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Summary

This position is located within the Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management (WO-FAM).

The incumbent is responsible for developing and recommending aviation objectives, plans, policies, standards, and procedures for the full range of aviation programs in support of National Forest System resource management and protection activities.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Paul Linse at paul.linse@usda.gov.

Overview

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Open & closing dates
03/18/2026 to 04/01/2026
Salary
$129,549 to - $168,420 per year

Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Visit OPM's website for pay rates for additional locality rates.

Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Boise, ID
Missoula, MT
Salt Lake City, UT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational/Limited determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You will be expected to travel for fire related assignments and leadership trainings.
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
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-FIRE-WO-12911539-14G-LM
Control number
861538500

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Duties

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  • Provide national and interagency airworthiness leadership/program responsibility in the development and implementation of all policies, standards, and procedures to guide/control the whole range of complex, often unique/hazardous aviation activities.
  • Apply technical airworthiness knowledge in the formulation of aviation plans, direction, controls, and procurement of aviation resources to support specific functional natural resource activities.
  • Exercise national leadership in establishing, implementing, and modifying a long-term national program for recruiting aviation personnel and developing career progression procedures.
  • Analyze needs and synthesize requirements information to develop requirements for program initiatives and planning.
  • Participate in the development of a budget and acquisition strategy that serves as the framework for integrating functional activities essential to planning efforts.
  • Initiate and coordinate development of aviation management data systems to track costs and utilization of aviation operations.
  • Analyze and interpret data from the aviation suppliers and on-the-ground resource managers to evaluate aviation responsiveness to mission requirements and cost effectiveness.
  • Represent aviation management in more broadly-based committees or work groups.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or 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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
  • 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.gov
  • Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New Forest Service supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • 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.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here; however, applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.

Qualifications

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.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirement

Applicants for the Airworthiness Branch Chief (Aviation Safety Inspector) position must meet all the following requirements:

  1. Experience involving the maintenance and repair of FAA civil certificated airframes, power plants, and systems of multi-engine aircraft of 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight OR more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight maintained under an airworthiness maintenance and inspection program.
  2. Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency.
  3. Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
  4. Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years.
  5. The incumbent for this position is required to hold a current and valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airframe and Power plant (A&P) Certificate.
  6. The incumbent for this position is required to hold a current and valid FAA Inspection Authorization (IA).
  7. The incumbent must be on the Forest Service Approved Aircraft and Avionics Inspector List as an Airplane or Helicopter inspector in one or more of the following approval areas: MA1, MA2, MA3, MH1, MH2 or MH3.
Certificates and experience must be submitted as part of you application package.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

GS-14: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: Provided leadership and program responsibilities in the development and implementation of policies, standards, and procedures to guide and control the whole range of complex and/or hazardous aviation and fire management activities; and/or advised and consulted with employees, contractors and cooperators to assist in the evaluation and implementation of proposed complex aviation regulatory changes; and/or participated in the development of a budget and acquisition strategy that serves as the framework for integrating functional activities essential to the planning effort and serves as the basis for specific program management documents; and/or provided expert technical guidance and assistance on diverse and complex hazardous conditions that require specialized safety approaches; and/or participated in the development of aviation management data systems to track costs and utilization of aviation operations.

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.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no education qualification or substitution for this position.

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. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as certain military spouses, explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

This is a permanent, full-time position and may include weekend work.

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 on the OPM Website.

Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period (unless prior service is creditable). New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program before the end of their probationary period.


This position may be eligible for telework on a situational/limited basis.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Forest Service daycare facilities and Government Housing are not available.

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.

Your application, including the online assessment questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if (a) you meet minimum qualification requirements and (b) your 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.

If you meet the qualification requirements, your Accomplishment Record narrative(s) which were submitted in the online assessment questionnaire will be reviewed to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Planning and Evaluating


If you are among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12911539

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