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Airports Program Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
ARP/Office of Airports Planning and Programming (APP-1)

Summary

This position serves as an Airports Program Specialist in the Office of Airports Planning and Programming. The incumbent provides senior-level technical advice, guidance, analysis and national quality control on complex issues dealing with federal financial programs. Applies complex requirements and principles as they relate to the development of airport policies, procedures, and processes. Maintains public and Congressional confidence in the FAA’s management of airport programs.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/17/2026 to 05/01/2026
Salary
$112,283 - $173,980 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 K
Location
4 vacancies in the following location:
FAA Nationwide-Selectee Remains in Current Duty Location
4 vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required - The job does not require any travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary promotion - NTE 1 year with a possibility to extend for an additional year
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-26-1986BR-98227
Control number
865594200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent ARP employees only

Duties

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Serves as a recognized subject matter expert in a specialized area and provides leadership for highly complex and challenging activities such as updating the AIP Handbook, under the minimal direction of a manager or executive. Serves as APP’s principal analyst for evaluating legislative proposals or enactments affecting airport programs; and provides technical advice and assistance to executive leaders, APP management, other high level FAA officials, Congressional staff, and aviation stakeholders. Develops and applies practical and functional solutions to achieve compliance with statutory provisions affecting airport programs.

Applies expert level knowledge and experience in the interpretation of complex federal laws, rules regulations, and policies related to airport programs to (1) amend, develop, and provide policy guidance, procedures, and requirements to ensure compliance with the applicable obligations; and incorporate them in strategic planning efforts that cross organizational lines, as needed; (2) develop consistent national policy and guidance; and (3) provide expert technical advice on Airports program issues affecting the full range of ARP programs to include coordination with all ARP functional areas and other LOB/SOs. Develops, revises and determines the adequacy of existing, or if necessary, new airport program requirements, policies, guidance, and procedures.

In coordination with the Office of Government & Industry Affairs and the Office of General Counsel (OGC), provides technical assistance on airport issues in new legislation or FAA reauthorizations; and provides advice and assistance to management and staff regarding the legislative impacts on ARP, over 3,300 airport sponsors, state aeronautical agencies, and industry and user stakeholders.

Researches topics, trends, lessons learned; and analyzes data to pro-actively develop high-level briefings, presentations, proposals, and guidance for a variety of audiences. Guidance takes the form of orders, program guidance, letters or other guidance documents and generally requires national coordination within the ARP and other FAA LOBs/SOs.

Applies methodologies that include problem exploration and definition, planning of the approach and sequence of steps for reaching a solution, substantiation by studies, interpretations of findings, the documentation or reporting of findings, and the exercise and application of critical judgment to explain an understanding of the possible variations and implications therefrom.

Provides input on key issues related to airport use, aeronautical activity and airport operational requirements.

Identifies and analyzes alternatives and recommends authoritative, conclusive, and technically sufficient policies and procedures based on data-driven analyses, analytical methods and conclusions, as necessary to be major determinants in FAA’s decisions on those issues.

Provides comprehensive multi-faceted aviation technical expertise (e.g., all GA activities, Airline, Military, Air Traffic, applicable CFRs) and well-informed recommendations, and coordinates and facilitates resolution of Airports program issues that affect the purview of other FAA LOBs, such as Aviation Safety (AVS), FAA Flight Standards (AFS), the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), and Commercial Space Transportation (AST).

Establishes a framework and responsibility for monitoring international airport regulatory requirements and business trends/practices around the globe (e.g., ICAO Annexes and Policy Documents, Civil Aviation Authorities airport requirements, privatization, IATA guidance, European Commission (EC) Aviation Regulations, other standards development organizations, airport governance, etc.) to help evaluate airport practices in the U.S., implications on bilateral agreements, impacts on U.S. service providers (e.g., airlines) and U.S. aviation interests at large.

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).
  • No Travel Required

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-K, FG/GS-14 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 providing advice and guidance on policies related to federal grant management and/or federal financial programs, such as State Block Grants, Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (IIJA), Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Program.

AND;

Experience applying processes related to airport operations, airport planning, airport engineering and/or other aspects of airport development.

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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.

5. Position may become permanent without further competition.

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

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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