Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen and CTAP/ICTAP/RPL eligible employees.

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Develop airworthiness safety program requirements for WS aviation activities.
• Assists the WS Aviation Management Officer (AMO) in conducting investigations of public complaints, congressional inquiries, and aircraft incidents and accidents.
• Provides verbal and/or written technical assistance to legal counsel, testifies at court trials and formal hearings, and gives depositions as directed by WS leadership.
• Assure that agency contractors are properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped.
• Conduct inspections to verify certification requirements (both fixed-wing and helicopter) for all agency and contract aircraft.
• Evaluate requests from agency and contract pilots/mechanics to make alterations to aircraft and approve or disapprove these requests.
• Provide guidance to agency and contract pilots and designated maintenance professionals regarding maintenance procedures and record keeping.
• Review and determine adequacy of manuals associated with the WS airworthiness safety and maintenance programs and revisions.
• Analyze trends to detect a deterioration in the airworthiness safety and maintenance program.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male 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.
• Direct Deposit: 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 at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• Selectee will be subject to a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• Current Airframe and Powerplant (AP) mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA) Certificate
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary and a trial period. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Minimum Eligibility Requirements
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.

When the predominant work involves general aviation maintenance, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements.
1. Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness;
2. Maintenance experience with aircraft 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight;
3. Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state or Federal governmental agency;
4. Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years;
5. FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings with current Inspection Authorization endorsement; and

In addition to meeting the above criteria you must also meet the following qualifications:

FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

Fixed Wing (Western US):

• Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station, air carrier or airline repair facility, military repair facility or local, state or federal government agency with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
• Must have experience in the maintenance, repair and modification of steel tube and fabric Piper PA18 type aircraft.
• Experience obtaining FAA approval for manuals, inspection programs, major repairs, major alterations or other documentation related to aircraft continued airworthiness.

• Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station, air carrier or airline repair facility, military repair facility or local, state or federal government agency with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
• Must have experience in the maintenance, repair and modification of steel tube and fabric Piper PA18 type aircraft.
• Must have experience in the maintenance, repair and modification of single engine turbine powered helicopters such as Bell 206B and Hughes/MD 500 series.
• Experience obtaining FAA approval for manuals, inspection programs, major repairs, major alterations or other documentation related to aircraft continued airworthiness.

• Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station, air carrier or airline repair facility, military repair facility or local, state or federal government agency with responsibility for certifying airworthiness
• Must have experience in the maintenance, repair and modification of single engine turbine powered helicopters such as Bell 206B and Hughes/MD 500 series.
• Experience obtaining FAA approval for manuals, inspection programs, major repairs, major alterations or other documentation related to aircraft continued airworthiness.

Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: Transcripts are not required.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The category rating procedure is used to rank and select eligible candidates. Under category rating, applicants who meet basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position and whose job related competencies have been assessed are ranked by being placed in one of the following categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. Preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Your resume must clearly address the experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position.

SME Resume Evaluation: A panel of subject matter experts will review your resume to determine the degree to which you have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies represented by the Specialized Experience listed above for the location you are applying:

• Fixed Wing (Western US)
• Fixed/Rotor Wing (Central US)
• Rotor Wing (Eastern US)

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the 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. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. 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 up to including removal from the Federal service. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12930953

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

• Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications; and 5) supervisors name and phone number for each work period listed and whether or not they may be contacted for reference checks. Resume cannot exceed two pages. Only one resume will be reviewed.
• If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. For further information, visit the following: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• If claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions within 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. The certification must be on the letterhead of the appropriate military branch and include the dates of military service. Veterans' preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
• If claiming 10-point veterans' preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), last performance appraisal that is at least fully successful or its equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
• License card and renewal letter: FAA Certificate Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic (A & P) with an Inspector Authorization (IA).
• Valid State Driver's License.
• Worker's Compensation Separation: Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50.
  • Disability Annuity Termination: Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held. Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456: Certification of special disability retirement annuity from a military department or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.

Next steps

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