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Regional Aviation Safety Manager (RASM) (Wildland Firefighter)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit.

This position provides Regional leadership in aviation safety program management including accident prevention and investigation, trend analysis, and aviation safety education and promotion.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Tiffany Counts at tiffany.counts@usda.gov

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/21/2025 to 07/30/2025
Salary
$96,598 to - $145,220 per year
Pay scale & grade
GW 12 - 13
Location
Missoula, MT
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel overnight on fire suppression, fire related assignments, meetings and/or training for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
25-FIRE-PXR1-RAVSO1213DH
Control number
841109300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

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Duties

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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-13 level.
  • Serves as principal aviation safety advisor to the Region in the development and implementation of policies, programs, and standard practices for aviation programs, and specialized projects, including policy, objectives, budget, and work priorities.
  • Provides safety assurance through inspections and program reviews of aviation activities to determine compliance with standards and guidelines. Plans, develops, and advises the field on enforcement of safety regulations and practices.
  • Prepares comprehensive technical reports with details documenting analysis of aircraft accidents.
  • Reviews, investigates, and analyzes data from accident reports to determine trends as a basis for developing plans for their prevention and as a basis for modifying the National and Regional safety program.
  • Provides oversight and expertise in contract specifications regarding SMS and in evaluating vendor proposals.
  • Develops and implements a Regional Aviation Safety Management Systems Program.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • 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.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
  • Secondary Coverage: Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
  • There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
  • Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GW-12: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience are: Independently planning and carrying out a full range of regulatory enforcement duties of a recurring nature, such as compliance inspections of aviation related activities; conducting field inspections and in-depth investigations for specific aviation related enforcement cases, such as transportation of hazardous materials; assisting in developing new or proposed aviation policies, procedures, and guidelines; assisting in aviation safety operations, including researching of data, policy, procedures and requirements as they pertain to aviation; performing basic systems inspection on light single - or twin-engine airplanes and/or helicopters to confirm aircraft readiness for flight operations according to prescribed preflight checks.

For the GW-13: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GW-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience are: Serving as a technical consultant in aviation safety operations and provided interpretation of data, policy, procedures and requirements as they pertain to aviation. Providing technical advice and assistance to individuals and organizations both inside and outside the immediate organization and the agency concerning legislation and regulations in aviation safety operations. Assisting in planning and coordinating special safety studies to determine the degree of hazard involved in various highly hazardous activities such as aerial firefighting, smokejumping, and helicopter night operations.

Selective Placement Factors:

At a minimum, the incumbent must either hold a private pilot's license.
OR
Experience as a pilot or crew member, or in aviation operations management/flight program management.
OR
Graduate of an aviation safety officer course provided by a recognized training provider and authority in aviation safety before appointment, or within one year after appointment.

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.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336 (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions. Firefighter retirement coverage of the incumbent depends upon his or her individual work history.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See Qualification Requirements Section for Education

Additional information

For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov)

Region 1: Northern Region - Tiffany Counts at tiffany.counts@usda.gov

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment).

Government housing, federal day care facilities, and telework may be available.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS) Wildland Firefighters under Pay Plan GW. Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period (unless prior service is creditable). New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program before the end of their probationary period.

New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program within a year of the effective date of the position.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given a new appointment.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, 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.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12764711

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