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Master Parachute Rigger

Position Description

Introduction

This position serves as Parachute Loft Technician.  The incumbent serves as an FAA licensed Master Parachute Rigger, provides the needed technical skill and supervision of parachute packing and repair, and performs 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.
  • Assumes full responsibility for numerous technical decisions.  Commonly resolves technical problems in emergency situations.  Unit Supervisor is available for consultation on any project problem.
  • Workforce varies with a minimum of 6 to 40 and includes one or more assistants at the GS-7.
  • The incumbent plans and schedules work assignments; ensures that supplies, equipment and operating plans are provided.  The size of the workforce fluctuates seasonally.  The workload is variable and unpredictable due to the emergency nature of fire suppression.  The 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 Master Parachute Rigger to advise and perform technical repairs and related loft activities.
  • 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 information instructions to trainees.
  • Complete knowledge of entire parachute loft equipment to accurately track inventory.

Supervisory Control

This position 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

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page