Aviation Safety Inspector (Fixed and/or Rotary Wing Operations)
Job description
Duties
This position is located within the Department of Interior (DOI), Office of the Secretary (OS), Office of Aviation Services (OAS), Alaska Region Office (ARO), Aviation Safety Compliance Division located in Anchorage, AK. Through inspection and surveillance of ongoing aircraft operations, as well as contacts with user bureaus and the aircraft industry in general, the employee performs maintenance safety inspections and surveillance of aircraft and equipment used in a wide range of missions with authority to issue/withdraw authorization cards for mission specific applications and provides technical support and advisory services for direct mission support activities.
Requirements:
- Travel - 25% or less, on average annually - 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.
- Position is subject to medical requirements and incumbent must maintain medical requirements
- This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and is subject to future drug testing
At the full performance level GS-13 the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1) Leads or conducts surveillance and inspections of diverse types of rotary wing pilots to ensure safety compliance with contract requirements and OAS policy, Federal Aviation Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and other Federal regulations. Conducts initial general inspections of a contractor's facility.
2) Independently approves/disapproves contractor pilots used in Government missions. When approved, issues a card authorizing use of the pilot in all requirements. When disapproved, provides a list of deficiencies and performs re-inspections as needed.
3) Uses available resources to identify and resolve technical problems related to safety and adequacy of operations, operation policy/procedures, qualifications and proficiency of pilots, training deficiencies, suitability of aircraft for missions performed, efficient utilization of equipment, technical condition of aircraft and special equipment, and proper upkeep of flight logs and maintenance records. Briefs and debriefs management as required.
4) When requested, conducts in-house pilot, aircraft and/or equipment technical training to DOI aviation employees and inspectors for the purpose of standardizing procedures when adequate training sources are unavailable either from the manufacturer or other sources.
5) Serves as pilot-in-command (PIC) of rotary wing aircraft for point to-to-point transportation, testing and evaluating aircraft, DOI fleet pilot training and assessing pilot qualifications.
6) Provides OAS management and bureau partners with expert technical guidance and advice in the development, implementation, and resolution of a wide range of flight management and/or aviation maintenance issues related to safety, operational practices, potential contractor capability, contract modifications, policy and procedure development, and special use operations for both DOI fleet and contracted helicopter pilots and/or aircraft.
The Office of the Secretary has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
Salary Information:
GS-12: $93,367-$121,378 per annum; GS-13: $111,026-$144,331 per annum
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 OS-6054-23-RD-047(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen.
- You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
- You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
- You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
- 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
To qualify for this position you must meet the General Requirements, Medical Requirements, General Aviation Requirements, Specialized Experience, and Selective Placement Factor for the grade to which you are applying.
General Requirements for All Positions:
1. Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years;
2. Valid State driver's license;
3. Fluency in the English language;
4. No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
5. High school diploma or equivalent.
Medical Requirements for All Positions:
Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, and must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Have good distant vision in each eye and be able to read printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted) without strain;
2. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted);
3. Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others or that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft.
General Aviation Operations Requirements:
In addition to the above, applicants must also possess the general aviation operations minimum qualification requirements: **You are required to submit proof of the certificates and ratings with your initial application. Failure to provide documentation may result in disqualification from consideration for this position.
1. FAA Certified Flight Instructor-Helicopter or Military Equivalent- Must possess a CFI at time of employment or qualified and willing to obtain CFI within 6 months of entry of employment. Note: CFI must be obtained within 6 months of employment or candidate will be found ineligible for position and terminated.
2. Professional flying skill as demonstrated in a flight check to Commercial Pilot Certificate standards with an instrument rating;
3. Possession of Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating.
4. Minimum of 100 flight hours within the last 3 years.
5. Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours.
6. Possession of single and multi-engine land airplane ratings.
7. Not more than 2 flying accidents in the last 5 years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved.
8. Possession of a valid second-class FAA medical certificate.
Driver's License: You will be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid U.S. driver's license. **You are required to submit proof of the driver's license with your initial application. Failure to provide documentation may result in disqualification from consideration for this position.
Physical Demands: Must possess and renew at least a Second-Class FAA Medical Certificate on an annual basis.
Employee is required to climb tall ladders to inspect aircraft, load and unload aircraft by lifting heavy objects often times greater than 50 pounds and exposure to long hours in loud, confined spaces. Work also requires extensive overnight domestic and international travel. Typical DOI natural resource missions require exposure to substantial hazards, including occasional operations that require waivers and exemptions from the FAA.
Working Conditions: Position requires long periods of work confined to a desk with numerous contacts to be made by telephone, interpretative review of significant amounts of manually written technical data and constant scheduling and rescheduling of work activities. Position also requires exposure to high risks: Operating low level over inhospitable terrain, in adverse weather day and night and flying in and around the wildland fire environment. Personal protective equipment is required.
GS-12 Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade 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 the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) operating and flying rotor-wing aircraft in natural resource missions such as: mountain flying, low-level flying, wild-land fire activities, and/or external loads; 2) administering flight checks in rotor-wing aircraft for the purpose of assessing pilot skill and issuing/withdrawing approvals for mission specific applications; and 3) serving as a Pilot-In-Command (PIC) for rotor-wing aircraft. MUST MEET ALL.
GS-13 Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade 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 the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) operating and flying rotor-wing aircraft in natural resource missions such as: mountain flying, low-level flying, wild-land fire activities, and/or external loads; 2) administering flight checks in rotor-wing aircraft for the purpose of assessing pilot skill and issuing/withdrawing approvals for mission specific applications; 3) serving as a Pilot-In-Command (PIC) for rotor-wing aircraft; 4) conducting rotor-wing pilot proficiency evaluations to ensure contract vendor and government pilots are in compliance with contract requirements, Federal Aviation Regulations, DOI policy, and/or organizational requirements; and 5) demonstrating that you have obtained a minimum of 100 hours of Vertical Reference Long Line flying for a 14 CFR Part 133 or 14 CFR Part 137 Rotorcraft External Load Operator. (Vertical Reference Long Line is defined as: "visually placing loads on specific targets with precision using a minimum line length of 100' and without the assistance of a crew member or spotter" (hoist operations do not meet this criteria)). MUST MEET ALL.
Selective Placement Factor:
All applicants must possess a minimum of one year of documented civil flight experience within the last ten years in a 14 CFR part 135 or 14 CFR part 91 operation as PIC of rotor-wing aircraft in resource operations such as fire suppression, external loads, low level reconnaissance, animal classification and herding, mountain flying, etc., in addition to any military flight experience, if applicable.
-OR-
Prior documented experience as a credentialed helicopter inspector pilot working for a federal or state partner agency such as USFS, FAA, CalFire, etc.
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.
Additional information
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.
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.
Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.
NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.
A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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.
Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:
Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others; relates well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
Technical Competence - Uses aviation knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on aviation technical issues.
Pilot Evaluations Inspection- Uses knowledge, skills, and advanced understanding of aviation concepts, gained through extensive training and experience and applies documented established standards to evaluate pilot knowledge and skills in a variety of flight related scenarios.
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 assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11781478
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume
Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words; (2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) College transcript (if applicable) for verification of qualifying education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; (4) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable); (5) Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15 (if applicable).
NOTE: Applicants claiming veterans preference (TP, CP, CPS) must submit a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy is preferred), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service (must be honorable); OR acceptable proof of verification of your preference (i.e., official document, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that the veterans total combined serviced-connected disability rating is 10% or more).
You will find additional information on the following topics: (1) e-Verify; (2) Selective Service; (3) CTAP/ICTAP; (4) Education - accreditation; (5) Foreign education; (6) Veterans preference; (7) Special appointing authority documentation; and more can be found on our web site: https://www.bsee.gov/careers/usajobs-assistance OR https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/boem-employment .
If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 or above (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) that have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, promotion potential and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.Agency contact information
HR Assistant
Phone
703-787-1446
Fax
0000000000
Email
human.resources2@bsee.gov
Address
Office of the Secretary
45600 Woodland Road
Sterling, VA 20166
USNext steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume
Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words; (2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) College transcript (if applicable) for verification of qualifying education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; (4) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable); (5) Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15 (if applicable).
NOTE: Applicants claiming veterans preference (TP, CP, CPS) must submit a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy is preferred), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service (must be honorable); OR acceptable proof of verification of your preference (i.e., official document, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that the veterans total combined serviced-connected disability rating is 10% or more).
You will find additional information on the following topics: (1) e-Verify; (2) Selective Service; (3) CTAP/ICTAP; (4) Education - accreditation; (5) Foreign education; (6) Veterans preference; (7) Special appointing authority documentation; and more can be found on our web site: https://www.bsee.gov/careers/usajobs-assistance OR https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/boem-employment .
If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 or above (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
This job is open to
-
Military spouses
-
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
-
Veterans
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens
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