Clarification from the agency

This is a Merit Promotion announcement for DOI employees and those who are eligible under the hiring paths listed.

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) located in Lakewood, Colorado at the Denver Federal Center.


At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Manages Department-wide UAS fleet operations, remote pilot database, and OMB-required flight use reporting systems. Serves as DOI subject matter expert for UAS fleet management, airworthiness approvals, and payload certification.
2. Conducts inspections, surveillance, and operational evaluations of UAS aircraft, pilots, and maintenance programs to ensure compliance with DOI, FAA, and Federal regulations.
3. Makes recommendations on procurement, contracting, and acquisition of UAS platforms, sensors, and related technologies.
4. Leads testing and evaluation of new aircraft, payloads, and emerging technologies to support DOI resource management and emergency operations.
5. Serves as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) for UAS test and evaluation missions and supports accident investigation activities when assigned.
6. Develops and delivers interagency UAS training curriculum; conducts pilot certification inspections and qualification reviews.
7. Provides technical leadership in geospatial technology, remote sensing applications, and integration of UAS-derived data into DOI programs.
8. Supports Department-wide and interagency aviation policy development, working groups, and FAA coordination efforts.
9. Represents DOI in coordination with Federal, State, Tribal, and interagency partners regarding UAS operations and standards.

Salary Information
GS-13 step 1: $118,675.00 step 10: $154,280.00 per annum.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service has determined that the duties of this position has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

This position is included in a bargaining unit. Local 3820, is the exclusive representative of all employees in this bargaining unit.

Conditions of employment

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
5. 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

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
To qualify for this position, you must meet the Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Specialized Experience: Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the aviation management and safety function(s) of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 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 in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
Must meet all.

1. Managing or administering an Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) or aviation program, including maintaining pilot qualification records, aircraft documentation, and operational reporting systems to ensure compliance with agency and/or FAA requirements.
2. Conducting inspections, evaluations, or operational testing of UAS platforms, payloads, or aviation equipment to assess airworthiness, safety compliance, and operational suitability, and documenting findings with formal recommendations.
3. Developing or delivering structured aviation or UAS training (classroom and/or field-based), including evaluating pilot proficiency and certifying completion of required qualification standards.
4. Supporting procurement or contracting actions for aviation or UAS equipment, including drafting technical specifications, evaluating vendor proposals, or providing technical recommendations for acquisition decisions.
5. Coordinating aviation or UAS operations with internal and external partners (e.g., Federal, State, Tribal, or interagency stakeholders), including resolving operational issues and ensuring regulatory compliance.

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.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Aviation Regulations
• Compliance Inspection
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Geospatial Information Systems
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Pilot Evaluations Inspection
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

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

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. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

DUE WEIGHT
Due Weight Consideration is a review process used to provide consideration to performance appraisals and awards submitted with each application on a used merit promotion certificate and factoring the results into the merit promotion selection process.

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

It is your responsibility to obtain and upload your performance appraisal/evaluation and/or list of awards prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement.

To preview the application click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12899680

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents (if applicable):

• SF-50's showing (1) your highest FPL, and (2) most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station. Please note that all SF-50's submitted must show that you are a status candidate or eligible under this announcement. Please refer to the eligibility in the online questionnaire for more information.
• College transcript for verification of qualifying education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable
• Certificates, license, etc.
• Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15, if eligible under VEOA or VRA
• Proof of eligibility if applying under a special appointing authority
• Current or former Government employees are strongly encouraged to submit a recent performance appraisal

If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.

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/how-to/account/documents/resume/build.

NOTE: Applicants claiming eligibility under VEOA or VRA, 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).

NOTE: Applicants claiming eligibility based on 30% or more service connected disability, you are required to submit documentation that is indicated on the SF-15 as 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 30% 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.

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