Skip to main content

Senior Parachute Rigger

Position Description

Introduction

This position serves as Parachute Loft Technician.  The incumbent serves as an FAA licensed Master Parachute Rigger and performs related loft duties.  The incumbent provides the needed technical skill and supervision of parachute packing and repair, and various other loft duties.

Duties

  • Plans work schedule on a daily or project basis and makes adjustments to meet changes in workload, variations in staffing, and to meet priorities.  Plans for and obtains supplies and insures that equipment is available, ready, and safe to use.  Maintains work accomplishment report.
  • Assigns work to individuals based on their training or experience, and sets standards of performance, participates with supervisors in directing and preparing training and operating guidelines.  Has one or more assistants who demonstrate, observe and correct work practices, and review routine work accomplishments.  Takes corrective action to obtain satisfactory quality and quantity of work.  Informs incumbents of the objectives of management.
  • The size of the workforce fluctuates seasonally.  The workload is variable and unpredictable due to the emergency nature of fire suppression.  Incumbent must exercise currency on Agency Manuals, FAA regulations, National and Regional policies.  In the absence of Unit Supervisor and/or Operations Foreman is given full authority.
  • Informs licensed parachute riggers of current packing and repair methods.  Provides parachute rigging training to returning experienced jumpers.
  • Interprets detailed parachute loft manuals and insures adherence to standards.
  • Oversees inventory in parachute loft and that all items are accounted for.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Thorough knowledge of parachute loft operations and FAA licensed Senior Parachute Rigger.
  • Responsible for the supervision and training of personnel assigned to the loft for the repair and packing of parachutes and related equipment.
  • Thorough knowledge of FAA rules and regulations to locate, interpret and apply them to recurring parachute loft operation assignments and problems.
  • Well-developed written and verbal communication skills to prepare reports and provide formal and informative instructions to trainees.
  • Complete knowledge of entire parachute loft equipment to accurately track inventory.

Supervisory Control

  • Works under the general supervision of the Unit Supervisor who sets objectives, establishes priorities, and provides assistance during the completion of unusual, exceptional or precedent setting actions.
  • The incumbent plans and schedules recurring work and independently handles most problems and carries most work through to completion on own initiative according to previous training and experience.
  • The Supervisor reviews work for technical accuracy, coordination with parachute loft and fire suppression functions and consistency with policy.

Guidelines

Guidelines include agency manuals (specifically air operation), FAA regulations, the Health and Safety Code, Smokejumper Handbook, Fireline Handbook, and other written guides and oral instructions.  The incumbent must locate and interpret applicable guides and precedents from a variety of sources and apply them to unique problems.  Considerable judgment must be employed because of the complexity in parachute rigging and fire suppression support activity.

Complexity

Assignments involve organizing, developing and directing projects in the parachute loft and supervising fire suppression support functions.  Incumbent must exercise independent and mature judgment.  Parachute loft projects often require departing from past approaches and extending traditional techniques of developing new ones to meet major objectives.

Scope and Effect

The purpose of the work is to provide technical expertise and leadership skills in the operations of the parachute loft assignments.  Work efforts have a definite impact on the subordinate’s performance.  Decisions made by the incumbent will provide for safety and minimize the loss of forest resources and wildlife.

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids 

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page 

Next Generation Position Task Book and Updated Incident Position Description Now Available for Operations Section Chief Complex

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) has a Next Generation NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 and an updated Incident Position Description.

These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

References:

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Position Page 

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Incident Position Description 

NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108