Department: Department of the Interior
Location(s): Boise, Idaho
Salary Range: $75697 - $142712 Per Year
Job Summary: Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. This position is located with the BLM Fire & Aviation Directorate, Division of Aviation at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), in Boise, Idaho. Information about the area can be found at https://www.boisechamber.org/ We expect to fill 1 position; however, additional positions may be filled if they become available.
Major Duties:
Qualifications: In order to qualify for the position, you must meet minimum qualifications which includes both the minimum eligibility requirements and the specialized experience requirements. Minimum Eligibility Requirements: The minimum eligibility requirements below will be verified during the selection process. CERTIFICATES AND RATINGS: Must possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate OR an FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate OR the military equivalent rating with a rating of: Multi-engine land; and instrument rating. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: For pilot positions must possess a current first or second-class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations. GS-9 FLIGHT HOURS: Must possess a Total Flight Time of 1200 hours; Pilot-In-Command of 250 hours; Night Flying of 50 hours; Flying Time Last 12 Months of 100 hours; Instrument of 50 hours; Multi-engine Airplane of 100 hours. GS-11/12 FLIGHT HOURS: Must possess a Total Flight Time of 1500 hours; Pilot-In-Command of 250 hours; Night Flying of 75 hours; Flying Time Last 12 Months of 100 hours; Instrument of 75 hours; Multi-engine Airplane of 500 hours. Specialized Experience: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the minimum qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. Failure to provide required information on resume could result in ineligibility for consideration. To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: Flying light single or twin-engine airplanes primarily under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions; flying various kinds of survey work, point to point, with minimum degree of hazard; train, under a qualified instructor, to perform in the lead plane mission. To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: serving as a pilot and team member during Smokejumper operations; provides airspace coordination and air traffic management over the incident; conducts low-level operations and aerial deployment of personnel and cargo. To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: serving as a pilot and team member during Smokejumper operations; provides airspace coordination and air traffic management over the incident; conducts low-level operations and aerial deployment of personnel and cargo; functioning as subject matter expert with various contacts on matters such as Smokejumper aircraft standards and procedures, cooperative contract specifications, and interagency operations, staying current with developments applicable to Federal aviation policy. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. If selected at the lower grade, subsequent promotion to the next grade level will be processed without further competition dependent upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties. Physical Demands: Frequent flights are made at low-level altitudes in adverse weather conditions (turbulence, high winds, wind shear, heat and smoke). The work requires constant coordination with other aircraft, ground units and dispatch involved in the operation. The pilot is required to maintain a high level of concentration and attention in these conditions for long periods of time. The incumbent must maintain an FAA second class pilot's medical certificate. The job includes travel by aircraft, ground vehicle, and by foot to remote field locations to evaluate operations. May be required to move light to moderate weight loads. Work Environment: The risks and discomforts involved are those of air travel compounded by the necessity of flight in smoke, turbulent air, over mountainous terrain, at low airspeeds and altitudes, and in high density air traffic (with and without radar control). A substantial degree of hazard may be encountered due to maneuvering close to mountainous terrain where visibility is restricted, air currents are unstable and flying very precise patterns close to the surface in highly congested terminal and fire areas. Mission flying requires precise timing and execution while other tasks may create constant diversion or division of attention from flying the aircraft and require immediate response on the part of the pilot to avert an incident and take corrective action. Protective equipment required includes the use of fire protective clothing, gloves, hearing protection and boots. Conditions at standby locations may be primitive. Work includes extensive travel with considerable time spent away from home. Duty days are long and limited only by agency safety regulations.
How to Apply: THIS IS AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS THROUGH USAJOBS. Your application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time by 12/31/2025. If you need assistance in applying on-line, please contact the NIFC-FA Branch of Human Resource office at blm_fa_nifc_vacancies@blm.gov or (208) 387-5523. If applying on-line poses a hardship for you (i.e., you do not have access to the Internet) you must contact us prior to the closing date of the announcement for an alternative method of applying. PLEASE NOTE: If you have access to a public library, State Job Service Office, etc., you should use these resources to apply online. You must follow the steps described below in order to complete the application process successfully: 1) YOU MUST HAVE OR CREATE A PROFILE IN USAJOBs; your profile must contain a current resume for submission. In order to receive proper consideration, your resume should include the following information: Current personal contact information. Work experience (paid or unpaid) including - starting and ending dates (month and year, MM/YYYY - MM/YYYY), employer's name and address, job title (include job series and grade if Federal), duties and accomplishments, supervisor's name and telephone number, indicate if supervisor may be contacted, hours per week, and salary. Education and job-related training including - school name, type and year of degrees/diploma received, credits earned and majors; title of training course and year of completion. References - personal and professional- Additional information - skills (languages, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.), certificates or licenses (current only), and/or honors, awards, and special accomplishments (recognition, professional memberships, publications, leadership activities, etc.). INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION COULD RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. The USAJOBS Resume Builder was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is an available tool when you login to your USAJOBS account. 2) Review the Appointment Eligibility Criteria; the eligibility section of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the appointment eligibilities that you selected. You must provide proof of your eligibility to be considered. You must submit a resume and also complete the online application and assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. The eligibility portion of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this announcement. You may choose more than one eligibility. You must provide proof of your eligibility and will only be considered for the questions that you answer "yes". Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated in this section. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered. You may choose more than one eligibility in this section. To view the assessment questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12845612. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Application Deadline: 2025-12-31