Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results
 

AIR OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
***DATA MASKED***

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information.

The primary purpose of this position is to: Provide the United States Air Force a unique capability to plan, organize, coordinate and employ special air operations in support of sensitive, compartmented/special access National Command Authority (NCA) tasking.

*** Salary ranges includes local market supplements ***

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/26/2026 to 03/11/2026
Salary
$89,508 to - $116,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 12
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
8J-DCIPS-12889436-156590-IF
Control number
859035400

Duties

Help

  • Manages and performs tactical and administrative air traffic control service and operations for contingency, exercise, and training of assigned aircraft. Coordinates with higher headquarters and MAJCOM in the assessment and selection of assault zones, including landing and drop zones, and forward area refueling point zones, as well as established airfield capabilities for SECDEF directed real world missions and contingencies, training, and exercises.
  • Performs worldwide airfield surveys. Surveys are conducted on a continuous basis for training and operational missions. Site surveys will be conducted both CONUS and OCONUS IAW AFI 13-217.
  • Acts as commander's representative to support mission taskings. Performs as liaison for the commander with DoD, AF, Army, Navy, unified commands, FAA, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  • Dispatches special air operations worldwide. Plans, coordinates and monitors government flights according to applicable U.S. Government and international regulations and directives.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • All new DCIPS employees are required to complete a two-year DCIPS trial period.
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guide
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • Drug Testing: The position is designated by the Air Force as a Test Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Drug Testing Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing.
  • Position requires occasional temporary duty travel (CONUS and OCONUS), utilizing any or all modes of commercial and military transportation.
  • Requires possessing and maintaining valid State Driver's License to enable operation of government and privately owned vehicles.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions.

This is a GS-12 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GS-12 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-12 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include: Knowledge of all aspects of worldwide transportation of passengers and cargo, and possess current personal experience in DOD air activity systems, in-depth experience in aircraft scheduling, operations and mission planning, and experience as a special operations mission planner with thorough knowledge of all aspects of the special air operations missions to include but not limited to fixed-wing-mission/flight planning, communications, air navigation, ground plans, extended twin engine operating procedures (ETOPS), and domestic and international employment operations is required. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  • Knowledge of all aspects of worldwide sensitive air support and employment mission requirements, including fixed wing, ground refueling, air refueling, navigation and offensive/defensive employment operations for air assets. Knowledge of DoD, USAF, and joint special operations doctrine, to include command relationships at the Combatant Command level, administrative protocol, and the relationship between MAJCOMs and other components.
  • Knowledge of special operations tactics (fixed and rotary wing), techniques, weapons, procedures, and systems for all DoD components as well as Air Force, DoD, and FAA air traffic control regulations, procedures and criteria as it pertains to a special operations environment. Knowledge of assault zone criteria and operation, and aircraft characteristics detailed in AF and MAJCOM regulations, to include non-military and foreign designs.
  • Ability to perform detailed assault zone assessments and land surveys in support of all air missions associated with exercises and/or real world contingency requirements; to include determining landing zone criteria by analyzing terrain and preforming California Bearing Ratio (CBR). (Includes length and width of usable runway surface and incorporates usability for taxi, take-off, and/or ground operations).
  • Skill in planning, analyzing, coordinating, and evaluating joint special operations air missions through the use of qualitative and quantitative techniques that fully test and measure the effectiveness of operations.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to integrate fixed and/or rotary wing aircraft movements to include mission execution and the development of aircrew mission set-up packages, communications plans, abort options, refueling needs, and mission execution.
  • Knowledge of developing, implementing, and employing ground and airborne communications systems while conducting training and real world missions. Knowledge of command and control relationships as they relate to sensitive aircraft operations and to accomplish execution checklists for command and control assets.
Conditions of Employment Continued:
  • This position is designated special sensitive and the employee must maintain a TOP SECRET (TS) security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.
  • Office portion of work is in a field support setting or traditional office settings in a windowless vault/secure facility with artificial lighting, air conditioning, and heating. Heavy lifting of equipment up to 75 lbs in a field environment on a recurring basis is required.
  • Significant experience in air traffic control procedures with tactical, airdrop, air to ground call for fires, CAS, and air land knowledge and certification along with night-vision goggle operations is required; a minimum of ten years' experience desired.
  • Employee is subject to work other than normal duty hours, which may change daily due to operational requirements, is subject to after duty hours recall based on operational situations, may be required to carry a pager, phone, or radio during on and off duty time, and must be prepared to travel on short notice. Participation in crisis response cell actions for contingencies or exercises is required.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Important Overseas Information: Applicants interested in applying for overseas locations please click here to review important information regarding the exceptional family member program.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Selectees who physically reside permanently in the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during the entire recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) and selected for employment in the foreign area are eligible to receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, Post Allowance, Home Leave, etc. (subject to approval)

Selectees who physically reside outside the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during any step of the recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) will have foreign area benefits eligibility be determined on a case by case basis.

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.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.