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Attorney-Adviser

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of the Chief Counsel, Regulations Division, (AGC-200)

Summary

Serves as an Attorney-Adviser in the Regulations Division (AGC-200), providing advice and legal counsel for a variety of regulatory matters.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/31/2026 to 04/09/2026
This job will close when we have received 150 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$64,308 - $119,883 per year

The salary listed above does not include locality. Locality will be determined based on the duty location of the selectee.

Pay scale & grade
FV H - I
Locations
3 vacancies in the following locations:
Washington, DC
Fort Worth, TX
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
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is represented by AFSCME Local 1653.
Announcement number
AWA-AGC-26-00520AN-97416
Control number
863176100

Duties

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Serves as an individual contributor, team member, or project leader for routine assignments. Applies considerable experience and advanced professional legal knowledge to assignments. Performs most assignments independently. Receives direction from a manager or more experienced attorney when exceptionally difficult issues are encountered. Work is vital to the legal programs of the regulations organization and applicable mission areas.

Conducts legal review of critical safety rules as a part of rulemaking projects pertaining to FAA regulations that involve aircraft operations, air traffic, and aircraft, airman, and airworthiness certification, commercial space and similar regulatory matters. Supports FAA's implementation of various Executive Orders, such as Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, EO 14192; Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry, EO 14335; Leading the World in Supersonic Flight, EO 14304, etc. Such matters involve: operations restrictions and authorizations codified in regulations, as well as certification procedures for operators and airports; registration of aircraft; fees associated with registration and overflights in the National Airspace System (NAS); and records associated with individuals who hold FAA-issued certificates. These matters might also involve safety rules related to the certification and maintenance of aircraft, airman and air traffic, including: type certification; supplemental type certification; production certification; parts and manufacturing approvals; airworthiness certification; and the certification of maintenance organizations and schools. In addition, legal reviews might consist of reviewing matters related to other areas of FAA regulations. These matters might also involve review of notices of proposed rulemaking and final rules related to commercial space including those pertaining to licensing, permitting, payload review, environmental requirements, and financial responsibility requirements and reciprocal waivers of claims.

Conducts legal review of agency guidance and similar advisory materials, as well as documents involving the statutory interpretation of the scope of FAA’s authority. Supports program offices through legal review of exemptions from aviation regulations and waivers of the applicability of operating regulations, to either grant or deny the requests. Provides technical assistance and responds to requests from the regulated community for interpretation of FAA regulations.

Conducts legal review of notices of proposed rulemaking and final rules related to commercial space including those pertaining to licensing, permitting, payload review, and financial responsibility requirements including insurance requirements and reciprocal waivers of claims.

Produces presentations and communications that are well-organized, clear, and persuasive. Provides advice tailored to the program office and requirements of the agency. Prepares and adjusts presentations, communications, and advice to meet the audience expectations and level of understanding.

Demonstrates interpersonal skills needed to develop and maintain strong program office relationships. Actively participates with program office to identify and meet agency goals and objectives. Seeks consensus with program office as to the timing and scope of work. Proactively identifies and appropriately pursues solutions to effectively represent agency’s interest in responding to high priority areas. Puts forth effort to meet established proficiency level goals and objectives.

Develops and demonstrates knowledge and a full understanding of key program office business processes, priorities and objectives relevant to practice area. Accurately identifies program office’s business objectives and issues when providing legal advice. Provides legal risk/reward analysis in support of business decisions.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

(1) have a JD Degree from an accredited law school;

(2) be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia;

(3) be an active member of that bar; and

(4) To be considered for a H Band: Applicants must demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-11/FV-G) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:

  • Experience drafting, developing, or interpreting statutes, regulations, agency policy or guidance, or rulemaking documents to provide legal advice and counsel on routine regulatory matters.

To be considered for a I Band: Applicants must demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-12/FV-H) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:

  • Experience drafting, developing, interpreting, providing advice and counsel on statutes, regulations, agency policy guidance, or rulemaking documents related to regulatory matters; and
  • Experience representing an agency/firm on regulatory law matters.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

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

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence at the time of application. For additional information,
visit:http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

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

Leave Enhancement: FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee.

NOTES:

1) As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) 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 KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, 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.

2) This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm.

3) This announcement is limited for the receipt of applications. Once at least 150 applications are received, it will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on that date, or on the initial closing date, whichever occurs first.

4) This Level 5 (Moderate Risk; Public Trust) position requires favorable adjudication of a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

5) Some, all, or none of the referred applicants may be interviewed.

6) The base salary range above will be adjusted for locality upon selection:

  • Washington, DC: (33.94% - Washington, DC)
  • Fort Worth, TX: (27.26% - Dallas, TX)
  • Des Moines, WA: (31.57% - Seattle, WA)

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.

Federal Aviation Administration

At the FAA, the sky is not the limit—it is just the beginning. Exciting new opportunities are emerging in aviation and aerospace. Significant investments are advancing the research and development of autonomous vehicles, environmentally friendly electric aircraft, high-speed and long-endurance solar-powered aircraft, and new types of space vehicles. Success with these new technologies and vehicle types will introduce new ways to transport people and goods expanding aviation's footprint in transportation. People are our strength. We are a diverse workforce of over 44,000 located nationwide and spanning over 120 occupations to include air traffic control specialists, aviation safety inspectors, engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals. Join us in our mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

Agency contact information

Amber Newkirk
Phone
1 (202) 267-6268
Fax
1 (202) 267-8330
Email
amber.newkirk@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
HQ Employment Services Branch
800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523
AHF-110
Washington, DC 20591
US

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