices under various conditions.-OR-A minimum 90 days as pilot with aerial wildland fire experience, such as: delivery of fire retardants or suppressants via fixed or rotor wing aircraft; aerial ignition, helitack or aerial supervision operations (Air Tactical, Aerial Supervision Module - ASM, Helicopter Coordinator - HLCO). This experience, to include, specific duties and specific dates must be documented a separate document including reference names and current phone numbers for verification.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the time of application submission.

Education

See QUALIFICATIONS section for education requirements.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

Availability of government housing, federal day care facilities, and telework may be available. Positions filled via this announcement are bargaining unit positions represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

How you will be evaluated

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

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, 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 view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12014622

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