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Airport Compliance Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Airports Compliance and Management Analysis, Airports Compliance Division (ACO-100)

Summary

Serves as an Airport Compliance Specialist in the Office of Airports Compliance and Management Analysis (ACO) investigating and adjudicating allegations of noncompliance with Federal obligations by airport sponsors. Provides technical advice on interpreting, recommending, and developing associated policies and assisting regional Airport Compliance Inspectors.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/06/2026 to 04/20/2026
Salary
$127,898 - $198,281 per year

The salary listed above includes a 33.94% locality payment for the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Pay scale & grade
FV J
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time-to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes— - Fixed Rate PCS - Permanent Change of Station (Current Federal Employee) - In accordance with applicable FAA Travel regulations, a fixed relocation payment of $25,000 will be paid. Relocation expenses paid are subject to applicable taxes.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is represented by AFSCME Local 1653.
Announcement number
AWA-ARP-26-4713BR-97879
Control number
863837400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent FAA employees

Duties

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Performs multiple, varying and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager and as a principal technical specialist or as a project manager or team leader for large work activities. Provides technical advice, investigates and provides support and assistance in adjudicating formal complaints and FAA-initiated investigations under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 16, Rules of Practice for Federally Assisted Airport Enforcement Proceedings, and monitors airport sponsor compliance with various Federal laws, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, and airport sponsor land and grant obligations.

Applies experience and comprehensive technical knowledge of Federal law and FAA policy to specific airport circumstances and conducts extensive research and analysis of complex issues to determine if an airport sponsors' actions are consistent with its Federal obligations. Develops and provides policy guidance, procedures, and requirements for US airports to comply with airport sponsor grant assurances. Provides assistance and support in preparing clear and focused administrative decisions, after conducting thorough investigations, within strict deadlines and provides corresponding findings and conclusions to support Director's Determinations and Final Agency Decisions.

Draws on experience to solve unusual problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations as the situation requires in coordinating agency efforts to resolve issues resulting from FAA's land use compliance inspections. Provides support and assistance in reviewing aeronautical and non-aeronautical leases to ensure the provisions are consistent with sponsor grant assurances. Assists with reviews and analyzes requests for land releases, airport closures and replacement airports.

Conducts analysis to identify financial feasibility for complex projects involving the use of federally obligated land. Contacts are internal and external. Provides technical advice, guidance, and assistance to the airports division employees, government agencies, airport consultants aviation industry representatives, airport sponsors, and the public on Federal regulations and FAA policy and goals related to the airport compliance program. Provides guidance to junior and entry level professionals on sponsor obligations and compliance policy.

Researches topics, trends, lessons learned, and analyzes data to pro-actively develop informational compliance briefings, presentations, and guidance for a variety of audiences. Provides in-house training to junior and entry level professionals within the Division. Conducts peer review of administrative decisions and compliance policies before final legal/management review and issuance.

Work is reviewed rarely, typically through status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity. Work activities typically impact directly on the objectives of one or more major subdivisions or LOB's/SO's and may impact on the objectives of the FAA.

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).
  • Travel Required: 15% (Domestic)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I, FG/GS-13 level. This experience 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 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.

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SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEFINED AS: Experience with airport project/program areas related to the FAA Airport Compliance Program, such as airport management, airport planning and development, and airport commercial practices, including contracts and leases, and/or airport law.

AND;

Experience in leading investigations or analyzing airport sponsor compliance with AIP grant assurances, or other FAA regulatory functions, including experience drafting written documents sufficient to substantiate and defend findings.

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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.*

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.**

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; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

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

NOTES:

1. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about Core Compensation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits.

2. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, 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.

3. AFSCME Interview Criteria: Article 42, Section 13 states: If the selecting official decides to interview any employee on the selection list for a vacancy, then all who remain under consideration for the position at that point in the process must be interviewed. If the selection list is shortened to a best qualified list through a comparative process, then the best qualified list shall be considered to be the selection list. If it is determined that interviews are required and telephone interviews are not utilized, travel expenses incidental to these interviews will be paid in accordance with the Agency's travel regulations and this Agreement.

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

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

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Agency contact information

Benigno Ruiz
Phone
1 (202) 267-4452
Fax
1 (202) 267-7032
Email
benigno.m.ruiz@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
Employment Services Division
800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523
AHF-110
Washington, DC 20591
US

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