Predator Control Pilot

*Full time seasonal position from November to May

Job Description:
The Predator Control Program within the Department of Agriculture and Food is seeking a full time-seasonal pilot to fly a PA-18, or similar style airframe fixed wing, during the winter and spring months. The primary responsibility of this position is to help support UDAF in protecting Utah’s livestock and wildlife resources from predators. Activities include flying at low levels, evaluating weather conditions, scheduling flights and maintenance, flying with a passenger, and coordinating with local trappers and producers. Applicants must have a familiarity with basic firearm safety and be comfortable with operating a firearm. A basic understanding of agriculture, livestock production, and wildlife behavior is a desired skill.

Principal Duties:

Pilots a fixed wing aircraft with gunner or observer on board for the purpose of locating and/or shooting predatory animals or aiding ground crews and providing such assistance in other situations requiring aerial surveys. 
Checks and schedules routine maintenance, validates airworthiness of aircraft placed under their responsibility by UDAF. 
Receives recurrent flight training and provides training and instruction to other state personnel in the proper procedures and techniques of shooting from aircraft, safety aspects, and program policies regarding aircraft operations. 
Conducts safety evaluations of personnel participating in aerial activities, aircraft, and hangar. Performs other duties as assigned by the Program Manager or the Commissioner of Agriculture. 
Provides air transportation for the Governor, senior staff, dignitaries, and other clients or state employees. 
Ensures compliance with pilot currency and proficiency requirements as specified by current provisions of aircraft insurance policies, FAA licensure requirements, and UDAF specific requirements. 
Evaluates personnel including: hiring, determining workload, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions.

Ideal Candidate:

Minimum eligibility requirements for positions in this occupation are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements, and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position as determined by the UDAF. 

Certificates and Ratings:

Candidates must possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate and Instrument Rating. 
The pilot certificate must include the rating(s) appropriate to the work of the position to be filled. Note: Other certificates that meet or exceed the requirements of the Commercial Pilot Certificate are also acceptable, e.g., an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. 

Flight Experience:

Candidates must demonstrate possession of the knowledge and skills required for the work by meeting certain minimum flight hour requirements, including recent flight experience. The categories in which candidates are required to demonstrate proficiency relate to (1) the general knowledge and skills to pilot the aircraft, and (2) the specific knowledge and skills related to the particular position being filled. This position requires the pilot to fly close to the ground while engaging a moving target. While flight time requirements are a guideline for hiring this position they are not necessarily an indicator of a pilots ability to perform the work related to this opening. UDAF will evaluate candidates on a case by case basis with hours flown only being part of that evaluation process. UDAF may at its discretion provide or request additional training to a candidate to further evaluate a candidate as part of the screening process. UDAF may recognize higher amounts of tailwheel hours and low level hours with more value than total flight time on a case by case basis.

Minimum Flight Hour OPM Requirements (applies to all applicants)
Total Flight Time – 1500 hours. Flight time as pilot-in-command or copilot in aircraft of any weight or category is creditable for this requirement.
Pilot-In Command – 500 hours. Only flight hours acquired as pilot-in-command are creditable.
Night Flying – 75 hours.
Flying Time Last 12 months – 100 hours.

Selective Placement Factors
In addition to the qualifications above, the ideal candidate should be able to meet the following Selective Placement Factors (SPF). Any experience with the SPF below should be documented in the applicant’s resume and/or on the airplane experience form.
Applicants who fail to meet and document the SPF below may lose further consideration: 1,200 hours PIC in Single Engine Land (SEL) airplane
100 hours PIC in a tailwheel aircraft (PA-18-180 or similar)
100 hours PIC flight time in the make and model of aircraft or similar type, to be used on UDAF missions; and 250 hours flight experience as PIC for wildlife damage management operations; or 500 hours flight experience in UDAF type flying.
Ability to fly in low level conditions.
Ability to land on unimproved and/or remote terrain.
Ability to fly in adverse weather conditions.

Medical Requirements
At the time of initial appointment, candidates for all pilot positions must possess a current first or second-class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations.

To learn more & apply click HERE