Sheriff's Helicopter Pilot Jobs

Position Information

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Pilots FAA certified as a trainer receive additional premium pay for hours spent training other pilots
• Stand-by pay of $6.82 per hour
• May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
• Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Overtime pay
• Differential pay for evening and night shifts
• County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
• An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities

• Salary is negotiable. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association's Memorandum Of Understanding (SCLEA MOU).

• Identifying aircraft maintenance needs and collaborating with maintenance provider
• Participating in regular on-duty trainings with crew to ensure competency
• Maintaining pilot currency with regards to FAA and Sheriff’s Office policies

Henry 1 and the crew are based out of the Charles M. Schultz (Sonoma County) Airport in Santa Rosa, and work a 7 on 7 off schedule, are compensated for stand-by and overtime hours, and on-call during their work week when not at the hangar.

As a technical, non-peace officer position in the Sheriff's Office the Pilot reports to, and is responsible for assisting, the Sergeant in charge of the Helicopter Unit. The unit consists of a Sergeant (Supervisor), tactical flight officers (Deputies), two helicopter pilots, and several extra-help paramedics. Additional pilots and paramedics may be hired on an extra-help basis to augment the crew.

The ideal candidate will be a strong leader and communicator, who can mentor crew members and brings:

• Public speaking skills as unit regularly participates in community engagement
• A strong desire to learn and be passionate about the unit's mission
• In-depth knowledge of aircraft maintenance
• Exceptional vertical reference long line experience**
• Experience in Night Vision Goggle (NVG) operations and FAA NVG endorsement
• The ability to work cooperatively on small teams to achieve missions
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills to safely complete challenging missions
• Familiarity with Crew Resource Management and how it is implemented in daily crew operations
• Extensive rotary wing aviation experience with regards to law enforcement and search and rescue operations
• A strong desire to stay connected in the aviation industry by keeping abreast of latest safety occurrences of similar aircraft, best industry safety practices, and fly neighborly techniques

** The Sheriff's Office defines vertical reference as follows: The use of a belly mounted cargo hook to carry loads on a 100+ foot long sling, with you, the pilot, being fully responsible for the safe and accurate placement of the load while looking straight down below the helicopter at the load, and placing it in, often times, precise positions without any assistance from another member of your crew. Please note that the skills required to perform vertical reference/long-line is very different than hoist operations.

Please visit the Sheriff's Office website and join our work family of over 650 employees. Visit the Helicopter Unit's to learn more about the efforts to aid in protecting and securing the half-million residents within the 1,768 square miles of Sonoma County.
Would you like to learn more about joining the Sheriff's Office? Visit our Personnel Bureau website or contact us and speak to the Sheriff's recruiting team at 707.565.2779 or email [email protected].

This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. The Civil Service title for this position is Helicopter Pilot.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience that clearly demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities for the position. Normally, this would include graduation from high school or an acceptable equivalent certificate, and 2,000 hours of turbine helicopter Pilot-in-Command time, which includes 300 hours of mountain flying, 100 hours of night flying, and 200 hours of precision vertical reference long line flying.

License and Certificate: Possession of a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Airman Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating or a valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating; possession of a valid and current Class II Airman's Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized medical examiner; possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Other Requirements: Applicants must successfully complete a thorough background investigation prior to appointment including a polygraph test; emergency operations may require working 16 hour shifts under difficult conditions such as fire and floods.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: safe helicopter operating procedures; Department of Transportation, FAA, and other regulations governing civil aircraft movements; flight control systems and equipment; mountain helicopter flying; precision vertical reference long-line flying; minor maintenance and repair of helicopters; basic math to compute hauling weights; basic recordkeeping practices; terrain, weather, and flying conditions in California.

Ability to:
Safely operate aircraft; perform the duties of a helicopter Pilot-in-Command under the direction of the Sheriff or his authorized representative; safely and expeditiously perform aerial rescues utilizing precision vertical reference long line techniques with external loads; safely operate the helicopter during hours of darkness, with and without the use of night vision goggles, including approaches to a landing and departures from off-airport locations; conduct water retardant bucket operations; learn local geography; maintain accurate records; review records and assess aircraft needs; learn and follow departmental practices and policies; work effectively and efficiently with departmental personnel and other external contacts; exercise good judgment in emergency and stressful situations; communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing; work in hazardous, and stressful conditions; continue to learn new techniques; wear protective clothing and equipment; meet physical fitness requirements to maintain FAA license and perform the essential functions of the position; meet and maintain pilot weight limitations not to exceed 230 pounds, or as otherwise directed by the Department, to ensure compliance with aircraft maximum weight restrictions; work any shift including days, evening, nights, weekends, and holidays; be on stand-by during off-duty hours as assigned and report to duty within 30 minutes, or as otherwise directed by the Department; refrain from activities which might impair the ability to perform assigned duties while on duty or on stand by.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.