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Aircraft Flight Instructor

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Air and Marine Operations
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As our nation navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP is committed to delivering our mission to safeguard America's borders and enable legitimate trade and travel. Staffing mission critical positions remains a high priority. Be reassured that CBP is still hiring, despite potential hiring process step delays due to restrictions to in-person activities.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/28/2020 to 01/08/2021
Salary
$91,231 - $118,603 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Oklahoma City, OK
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - This position may require travel and/or overnight travel, or driving for extended periods of time, subject to the determination of management.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
AMO-DE-10996790-JF
Control number
588004700

Duties

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Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, National Air Training Center, Oklahoma City, OK.

This position starts at a salary of $91,231.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $118,603.00 (GS-13, Step 10) with promotion potential to $118.603 (GS-13 Step 10).

In this position you will be a valuable member of CBP in the pilot profession, strengthening homeland security by ensuring the quality of the pilots that are preventing acts of terrorism and the unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs, and other contraband toward or across our borders. Typical work assignments include:

  • Instructing or evaluating student pilots in advanced instrument flight techniques, human factors, cockpit resource management, emergency procedures, and the operation of high performance aircraft which includes hazardous maneuvers and procedures.
  • Instructing pilots in methods of instruction and evaluating their proficiency to engage in flight instruction.
  • Testing and certifying aircraft airworthiness by evaluating mechanical deficiencies and functionality of the airframe, components, and systems.
  • Planning, scheduling, implementing and maintaining airplane and/or helicopter training programs for CBP.
  • Evaluating program safety and flight procedures, and recommending corrective action or additional training.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • Possess FAA Commercial Pilot certificate in the Rotorcraft category Helicopter class with an instrument rating in the same category and class, or an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate in the Rotorcraft category Helicopter class.
  • Possess a FAA Flight Instructor certificate in the Rotorcraft category Helicopter class with an instrument rating in the same category and class , OR in a Fixed Wing category and class with an instrument rating in the same category and class
  • Possess a First or Second Class FAA medical
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements for this Position:

  1. Helicopter CFII or Airplane SEL or MEL CFII(1 positions available)
  2. A FAA First or Second Class Medical Certificate issued within 12 calendar months for the purpose of application which is valid through the closing date of this announcement, however the applicant MUST have a First Class FAA Medical Certificate issued within 12 calendar months of the Flight Assessment. Military flight medicals cannot be used.
  3. Flight Hours:
    1. 1500 hours total flight time
    2. 250 hours flight time as pilot-in-command
    3. 100 hours flight time within the last 12 months
    4. 75 hours flight time at night
    5. 500 hours flight time as flight instructor in the Airplane-SEL or MEL, or Rotorcraft-Helicopter category and class.
Note: Up to 50% of the 100 hours flying time in the last 12 months requirement may be waived upon verification of prior specialized skills and experiences (e.g., provided the individual's total background reflects the ability to perform the duties of the position safely). Applicants currently in the 1881 series who meet this requirement may respond with a YES to the Flight Log assessment question.

Experience: You qualify for the 13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Instructing and evaluating pilots, planning, scheduling and implementing aircraft training programs; maintaining flight records and flight schedules; conducting currency flights, transition training, and evaluating flights to determine pilots' proficiency level; conducting safety and maintenance inspections.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 01/08/2021.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For more information visit this link.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Assessment Process Prior to appointment to this position, you must pass three qualification assessments. The assessments are pass/fail and you must pass all three in order to be eligible to be appointed to this position:

  • Flight Check: You will be required to demonstrate your pilot and instructor pilot proficiency, in a CBP aircraft, with a CBP flight instructor. You will be evaluated based on FAA Commercial Pilot, and Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument standards.
  • Oral Evaluation: You will be tested on your knowledge based on published regulations, see FAA FAR's and AIM.
  • Structured Interview: You will be asked scenario-based interview questions concerning core competencies, which include judgment/decision-making, teaching others/interpersonal skills, flexibility, fostering ethical conduct/integrity and oral communication/listening. The qualification assessments will be conducted at the National Air Training Center (NATC) facility in Oklahoma City, OK, and will take approximately 1 full day. An additional day may be necessary due to weather and/or maintenance issues.
You will be responsible for all expenses associated with transport to and from the NATC facility and hangar, as well as lodging in Oklahoma City and all other personal expenses incurred.

This position is not covered in the Bargaining Unit

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Twitter @CustomsBorder

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use an assessment questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education, and training.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

  1. Best Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
  2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF's and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
  3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:
  • Knowledge of the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of aircraft flight and aviation related human factors/ cockpit resource management instruction.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of air operations programs and procedures of the FAA and guiding policy of Air and Marine Operations.
  • Expert knowledge of FAR Part 91 the Aeronautical Information Manual, the FAA Aviation Instructors Handbook to include the Fundamentals of Instruction.
  • The skill to effectively communicate and the skill to teach aviation concepts, procedures and practices.
  • The ability to fly, instruct, and evaluate in an aircraft with all levels of student pilots.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10996790

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10 point preference eligibles and veterans with 5 point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles:
If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this job announcement.

Customs and Border Protection

Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America's Borders
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders. At CBP, we:

  • Secure and facilitate trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws
  • Screen passengers, vehicles, and shipments entering our country
  • Seize illegal narcotics, vehicles, and agricultural products
  • Prevent unauthorized entry into the country
  • Rescue individuals who fall into dangerous conditions traversing our border
For more information about CBP's mission, activities, and careers see www.cbp.gov.

Agency contact information

CBP Hiring Center
Phone
952-857-2932
Email
CBPhiring-applicantinquiry@cbp.dhs.gov
Address
Air and Marine Operations
Please read entire announcement
Please apply online
Washington, DC 20229
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Customs and Border Protection, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.cbp.gov

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