This position serves as a principal assistant to the Director of Aviation and Fire Management with primary responsibility for planning, organizing, and directing the Region's aviation activities. This position provides all aviation management and aviation services to the National Forests within the Region. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Alex Robertson at [email protected].

Duties

Serves as a principal assistant to the Director of Fire and Aviation Management with primary responsibilities for planning, organizing and directing the Region’s aviation activities. Formulates and implements the Regional Aviation program within the parameters of overall policy and objectives. Develops the principal operating strategy for all phases of the program Provides expert input on aviation program management for Aviation and Fire Management planning. Performs comprehensive field evaluation of aviation operational effectiveness. Represents the Forest Service in meetings with contractors, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, etc. Provides aviation technical advice and expertise to multi-agency coordination groups within the Region and nationally. Performs comprehensive field evaluation of aviation operational effectiveness, overall accomplishment, method and procedure analysis, and conceptualizes program/system changes. Prepares and implements final changes. Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit. Performs the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. The incumbent is responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices. Provide leadership, allocate resources, and implement activities to accomplish agency multicultural organization direction and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirement, goals, policies, and objectives.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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
• Must be 18 years of age.
• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
• Minimum of 90 days of wildland firefighting experience is required.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
• 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. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Specialized Experience Requirement: GS-14: Must have have specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal service. Examples of Specialized Experience Include: Providing leadership, oversight and technical direction of highly complex aviation management operations (fixed and rotor wing aircraft) both inside and outside the agency; Interpreting, evaluating and explaining existing and proposed regulations regarding fixed and rotor wing aircraft; Working with groups of subject matter experts to suggest regulatory improvements; Evaluating and responding to inquiries about proposals from a variety of sources; Providing expert interpretations of highly complex aviation management and aircraft maintenance data, clarifying requirements and regulations to assure airworthiness. 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. 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. 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

See QUALIFICATIONS section.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]