Cpw Aircraft Pilot/ Wildlife Pilot -

Department Information

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the .

Description of Job

This position exists to pilot a Cessna 185 aircraft and other aircraft as necessary for Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the purpose of an aerial observation and photographic platform for collecting data on wildlife, wildlife habitat conditions, detection of law violations, stocking of fish and transporting personnel and equipment throughout Colorado and surrounding states.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

Fly aircraft
Fly aircraft at low levels and within narrow safety tolerances so managers and researchers can observe, count, document, radio track, and transplant wildlife. Fly at low levels so that observers can observe land, streams, rivers, and lakes for habitat value and improvement projects. Fly aircraft in the same manner to allow law enforcement personnel to enforce regulations.  Assists in search and rescue operations. Operations may be single pilot operations or include passengers.  The position often works without direct supervision, assuming responsibility for completing projects as agreed upon with the position’s supervisor and which is in accordance with CPW’s mission. Responsible for maintaining all administrative records and reporting of records to required business processes.  Operates aircraft data logging equipment as necessary. Including but not limited to telemetry receivers, gps, cameras, multiple radios, radar altimeters and traffic avoidance systems.
 
Fly aircraft to stock fish
Fly aircraft at low levels within narrow safety tolerances to stock fish from the airplane in mountain lakes confined by rugged terrain at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 13,500 feet above sea level at critically low altitudes and airspeeds. Transport fish eggs to and from hatcheries. Coordinates with hatcheries to develop flight plans, locations and time frames to stock fish. Responsible for maintaining all administrative records and reporting of records to required business processes.

Maintains state owned aircraft
Coordinates with supervisor to maintain an aircraft, hangar, and those components associated with the aircraft as prescribed by Federal air regulations parts 43 and 91 by direct labor, purchases, and contracts while staying within cost center limits.  Formulates bid specifications for aircraft remanufacture, engine and propeller replacement. Coordinates with the supervisor to schedule maintenance needs of aircraft in advance to allow for budget planning. Submits invoices for payment, inputs credit card expenses and reconciles with receipts. Ensures proper aircraft logbook entries are complete and accurate.  
 
Maintains and installs aircraft equipment
Install and remove equipment from the aircraft which includes but is not limited to telemetry antennas and devices, infra-red cameras, photographic cameras, fish stocking tanks, and other equipment as needed in compliance with the appropriate regulations and need. Cleans, organizes and performs non-specialized maintenance on hangers. Is qualified to instruct technicians on proper use and operation or telemetry receiver and other data gathering equipment.  Installs and removes the fish tank from the airplane. Installs and removes camera equipment. Is familiar and able to mount, operate and troubleshoot all equipment. Cleans the aircraft as needed, performs basic maintenance and resupplies items needed for flights to instill confidence with passengers and assure desired outcomes.  Maintains survival and safety gear as needed and outlined in the equipment list.  Ensures that the aircraft is clean and mechanically aesthetic.  Maintain hangers and other CPW equipment including repairs, cleaning and scheduling of specialized maintenance.

 Schedules flights
Coordinates with supervisor and necessary CPW employees to schedule flights. Resolves scheduling conflicts to the satisfaction of all multiple users from all organizational units of the Division. Uploads and downloads necessary data to GPS equipment, telemetry receivers, and transfers information to biologists and passengers as necessary.  

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

• Current, valid certification as a commercial pilot 
• One thousand (1000) hours of logged pilot-in-command (PIC) flying time, which must include at least five hundred hours of logged mountain flying experience

• No Substitutions

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position
• Current or former Colorado Parks & Wildlife work or volunteer experience
• Wildlife related education or background
• Wildlife pilot competencies: 
  • At least two thousand (2000) hours total logged pilot in command time in fixed-wing aircraft
  • 500 hours of mountain flying experience
  • 100 hours of tailwheel time in fixed-wing, single-engine piston aircraft
  • 200 hours of cross-country time
  • 50 hours of night time
  • 50 hours in the last 12 months
  • Certified Flight Instructor

• Excellent organizational and time management skills

• Must possess and maintain a valid state of Colorado driver's license if operating a State vehicle.
• Must possess and maintain a valid commercial pilot’s license with at least a current Class 2 medical exam and instrument rating and current Biennial Flight Review. 
• Candidates will be asked to show a log of flying hours.
• Background Check, Drug and Reference Check is required. 
• Shift work - nights, weekends as needed. Emergency call outs. Coordination with other CPW ground and flight operations as needed.
• Use, Handling or Exposure to hazardous materials - Fuel, oil, cleaning agents
• Multi day travel assignments in various parts of the state.
• Must possess a current and valid commercial pilot's certificate, plus an instrument rating and a tailwheel endorsement. Must possess a current second-class medical certificate.  
• Schedule is hybrid/flexible during normal operating hours of 7am and 4pm  / 5 days per week, or evening/weekend work may be required
• Two positions will be filled with this posting, one in Grand Junction, CO & one in Colorado Springs, CO. 
• Must have a minimum of 50 hours of tail wheel time.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position.  (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).

Supplemental Information

• All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. 

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.

• Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. 

• Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication. 

• This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.