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Aviation Safety Compliance Specialist (Rotary Wing Operations)

Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Wildland Fire Service

Summary

The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/05/2026 to 03/18/2026
Salary
$103,225 to - $182,034 per year

Salary varies upon location. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Anchorage, AK
Sacramento, CA
Denver, CO
Homestead, FL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
WFS-1060-26- ETA-018(DEU)
Control number
859810400

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Duties

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This position is located within the Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), to be filled in Anchorage, AK; Atlanta, GA; Bangor, ME; Boise, ID; Denver, CO; Homestead, FL; Houston, TX; New Orleans, LA or Sacramento, CA.

At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:
1. Evaluates the capabilities of private contractors to perform point-to-point, investigation, special use and precision reconnaissance flights and issues initial qualification cards for mission specific applications, of which, requires advanced pilot skills and maneuvers.
2. Provides technical aviation assistance to the Department of Interior's Bureaus and Offices for evolving or changing programs that require aircraft support.
3. Maintains a program of recurring visits involving personal contacts with Bureau personnel supervising operations and aviation operators providing contractual services.
4. Evaluates qualifications of employees responsible for management and technical supervision of aircraft operations, capability of management's control of aircraft operations, government and operator working relationships, and level of user-Bureau satisfaction with services provided by WFS.
5. Leads or conducts surveillance and inspection of DOI's fleet aircraft and contractor maintenance facilities, to ensure compliance with department regulations, contract specifications, and quality control plans.
6. Serves as the Team Member for the aircraft rental agreement renewal process for all contractor and cooperating Federal, State, and local agency aviation operations for an assigned geographical area.
7. Serves as the point of contact for arranging the inspection and coordinating with WFS authorized inspectors and the Forest Service.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service has determined that the duties of this position has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

This position is included in a bargaining unit. The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Local 2052, is the exclusive representative of all employees in this bargaining unit.

Travel: You may be expected to travel for site visits, meetings, training, conferences and field visits. The travel requirement is generally higher from January through June and may require 10 or more nights per month. Travel is significantly less July through December.

Salary Information (Per Annum):

Anchorage, AK
GS-12: $124,145 - $161,392
GS-13: $147,626 - $191,916


Atlanta, GA
GS-12: $113,930 - $148,112
GS-13: $135,478 - $176,124

Bangor, MA, Boise, ID and New Orleans, LA
GS-12: $110,871 - $144,136
GS-13: $131,841 - $171,396

Denver, CO and Sacramento, CA
GS-12: $117,753 - $153,082
GS-13: $140,025 - $182,034

Homestead, FL
GS-12: $116,224 - $151,094
GS-13: $138,206 - $179,670

Houston, TX
GS-12: $103,225 - $134,195
GS-13: $122,749 - $159,575

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as WFS-1060-26-ETA-019(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, you must meet the (1) Aviation Operations (Rotary Wing) Requirements and (2) Specialized Experience for the grade to which you are applying.

(1) Aviation Operations (Rotary Wing) Requirements:

  1. Valid second-class (or greater) medical certificate.
  2. Valid, unexpired *Flight Instructor Certificate with Rotorcraft Helicopter ratings.
    • *Applicants who possess an alternate Flight Instructor Certificate rating, i.e., a Flight Instructor Certificate with Airplane ratings, may be considered; however, appropriate Rotorcraft Helicopter ratings must be obtained within 90 days of employment. Failure to obtain the required certification may result in termination.
  3. Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating with Instrument or Airline Transport Pilot with Helicopter Rating.
  4. No more than 2 flying accidents in the last 5 years in which the applicant's error was involved.
  5. Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours.
  6. Possess 1200 hours of Pilot in Command (PIC) time in category.
  7. 25 hours PIC night in category.
  8. Minimum of 100 flight hours PIC Turbine Powered Helicopters.
NOTE: Please include any previous experience flown as a PIC. Your application and/or resume must contain all mandatory flight requirements listed. Failure to include the information will result in an ineligible rating.
You are required to submit proof of the certificates and ratings with your initial application. Failure to provide documentation will result in disqualification from consideration for this position.

(2) Specialized Experience
To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as:
1) Operational experience flying rotor-wing aircraft in natural resource missions; AND
2) Administering flight checks in for rotor-wing aircrafts.
MUST MEET ALL

To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as:
1) Operational experience flying rotor-wing aircraft in natural resource missions;
2) Administering flight checks in rotor-wing aircraft; AND
3) Conducting rotor-wing pilot proficiency evaluations.
MUST MEET ALL

YOUR RESUME MUST INCLUDE A CLEAR AND DETAILED NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, OF HOW YOU MEET THE REQUIRED SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE.

Additional Requirements
Driver's License: You must possess a valid Alaska or other state driver's license. ** You may be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid Alaska or other state driver's license. **You are required to submit proof of the driver's license with your initial application.

Additional Information
Work Environment: The work is performed in an office setting, aircraft hangars, aircraft cockpits, and outdoors. When pilot check flights are performed and actual emergency conditions are simulated, the employee may be subjected to considerable stress and extreme heat or cold weather conditions.

Physical Demands: The work requires moderate physical activity of short duration such as associated with flying in adverse weather conditions and when evaluating advance pilot skills in special use or low- level investigation missions.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/articles/29112781465108-Reasonable-Accommodation-Overview

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "Platinum", "Gold", and "Silver". However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "Platinum" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.

To preview the application click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12898556

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