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

Salary : $100,680.00 Annually
Location : Mesa County, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: PMA 00754 10/26
Department: Department of Natural Resources
Division: Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Opening Date: 10/19/2026
Closing Date: 11/16/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: 711 Independent Ave Grand Junction, CO 81505
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Salary Note: Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.
Type of Announcement: 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.
Hiring Pay Rate: Please note that all employees new to the State Personnel System are paid on a bi-weekly basis.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

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.

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, 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 (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
  • Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle

Supplemental Information
The Assessment Process

• 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.
• This recruitment may be used to fill more than one vacanc