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

Air Traffic Control Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Air Traffic Organization, Air Traffic Services,Office of the Director of Operations, AJT-W

Summary

Serves as the Senior Advisor to the Director of Operations. The Senior Advisor provides recommendations, technical support, advice, and coordination of highly complex and challenging technical policy issues and performance to the Director of Operations and other managers within the service area.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/20/2026 to 03/30/2026
Salary
$147,731 to - $228,000 per year

Salary includes locality of 31.57%

Pay scale & grade
FV K
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Des Moines, WA
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes— - Fixed Rate TCS - Temporary Change of Station (Current Federal Employee) - In accordance with applicable FAA Travel regulations, a fixed relocation payment of $15,000 will be paid to current Federal employees for relocation to the temporary duty station and relocation from the temporary duty location for a total of $30,000. Relocation expenses paid are subject to applicable taxes.
Appointment type
Temporary - Two (2) Years
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
ACT-ATO-26-AJT-W-97666
Control number
861820300

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Open to Current FAA Employees in the ATO only.

Duties

Help

Performs complex, specialized air traffic control assignments. Applies experience and expert technical knowledge of air traffic control procedures and operations. Analyzes air traffic operations to identify issues/problems within the National Airspace Systems (NAS) and programs. Provides advice on innovative approaches and solutions to issues under minimal direction. The Air Traffic Control Specialist will identify operational and technical issues that can have a political impact and make recommendations to the Director of Operations. As a Senior Advisor, he/she provides updates on the issues until resolution. Additional assignments involve furnishing expertise at the national level in a major air traffic control staff function or major national program as a senior project manager or team leader for large, challenging activities.

Provides advice and guidance to technical workforce, including functionally integrated teams of operational and support personnel who provide air traffic control services and operations throughout a geographic area. Applies principles of program/project management to facilitate the integration of air traffic operations from multiple organizations. The work impacts the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of aircraft as well segments of the aviation industry. The Senior Advisor will manage and coordinate multiple on-going projects and programs that include providing technical guidance and resources; using expert knowledge of NAS equipment, procedures, or safety interventions; managing the planning and execution of programs to ensure overall service consistency within and among the service areas.

Often represents the organization at the national level as the focal point for major projects or programs. Recommends organization positions on major programs and issues to management. Prepares and reviews reports or policies for internal and external distribution. Conceives, plans, and conducts studies involving complex issues and unique problems. Provides expert guidance and instruction to both internal and external organizations to address diverse complex issues which often cross multiple projects/programs or functional and technical areas. Collaborates with union officials and representatives in order to achieve objectives.

Applies knowledge of the interrelationship between FAA and Air Traffic Organization organizational components, their functions and operations. Ensures that service unit leadership is routinely briefed regarding the status of programs and projects and made aware of potential and actual problem areas that may adversely affect progress. The Senior Advisor tracks and reports the status of service area initiatives; facilitates meetings and conferences, assists in research, content development, and the creation of presentations. The Senior Advisor validates the effectiveness of inter management across the service area through repeatedly reviewing and auditing day to day operations; influencing cultural to decrease costs while maintaining the same level of operational performance.

Develops new methodologies and techniques to solve organization challenges; prioritizes and manages multiple projects simultaneously and follows-up on time critical issues. Interfaces with headquarters Senior Advisors on projects and requests for data analysis or data collection and dissemination of information to Air Traffic Operations facilities; represents the service area Deputy Director by working with multiple ATO organizations, other FAA lines of business, Department of Defense, the aviation industry and state/city/county officials.

Conducts comprehensive assessments and reviews of air traffic operations to provide a complete synopsis to superiors, peers, field facilities and customers. Identifies, evaluates and assesses aviation of policies, procedures and programs and the ability to identify related strategic opportunities and risks for ATO Services.

Requirements

Help

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).

Qualifications

To view the complete qualification standard, applicants should reference- U.S. Office of Personnel Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Air Traffic Control Series, 2152:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2100/air-traffic-control-series-2152/

To qualify for this position at the K-band you must demonstrate in your application that you have experience as an air traffic controller in a military or civilian air traffic facility that demonstrated possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the level of work of the specialization for which application is made. This experience must have provided a comprehensive knowledge of appropriate air traffic control laws, rules and regulations. Creditable experience must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the full range of duties of the position for which application is being made.

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 is: Experience in the identification, evaluation, assessment or application of air traffic policies, procedures and programs and the ability to identify related strategic opportunities and risks for ATO Services.

Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history.

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

Interview Policy: Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed.

Pay Retention: In accordance with HRPM. EMP 1.29/1.29A, this position may be Career Enhancement Assignment/Career Progression. The selectee(s) may be eligible for pay retention. Career Diversity is not enhanced when an employee is assigned to a staff or supervisory position in which they previously held on a permanent basis. CEP/CP selectees will be required to certify eligibility.

This is a temporary opportunity that may be terminated, extended, or made permanent without further competition at the discretion of the agency.

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

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA 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 KSAs listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Position is not eligible for "good time" for ATC retirement purposes

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.

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.