Branch Chief, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

About the role

This position is a Supervisory Aviation Safety Specialist (Branch Chief, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)), GW-1825-14 assigned to the Headquarters (HQ) Aviation: UAS organization for the US Wildland Fire Service. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below: This is an administrative position in an organization having a firefighting mission and is clearly in an established career path. Prior firefighting experience, as gained by substantial service in a primary firefighter position or equivalent experience outside the Federal government is a MANDATORY PREREQUISITE. 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. Firefighter Special Retirement (Secondary Coverage): This is a secondary/administrative fire 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 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 your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION. General Requirements for All Positions: Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years; Valid State driver's license; Fluency in the English language; No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and 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: 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; Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); 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. Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic entry requirement, applicants must have specialized experience to be found qualified. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade. To qualify for the GS-14 grade level, 1 year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 is required. Examples of work include, but are not limited to the following: Managing a national UAS Flight Standards program that supports wildland fire and all-risk operations, including developing and implementing operational policies, SOPs, and compliance aligned with FAA, NWCG, DOI, and bureau requirements. Designing, delivering, and administering interagency UAS training and qualification programs, including curricula development, certification of UAS personnel, and tracking of qualifications and currency. Supervising Aviation Safety Inspectors (UAS) (base work at GW-13), setting performance standards, conducting evaluations, managing staffing actions, and overseeing branch-level budget and procurement. Coordinating UAS operational support for wildland fire incidents, including mission planning, airspace deconfliction with manned aviation, data management, and safety risk assessments in cooperation with NICC and DOI dispatch systems. Leading interagency collaboration and innovation efforts to advance UAS capabilities (e.g., new sensors, night operations, BVLOS developments) while ensuring safety, compliance, and interoperability across agencies. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by 06/26/2026. Eligibility and Qualification Requirements: Applicants must meet bo

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