Aviation Manager (Unmanned Aircraft System)

This Aviation Manager (Unmanned Aircraft System) position is with Office of the Secretary of the Interior (Department of the Interior) in Phoenix, AZ. This Aviation Manager (Unmanned Aircraft System) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-2101-13 working in the following location: 1 - Eastern Area Geographic Area, at a DOI Federal Office Location Only, Negotiable After Selection (US Wildland Fire Service Geographic Areas Map) In order to be considered for any duty location, ensure desired locations are selected. Applicants will not be considered for locations not selected. Key duties: • As a Aviation Manager (Unmanned Aircraft System) your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Provides senior level aviation management expertise to the field, as well as coordination between USWFS units concerning safety, operations, investigation, direction, training, and compliance for the conduct of aircraft operations program activities. Analyzes and guides aviation program activities in order to assure safe and cost-effective use of aviation resources throughout the USWFS that comply with DOI existing statutes, regulations and policies. Develops and supports implementation of the aviation safety training program within WFS to ensure Federal Aviation Administration policy requirements are followed. Evaluates organizational performance in terms of the application of safe and accepted flight procedures and recommends corrective action or additional training. Performs a key role in periodic aviation reviews in order to respond to safety and operational issues. Qualifications: In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Only experience and education obtained by 09/08/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. Minimum Qualification For the GW-13 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-12 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience include: Preparing and editing state/regional level aviation plans, oversight of Uncrewed Aviation Systems (UAS), processing and providing management input into SAFECOMs, leading aviation reviews. 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. *Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement. Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting. Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience. Physical Demands: Most of the work is sedentary in nature and requires sitting for long periods. The position requires intermittent physical exertion while inspecting field operations or participating in accident/incident investigations. On occasion, it may be required to perform field work requiring long walks over rough, rocky terrain for long hours during high temperatures. Substantial travel to meeting locations in other cities and to remote field locations for assignments up to two weeks in duration is common. Mode of travel may be by aircraft, ground vehicle, and horseback and on foot. Working Conditions: Most of the work is performed in an office or meeting room setting. The incumbent will be assessing direct applications of aviation needs and activities in the field program. These activities often require the person to be at the location engaged in actual aviation activities in the air and on the ground. The work can be expected to include periodic assignments of long duration in remote airports, heliports and field camps. At times the incumbent may be required to inspect aviation operations on wildland fires, prescribed fires, or other resource management activities. View the full announcement and apply on USAJOBS.gov.