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Supervisory Aircraft Pilot) (Temporary Opportunity)

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Aircraft Certification Service, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Flight Test Branch, AIR-712

Summary

As a supervisor/manager, the selectee for this position will be eligible to receive a Manager Performance Incentive (MPI) provided eligibility requirements noted in agency policy are met. The MPI is an annual lump-sum incentive payment that considers agency performance, the manager's individual performance, and available funding.
The incumbent serves as a Section Manager, directly supervising multiple employees and/or multiple organizational units.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/10/2026 to 03/02/2026
Salary
$112,283 to - $173,980 per year

Salary with locality to be determined at time of job offer.

Pay scale & grade
FV K
Locations
few vacancies in the following locations:
Des Plaines, IL
Wichita, KS
Kansas City, MO
Fort Worth, TX
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - The job may require up to 50% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary promotion - 2 years or Temporary Reassignment NTE 2 years
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
ACT-AIR-26-AIR712-97212
Control number
856999200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to Current Permanent FAA employees only.

Duties

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Applies a comprehensive knowledge of the technical aspects of the work in the Section and has a detailed understanding of the objectives of the organizational unit. Directs the work of subordinate employees in the section by: Direct Report Supervision: Monitors and evaluates performance. Executes personnel actions and/or corrective or disciplinary actions. Works to prepare employees for future opportunities across the division, with focus on continuity of operations and long-term organizational success. Coaches, mentors, and develops employees to perform current work and support career progression for the future. Ensures employees have technical skills to accomplish their assigned tasks.

Work usually includes routine project/program tasks based on established policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Team Environment: Monitors organizational health and regularly seeks input and feedback from employees. Establishes and enhances practices to encourage communication, collaboration, and innovation in the resolution of issues. Communicates and regularly reinforces connectivity between subordinate employee activities and the broader AlR mission. Defines and assigns accountability for key internal performance objectives. Engages personnel in monitoring key performance indicators and making adjustments necessary to achieve key performance objectives. Works with employees to identify resource needs and advocates for resources on behalf of the team.

Established guidelines, policies, and procedures typically govern work. Resolves routine problems independently, but consults with higher-level management when existing guidelines are not available. The incumbent and the section performance is typically reviewed periodically by higher level management, often through status reports and organizational performance measures, to ensure timeliness, policy compliance, and alignment with project/program objectives. The work activities impact directly on the objectives of the organizational unit.

Program Support: Oversees technical and administrative support programs of the office. Responsible for overall management responsibilities associated with the planning and direction of programs. Develops techniques to improve program and policies. Manages data systems, administrative processes, and data entry necessary to support office and branch performance metrics and dashboards that can be effectively used by the management team to manage branch and office performance. Oversees procurement and management of building operation and security. Supports the development of plans and techniques to improve program and policies.

Operations Monitoring: Engages employees in documenting, refining, and assuring compliance with processes governing all activities. Assesses the productivity, quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of organizational processes. Monitors and approves expenditure of funds. Reviews and approves time and attendance and assures accurate labor distribution reporting. Assigns, communicates, and clarifies context for tasks and responsibilities. Oversees daily operations to ensure timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and compliance with policy in attaining organizational goals. Facilitates coordination and effective communication across FAA organizations, the aviation industry, other civil aviation authorities, and union representatives to accomplish work.

Contacts are primarily within the organizational unit/major subdivision with subordinates, peers, and higher-level managers to discuss the status of projects/programs and to share information. Stakeholder Collaboration: Establishes and maintains effective communications within AIR. Partners with other AIR organizations to accomplish work. Represents FAA at aviation events, industry conferences, and other civil aviation authority meetings on topics pertinent to the Section. Mediates the resolution of controversial technical disputes involving complex engineering issues.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • A one-year supervisor/managerial probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-J, FG/GS-14. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized experience includes:

  1. Experience in developing plans and techniques to improve programs;
  2. Managing and directing work involved in the application of aviation safety regulations, policies and objectives to identify, define, or organize work for multiple work activities;
  3. Setting priorities and establishing schedules for completion.

Minimum eligibility requirements are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position.

All applicants MUST possess a valid first or second-class medical certificate. External candidates must obtain a first-class medical certificate prior to appointment (Current AIR and Supervisory Flight Test Pilot's maintain second-class medical certificate).

Candidates must possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating with airplane single-engine and multi-engine land and instrument ratings or the appropriate military ratings (Refer to Required Documents Section).

Qualifications are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position.

Candidates must demonstrate possession of the knowledge and skills required for the work by meeting certain minimum flight hour requirements, including recency of flight experience. Only that flight experience that is directly related to the work of the position is required for purposes of establishing minimum eligibility.

NOTE: Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot, flight instructor, or flight examiner, as appropriate.

Flight test positions also require completion of a flight test school such as a military flight test school, or at least 1 year of experience either flight testing aircraft for engineering approval (civilian or military) or analyzing aircraft performance data.

NOTE: Acceptable engineering flight test experience must have been for the purpose of establishing the basic airworthiness of prototype aircraft or component parts in the experimental/developmental stage. This experience includes flight testing of an aircraft or component from the time of first developmental flight testing through final FAA certification or military acceptance testing. This experience must include basic stability, controllability, and performance testing to determine compliance with civil, military, or foreign standards.

The following flight hour requirements apply:

1. Total Flight Time-1750 hours, Flight time as pilot-in-command or second-in-command (copilot) in aircraft of any weight or category is creditable for this requirement. For in-service placements actions, up to one-fourth of the total flight hours may by waived for candidates who have demonstrated possession of the knowledge and skills needed to perform the work, provided they hold the certificates and ratings required; have acquired the pilot-in-command hours and flight hours in other categories essential to performance of the work; meet the requirements in terms of level and quality of experience; and flying history indicates they are qualified for the position.

2. Pilot-In-Command-1150 hours, Only flight hours acquired as pilot-in-command are creditable.

3. Night Flying-75 hours, For in-service placement actions, 25 hours may be waived if the candidate demonstrates the ability to perform the work

4. Flying Time, Last 12 Months-100 hours, At least one-fourth of the total hours must be in either fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft. For in-service placement actions, up to one-half of the flight hours may be waived provided the individual's total background reflects the ability to perform the duties of the position safely.

5. Multi-engine Airplane-500 hours, Position requires operation of heavy multi-engine airplanes (i.e., gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds). At least 50 percent of the flight hours must have been in such heavy airplanes. Up to 250 hours flying time acquired in heavy helicopters (gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds) may be substituted.

6. Instrument-75 hours, At least 10 of the required hours must have been logged in actual instrument weather. The balance may have been acquired in a flight simulator or as other types of instrument flight time, e.g., hood instrument.

Complete OPM Qualifications Standard for the Aircraft Operation Series, 2181, available at:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2100/aircraft-operation-series-2181/

Training Requirement: Failure to successfully complete all required training, including the FAA initial flight test training course, and to obtain all required certificates may result in reassignment, demotion, or dismissal.

Flight Check: Candidates may be required to demonstrate proficiency in an aircraft, including a flight check to demonstrate ability to perform flight test techniques. Candidates will be evaluated on the quality of their experience as it pertains to the specific positions being filled.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

Temporary Assignment Not-to-Exceed (2) Years. The temporary assignment may be extended, terminated at any time, or may become permanent at a later date without further competition.

Interviews: The Agency may choose to interview one, some, none, or all candidates from the selection certificate or any other valid recruitment/referral list submitted.

Supervisory Probationary period: One year supervisory/managerial probationary period may be required.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Managerial Selection Factors (MSF) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each MSF.

In lieu of providing a narrative response in the text box listed below each MSF in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each MSF. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your MSF answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the MSF listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Salary: This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan.

This position will be filled at an approved FAA AVS Facility. This is not a remote position.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

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