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Executive Director Air Cargo Division

Department of Homeland Security
Transportation Security Administration
Operations Support / Policy, Plans, and Engagement

Summary

Air Cargo Division (ACD) collaborates with DHS, TSA, government partners, and industry stakeholders to promote, develop, implement and foster effective domestic and global security measures to safeguard air cargo supply chains using a risk-based methodology. The ACD operates under Policy, Plans and Engagement (PPE) and serves as the primary engagement team with senior level transportation operators, stakeholder associations, and federal agencies to build and maintain strategic partnerships.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/31/2026 to 04/14/2026
Salary
$151,661 - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
SW 2
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Springfield, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
HQ-OS-PPE-26-99992-ERD
Control number
863252700

Duties

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The Executive Director, Air Cargo Division, Policy, Plans, and Engagement (PPE) is an executive-level management official in TSA primarily responsible for actively engaging air cargo transportation sector partners to implement policies and programs to reduce the terrorism risks associated with air cargo operations for domestic and international air carriers operating under US jurisdiction and to raise the global baseline for air cargo security. The responsibilities of the position include the formulation of air cargo-related security policy and program oversight to ensure the effectiveness of air cargo stakeholders in comprehensively addressing air cargo security issues, processes, and programs. These responsibilities have agency-wide impact and influence, with national and international impact and scope. Responsibilities include providing innovative and expert leadership in the establishment and implementation of comprehensive air cargo security and communication strategies through collaboration with stakeholder partners and in accordance with applicable laws, policies, directives, and procedures.

High level duties include:

  • Facilitates and maintains a network of air cargo partners for purposes of ensuring that there is current and consistent information regarding TSA policies and activities and their impact on domestic and international air cargo transportation stakeholders. Ensures that regular, recurring, and current air cargo-related security information is shared within the air cargo transportation network, including, but not limited to industry stakeholders and organizations within TSA, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other government agencies. This information network is critical to effectively addressing both day-to-day activities and responding to crises. As appropriate, the incumbent will be responsible for pursuing industry partner buy-in and establishing mutual accountability.
  • Serves as the principal interface with the air cargo industry and government partners for air cargo security. Provides expert security guidance to industry and government stakeholders on air cargo security policy issues. Works closely with air cargo partners to coordinate national and international policy development. Provides expert-level transportation security information at industry-sponsored conferences/meetings.
  • Serves as the air cargo security policy expert for TSA. Understands and appropriately interprets transportation security regulations, and develops air cargo policies and regulations and facilitates their implementation; maintains awareness and/or knowledge of the most current, impacting and proposed/enacted legislation in the area of air cargo security.
  • Testifies and briefs Congressional staff and members of Congress on air cargo security policies.
  • Serves as the principal advisor to the Assistant Administrator of PPE on matters related to the air cargo industry. Keeps Assistant Administrator apprised of overall operations, current status, and anticipated challenges.
  • Oversees the coordination, development, interpretation, and dissemination of domestic and international air cargo transportation security policies including, but not limited to security programs, security directives, emergency amendments, guidelines, agreements, and regulations incorporating industry input, as appropriate. Monitors and reviews all outstanding security policies affecting the industry for relevance. Continually assesses the effectiveness of policy, programs, and operations and adjusts, as needed, to meet emerging priorities. Ensures a risk-based methodology is used to establish and develop security regulations, policies and directives to reduce measurable risk in the air cargo industry.
  • Implements policies and programs to strengthen air cargo security capabilities to include expanding and fully executing TSA cargo screening and vetting authorities and coordinating across other DHS agencies with air cargo equities.
  • Drives continuous, measurable air cargo risk reduction. Establishes organizational performance metrics in accordance with TSA's mission, vision, goals, and strategic objectives. Utilizes metrics to assess security improvement over time for the industry.
  • Collaborates with all organizational elements within TSA that have air cargo security equities, which are interconnected and interdependent, to ensure consistency and coordination of policies and programs needed to accomplish TSA's air cargo mission. This involves understanding the roles and responsibilities of each of TSA's organizational components and sharing key information between and among these components and air cargo industry operators to assure robust communication throughout the sector.
  • Oversees the day-to-day operations of areas within his/her responsibility, assuring conformance with TSA's strategic plan.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  1. Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. Must serve a probationary period of one year unless you previously completed the probationary period in a SES/TSES position.
  3. Must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  4. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  5. Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  6. Must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  7. Must complete a favorable Tier 5 Background Investigation (T5).
  8. This position requires a TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance that must be completed prior to appointment.
  9. You will be subject to a 5-year periodic investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance. Failure to obtain and maintain the required clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents: If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

As a basic requirement, applicants must demonstrate progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level managerial capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) related to this position within your resume. Your resume MAY NOT EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will be deemed ineligible and will not receive further consideration. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME-BASED. Therefore, evidence of each ECQ and TQ must be CLEARLY REFLECTED in your resume.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the following technical qualifications.

1. Knowledge of air cargo security standards, procedures and regulations sufficient to manage a program of national and international scope.

2. Experience developing and/or implementing policies or programs with national or industry-wide implications or with other large­scale applications.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES)/Transportation Security Executive Service (TSES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect the the ECQs and TQs, you will not receive further consideration for the position.

ECQ 1 - COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDING. This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 - DRIVING EFFICIENCY. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - MERIT AND COMPETENCE. This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5 - ACHIEVING RESULTS. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

NOTE: If you are a member of the SES/TSES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES/TSES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES/TSES.

FAILURE TO MEET OR FULLY ADDRESS EACH EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATION AND TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THE RESUME WILL ELIMINATE A CANDIDATE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

Education

This job does not have an education qualifications requirement.

Additional information

  • The TSA, an excepted service agency, was established by Public Law 107-71, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), on November 19, 2001. ATSA provides TSA with the authority to modify and develop its own human capital program, provided such modifications are consistent with 49 USC 40122.
  • This is an excepted service position. However, there is an interchange agreement with the OPM and TSA that enables Career TSES members who have been approved by the Qualifications Review Board at OPM to qualify for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions without additional competition.
  • You will be required to serve a probationary period of one year unless you previously completed the probationary period in a SES/TSES position.
  • When you enter on duty, you will be required to complete a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 278. You will need to provide this information annually.
  • Veteran's Preference is not applicable to the SES/TSES.
  • Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES/TSES leaders. Individuals selected for SES/TSES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Mobility Agreement.
  • Levels: The TSA structures its TSES positions into categories (i.e. levels) to determine the pay range for each position. The categories are based on the position scope, breadth, functions, and placement within the structure of organizational levels across the Agency.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm.
  • Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES/TSES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES/TSES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES/TSES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES/TSES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES/TSES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES/TSES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Transportation Security Administration

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. Make an impact; join DHS.

Agency contact information

Executive Resources
Email
ExecutiveResources@tsa.dhs.gov
Address
Executive Resources
DO NOT MAIL
Springfield, VA 22150
US

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