Aviation Manager (Program Manager) -Direct Hire Authority

Summary

These positions will serve within the Alaska Geographic Area of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Four positions being announced are the UAS Program Manager, Fixed Wing Operations Program Manager, Helicopter Program Manager, and an Aviation Safety Program Manager. The aviation program supports fire suppression through aviation management expertise and coordination on safety, operations, investigations, training, and compliance. Contact Victoria Leshuk @ [email protected] for any questions.

Duties

Duties will be developmental if selected below the full performance level. As a Aviation Manager (Program Manager) -Direct Hire Authority your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Provides senior-level aviation management guidance and coordinates aviation safety, operations, investigations, training, and compliance across U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) units and assigned Department of Interioragencies. Ensures aviation programs operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable Department of Interior, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and U.S. Forest Service policies and regulations. Develops and oversees aviation safety training programs and evaluates performance to identify deficiencies, recommend corrective actions, and improve safety practices. Supports accident prevention, safety reviews, investigations, and high-risk aviation operations by identifying hazards and recommending risk mitigation measures. Develops, reviews, and updates aviation policies, procedures, safety bulletins, manuals, and training materials. Evaluates new aviation technologies and coordinates their procurement, implementation, training, and use. Conducts aviation needs assessments, develops cost estimates, supports budget planning, and monitors aviation funding and resource allocation. Reviews Project Aviation Safety Plans and assesses aviation mission risks to ensure appropriate mitigation measures and compliance with established standards. Specialized Functional Duties for position. UAS Program Manager Applies knowledge of UAS operations, aircraft systems, regulatory requirements, and risk management to support the safe integration and use of UAS in wildland fire and all-hazard missions .Ensures operations comply with applicable policies, FAA requirements, and interagency standards Helicopter Program Manager Applies knowledge of helicopter operations, aircraft capabilities, and mission requirements to support rotor-wing activities such as helitack, aerial ignition, short-haul, hoist, cargo transport, and other special-use missions. Evaluates operational effectiveness and provides technical guidance on safe and compliant operations Aviation Safety and Training Program Manager Supports aviation safety programs through safety reviews, hazard identification, risk assessments, and development of mitigation strategies. Develop, manage, and evaluate aviation training, qualification, and standardization programs for pilots, aircrews, managers, and aviation personnel. Fixed Wing Program Manager Evaluates aircraft utilization, supports mission planning, and ensures operations are conducted in accordance with established aviation policies, standards, and safety requirements. Applies knowledge of fixed-wing aircraft operations and mission applications to support aerial supervision, reconnaissance, transport, and other aviation missions

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. Only experience and education obtained by 11/16/2026 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. Candidates must possess Primary/Rigorous wildland firefighting experience, gained through fire line work in containment, control, suppression or use of wildland fire. You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your resume, including the months, days, and hours per week at which the work was performed to be considered. Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either: At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization; - OR - At least 14 days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive). Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement. Minimum Qualifications Requirement for the GW-12 level: For the GW-12 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, or higher in the Federal service, or equivalent; Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Providing technical guidance for aviation operations; developing and implementing training and qualification programs for aviation resources; working with interagency partners addressing aviation concerns and objectives; experience reviewing aviation incident reports; experience developing and implementing aspects of aviation safety and risk management. Minimum Qualifications Requirement for the GW-13 level: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-12 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent; Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Performance on actual fire suppression support missions, demonstrated experience in the management of aerial firefighting activities. Experience working in aviation operations including various fixed wing, rotor wing and/or UAS aircraft capabilities, having experience in program policy development, evaluating safe and cost-effective use of aviation resources for a wide variety of program operations. Experience with Bureau and Department financial, contracting and budgeting policies, planning and managing aviation cost studies, analytical evaluations, providing input on aviation contracts. These positions will serve as Aviation Managers, GW-2101-13, within the Alaska Geographic Area of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS). You will only be considered for the Positions you select in the application process. Positions being filled are: UAS Program Manager Helicopter Program Manager Aviation Safety and Training Program Manager Fixed Wing Program Manager 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 - This is a secondary/administrative firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position (3 years of service in primary/rigorous position(s)) and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine