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The Principal Operations Inspector (POI) is responsible for applying knowledge of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, and procedures for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) field personnel and the public governing all matters to general aviation operations safety issues. The incumbent serves as the primary operations interface between assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, designees, and FAA.
04/23/2025 to 05/23/2025
$105,383 - $137,000 per year
Salary cited is including locality payment of 17.06%.
FG 13
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
No
No
Yes
Yes - This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services.
ASW-FS-25-BB202-94958
835674400
RESPONSIBILITIESThe POI receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The POI, mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or other work. The APO provides policy assistance to field level Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) on difficult or complex policy interpretations. The work is normally accepted without change. Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.
ASIs at the FG-13 level issue certificates to and monitor (1) a large and complex aviation organization or (2)a number of smaller organizations that, together, are comparable in complexity to one large one. They are the primary contact point with the aviation organization(s). They may decide on issuance of the original certificates. They evaluate and decide upon proposals to change the authorized programs of the organizations. They continuously monitor the activities of organizations to determine whether they are following their authorized program, Federal regulations, and good safety practices.
FG-13 assignments are characterized by one or more of the following:
1.Multiengine turboprop, turbojet, or rotorcraft helicopter aircraft;
2. A variety of flight operations with diverse types of aircraft which may include turbine powered aircraft and unmanned aircraft; or
3. Novel and complex aviation operations.
FG-13 employees plan and conduct their assignments with substantial technical independence. They receive administrative and policy guidance from their supervisors and policy makers. They also obtain technical advice from higher-level inspectors who are experts who have overall program responsibility. They independently plan and carry out a work program to meet the needs and monitor the activities of the organizations for which they have certification responsibility. The scope and complexity of the work program may be such as to require the occasional assistance of other employees to conduct inspections and evaluate operations.
The POI applies a mastery knowledge level of the appropriate specialization and a broad knowledge of the
line of business mission and goals to assigned programs and areas of responsibility.
The POI plans and directs the use of time and resources to accomplish organizational objectives. He or she defines, organizes, and uses resources to accomplish work activities within established schedules, analyzes program requirements and accomplishments, and makes or directs adjustments as necessary to address organizational needs.
Guidelines and precedents are frequently inadequate for dealing with novel or complex operations. FG-13 employees understand and apply the basic principles of aviation safety and interpret the intent of the regulations.
At FG-13, contacts are frequently with owners and top managers of aviation corporations and involve negotiating and resolving the full range of issues and problems that confront large aviation organizations. Occasionally issues are controversial, arousing considerable public interest.
ASIs at the FG-13 level participate extensively in the certification inspection and surveillance of highly complex air carrier operations where principal program responsibility is vested in an aviation safety inspector of higher grade. These FG-13 employees have broad authority to negotiate with carrier management and make technical determinations within the coverage of approved specifications and policy manuals.
The POI provides guidance to field level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique problems with the intervention of management or a technical specialist. Develop plans, techniques, and policies to address current and anticipated problems and issues. Works with management to solve problems.
Contacts are internal and external to the agency. The inspector is required to maintain an FAA second class medical.
Performs other duties as assigned.
OPM Qualifications Standard for Aviation Safety Series, FG-1825 Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
Medical Requirements for All Positions: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following requirements:
In addition, applicants for positions that require participation in the operation of aircraft must:
When the predominant work involves general aviation operations, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations) positions must meet all of the following requirements.
Note: Recency of specialized experience is waived for current and former FAA employees in the 1825 series.
Certificates and Ratings:
This position requires certificates and ratings for minimum qualification in the following specialty: General Aviation Operations; a copy of certificates and ratings are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 1825 specialty of General Aviation Operations. Applicants must submit a copy of their certificates and ratings unless they are currently occupying (or previously held) General Aviation (Operations) 1825 Series Position.
Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the (FV-H, FG/GS-12) level. 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 includes: Experience assisting, conducting, or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement activities. Additional experience may be in investigating and reporting on accidents, incidents, and violations.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
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, 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 Leadership and Management Dimensions listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Not applicable.
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.
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
This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.
For Lateral Movements Between 1825 Specialties: Check sheets are contained in Order 3410.26, Flight Standards Service Air Carrier and General Aviation Qualifications Assessment Tool for AFS Aviation Safety Inspectors. This order is located at: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/3410.26.pdf
Interviews: If the agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.
Transition Check Ride: Successful completion of a Transition Check Ride may be required for this position.
Salary: Salary iscovered by the PASS/AVS Bargaining Contract.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your application/resume MUST have your official title, grade and series on your work history.
Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA
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.
All FAA employees MUST submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50). See further details below. Applicants must submit a copy of their certificates and ratings unless they are currently occupying (or previously held) General Aviation (Operations) 1825 Series Position. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR GENERAL AVIATION (OPERATIONS): 1. Valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with single and multi-engine airplane and instrument airplane ratings. 2. Airline Transport Pilot Certificate OR Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating AND single and multi-engine land airplane ratings. 3. Valid second-class FAA medical certificate For Lateral Transition between 1825 Specialties: Please submit appropriate Qualification Assessment Tool (QAT) as contained in FAA ORDER 3410.26. Form(s) may be uploaded to your on-line application or submitted by mail or fax. If you choose to submit the form via fax, we cannot guarantee timely receipt or assume responsibility for the quality or legibility of the form. Illegible forms will result in loss of consideration.
NOTE: Please see further details below pertaining to information required on SF-50.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION.
We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes.
Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:
Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.
Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.
All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/835674400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.