Uncrewed Aerial Systems Coordinator

Job Summary

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources—Division of Forestry seeks a talented individual to join its wildfire aviation team and serve as their Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Coordinator. This position will be based out of the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center (MIFC) in Grand Rapids, MN. The UAS Coordinator position exists to support and facilitate statewide leadership regarding the development and governance of a drone (UAS) program throughout its development and implementation at the MN Department of Natural Resources.  

Position Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include developing and maintaining pilot training and records; approving and prioritizing flights; developing data management and flight tracking; and providing ongoing guidance to programs and business functions on how drones might be used to benefit their projects. This position requires consistency in maintaining collected data across functions, programs, and divisions to ensure proper quality controls are used. 

The Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Coordinator will recommend solutions to diverging requests between functions that create data or flight conflicts. So, the UAS Coordinator must be proactive and innovative in managing data collected and communicating the results of each flight to internal programs, regulated parties, partners and Minnesota citizens. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Perform all job responsibilities in a manner that supports a healthy, safe, and productive work environment for all employees. Encourage a diverse workplace, treat others with respect, and contribute to work groups. Support the overall mission of the DNR.
• This position is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all required MN DNR Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations, training, maintenance, service, and inspections. They provide expertise to DNR personnel and remote pilots regarding UAS training, certifications, airworthiness, maintenance, contracting and service.
• Provide direction, guidance and oversight for department Remote Pilots.
• This position serves as the DNR UAS Safety Officer and is involved in the setting of UAS policy and procedures for DNR UAS aviation programs.
• Conduct outreach to other state, federal, and local agencies regarding UAS safety and operations and coordinate training and interagency utilization.
• Attend, participate, and lead department and interagency workshops, meetings and training.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Three years of advanced level professional experience leading a program for a team that demonstrates budgeting and planning, contracting, performance management and oversight. A bachelor’s degree in Forest and Natural Resource Management, Wildland Firefighting, Forestry, Aviation Management, Remote Sensing or related field can substitute for one year or experience, and an associate’s degree in the above fields can substitute for 6 months of experience.
• Knowledge of pilot training and record keeping, flight prioritization, data management, and flight tracking details and methods.
• Leadership skills and project management skills sufficient to chair an inter-divisional work group that focuses on UAS policy and procedure.
• Knowledge of UAS operations including registration sufficient to provide oversight for all UAS operations as well as develop, conduct, and document all UAS training, and perform UAS flights.
• Knowledge of how drones are piloted for optimal results, options for using drones, data management needs of programs including quality control and chain of custody demands, drone piloting, and program development.
• Communication skills sufficient to ensure accurate and effective transmission of information through internal and external communications for routine and crisis situations.
• Time management skills sufficient to make decisions and meet deadlines sometimes with incomplete information, under tight deadlines, and pressure by unforeseeable events and/or emergencies.
• Leadwork skills sufficient to provide direction in field settings, administrative procedures and/or office functions.
• Experience drafting and managing contracts for services.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite programs, remote sensing technologies, and mapping software.
• Conflict resolution/human relation skills sufficient to negotiate, resolve issues, read situations and settle disputes equitably by finding common ground and cooperation.
• Knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for UAS and is Part 107 certified for drone operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualified as an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Data Specialist (UASD), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manager (UASM), or Unmanned Aircraft Systems Module Leader (UASL).
• Knowledge of Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Incident Command System Agency policies, procedures and operating guidelines for resource sharing, resource ordering, and associated programs.
• Knowledge of aircraft flight planning, including but not limited to scheduling flights, pilots and aircraft; duty limitations, ordering procedures, procurement and cost comparison analysis.
• Knowledge of aircraft mishap response plans and the impacts to aircraft operations caused by aircraft and airspace status, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s), Notices to Airmen (NOTAM’s), and activity in Military Training Routes (MTRs) or Military Operating Areas (MOAs).
• Knowledge of the administrative processes so that information about aviation resources is available by updating daily plans, recording daily aviation activity, obtaining cost coding information for aviation managers, and maintaining statistical fiscal and calendar year reports using data recorded throughout the year.

Training Completed: 

• A-100, A-110, A-200, A-202, A-203, A-205, A-305, A-450, A-452R  – Interagency Aviation Training (IAT)
• A-450—Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Basic Remote Pilot Course
• S-270—Basic Air Operations
• S-373—Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Incident Operations