CPW WILDLIFE PILOT I / Entry Pilot (Grand Junction, CO)

State of Colorado; Colorado; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and Dental plans

Retirement plans PERA

Paid life insurance

Disability coverage

Employee Wellness programs

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Accounts

11 paid holidays

Flexible work schedule options and rem

Career advancement opportunities

Public Service Loan Forgiveness - some

Job summary

Colorado Parks and Wildlife seeks a highly skilled commercial pilot to operate aircraft for wildlife observation, habitat surveys, and fisheries stocking. The role demands PIC time, mountain flight experience, and the ability to manage aircraft systems and data collection equipment.

You will fly low-level flights to observe habitats, assist in law enforcement, and support search and rescue operations as part of a mission-driven team within CPW. Hybrid work schedule may apply.

Qualifications

• Commercial pilot certification required and current.
• Minimum 1000 PIC hours with 500 mountain hours.
• At least 100 PIC tailwheel hours in fixed-wing single-engine piston aircraft.
• Must meet state requirements and pass background checks.

Responsibilities

• Pilot a Cessna 185 and other aircraft for aerial observation and data collection.
• Stock fish from aircraft to mountain lakes at high elevations.
• Maintain aircraft and equipment per regulations; schedule maintenance.
• Coordinate flight plans with hatcheries and researchers; ensure safety and compliance.
• Perform non-pilot duties and support CPW missions as assigned.

Skills

Commercial pilot certification

Pilot-in-command time

Mountain flying experience

Tailwheel time (PIC)

Flying in fixed-wing, single-engine

Tools

Cessna 185 aircraft

GPS equipment

Telemetry receivers

Job description

The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.

We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

• 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 Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE

Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.

The work unit exists to implement and execute those technical and administrative functions, procedures and activities necessary and critical to accomplish the CPW’s wildlife programs throughout the state of Colorado. Specifically, this work unit exists to provide an aerial platform to support the gathering of information and data through direct observations and remote sensing.

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.

Non Pilot Duties
Completes additional non- pilot duties as may be assigned by supervisor to further the mission of CPW. Consults with the supervisor to arrange projects for times between flight duties.

Other duties as assigned.

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 (500) hours of logged mountain flying experience
• One hundred (100) hours pilot-in-command (PIC) tailwheel time in fixed-wing, single-engine piston aircraft

Substitutions

• No Substitutions

Preferred Qualifications

• 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
  • 200 hours of cross-country time
  • 50 hours of night time
  • 50 hours in the last 12 months
  • Certified Flight Instructor
  • Cessna 180 or 185 time.

Required Competencies

• Excellent organizational and time management skills

Conditions of Employment

• 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, tailwheel endorsement, 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.
• Schedule is hybrid/flexible during normal operating hours of 7am and 4pm / 5 days per week, or evening/weekend work may be required
• Must have at least 500 hours of mountain flying experience
• Must have at least 100 pilot-in-command (PIC) hours of tailwheel time in fixed-wing, single-engine piston aircraft
• Must be able to report to the primary job location within an hour if requested
• 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).
• Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.
• To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who:
  • Have an assigned State fleet vehicle
  • Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position