Police Officer - Helicopter Pilot

Salary : $109,824.00 - $186,721.60 Annually
Location : Public Safety, 17930 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley, CA
Job Type: Full-time (40 hrs)
Job Number: 22-REG-GB-12
Division: Public Safety
Department: PUBLIC SAFETY HELICOPTER
Opening Date: 07/19/2023
Closing Date: Continuous

The Position

THE OPPORTUNITY:
Vacancy Situation: The Police Department is seeking to hire one (1) qualified applicant. Hiring pools established as a result of each selection process will be in effect for one year and will be used to fill vacancies that may occur within the life of the hiring pools. Applicants not selected during the life of the hiring pool may reapply in accordance with the application instructions.

What You'll Be Doing as Police Officer/Helicopter Pilot:

Under general supervision, serves as a peace officer/pilot in the Air Support Unit to perform a wide variety of police services and public assistance; and performs related duties as assigned.

Candidates that DO hold a CA POST Basic certificate AND meet the qualifications tied to the helicopter pilot position: As a Lateral Helicopter Pilot, your application will be reviewed as a Lateral Police Officer and would bypass the Police Officer recruit testing.

Candidates that DO NOT hold a CA POST Basic certificate but DO meet the qualifications tied to the helicopter pilot position: As a Recruit, you will be required to successfully pass the same tests required of a Police Officer recruit, including the written, physical agility, and panel interview. If you successfully pass all selection tests and the Level 3 background, you will commence employment as a Police Officer Recruit and be sent through the Police Academy. Once you pass the Police Academy AND successfully complete the patrol Field Training Program, the employee would advance to Step B1 of the Police Officer/Helicopter Pilot salary range.

We're Looking For Someone Who:

• Enjoys being challenged and is self-motivated;
• Enjoys and understands the importance of public service;
• Appreciates the value of publicly accessible open space and wishes to work with like-minded folks to preserve such opportunities for future generations;
• Wants to be an integral part of a well-respected and recognized public safety department that impacts the communities it serves.

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job:

• Meaningful and valued work connected to our organizational mission;
• Daily challenges as part of an excellent team;
• Great benefits including medical, dental, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS);
• Sponsorship in a POST Basic Training Academy.

Our Values:

• Respect: We honor each other, the park users we serve, and the land we steward.
• Resilience: We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships: Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness: We communicate openly, honestly and reliably.
• Transparency: We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and unfettered access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

Essential Functions

• Serves in the Air Support Unit as a pilot for the primary purpose of flying the Public Safety Division's helicopters to provide for the safety and welfare of park users and employees within the Park District;
• Operates a helicopter into and out of sparsely populated terrain and parkland under often severe weather conditions; may perform one or more of the following:
  • Provides information to the public regarding park lands and facilities;
  • Assists distressed park visitors; aids other park employees with any public safety problems;
  • Contacts members of the public and employees regarding any matter concerning public safety and welfare;
  • Answers radio calls for all types of police services and investigate traffic accidents, and takes injury reports;
  • Investigates criminal offenses and issues citations or makes arrests for violations of all laws and ordinances when necessary;
  • Conducts covert airborne surveillance while in pursuit of fleeing suspects or when searching for persons of interest; conducts night vision goggle operations as needed law enforcement patrol;
  • Writes detailed and accurate reports covering public safety incidents; prepares cases for court and testifies as necessary;
  • Performs rescue work and administers first aid when needed;
• Provides fire suppression with water bucket, and/or long line external load operations;
• Reports on wildfire conditions and assists with traffic and crowd control; provides aerial observation, support, and coordination for police and fire units; performs a variety of flying assignments;
• Documents and logs the activities of the aviation unit; assists in ensuring the safety of flight operations and equipment with maintenance staff;
• Provides uniformed patrol of parks by automobile, motorcycle, boat, horseback, or on foot as needed;
• Works days, nights, or holidays, and in adverse weather conditions;
• Performs any other duties necessary and required for the safety and protection of park users and employees within the Park District and other assigned patrol areas;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade, supplemented by successful completion of 24 semester or 36 quarter units of college level courses. For purposes of this requirement, credit will be given for units recognized by POST in the completion of a Basic POST training course through an accredited institution or agency. Additionally, credit will be given for two years of Active Military Service.

AND

Experience: 1,500 logged hours of Rotorcraft/Helicopter Pilot in Command Time (500 hours PIC must be in a turbine powered helicopter). Airbus H125 Series experience is desirable.

AND

A Lateral applicant must possess a valid State of California Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST) Basic Certificate or is currently working as a police officer in a California POST agency or has worked in the job classification within one year of application. Applicant must be able to show proof of successful completion of the California POST agency-specific field training program.

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record is a condition of initial and continued employment.

AND

Possession of an F.A.A. Class II Medical Certificate.

AND

Possession of an F.A.A. Commercial Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft/Helicopter rating.

Additional Information

Knowledge of: Helicopter flight control systems and equipment; Interagency Helicopter Operations Guidelines; Federal Aviation Regulations and the Aeronautical Information Manual; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to: operate helicopters in mountainous terrain; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers and park users.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must pass a Public Safety Sworn background screening.
  
• Must wear a Park District issued uniform.
  
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
  
• Must be 21 years of age by time of appointment.
  
• Must meet current peace officer selection standards as set by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
  
• Must be of good character and reputation and not have been convicted of a felony crime or serious misdemeanor offense and must be able to pass a strict background investigation.
• Must be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might interfere with the ability to perform the essential functions of Police Sergeant/Chief Helicopter Pilot duties, as determined by the Park District's physician/psychologist;
• Must be able to meet the medical standards for an F.A.A. Class II Medical Certificate;
• Must be willing to work evenings, weekends, and holiday shifts as needed.
• All East Bay Park Regional District employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
• This position is designated as a Mandated Reporter under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). Mandated reporters are individuals who are obligated by law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. As such, you will be required to sign an acknowledgment of having received the District's policy and your responsibilities.

Union Affiliation: The Park District's Police Association (PA) represents this classification. Wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment are covered in an agreement between the Park District and the PA. The probationary period for entry level Police Officer/Helicopter Pilot recruits is twenty-four (24) months, which includes the time served under the classification of Police Officer Recruit and then as a Police Officer/Helicopter Pilot. Lateral Police Officer/Helicopter Pilots shall serve a probationary period of 18 months.

Application materials for this position consist of three (3) required parts:

1. A completed East Bay Regional Park District NeoGov Application; and
2. A copy of your college transcripts (official or unofficial); and
3. Completed supplemental questions

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user on the system. If you have previously applied to a recruitment on GovernmentJobs.com, please take care to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have any problems while applying online, please contact the NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.
Notification: All applicants will be notified of the disposition of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.

Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing and/or interview. The Park District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.

The selection process will include the following:

1. Physical Ability Test: