Air Traffic Assistant (Lead Flight Data Communications Specialist) Job in Salt Lake City, UT

Vacancy No. ANM-ATO-26-ZLC-98197 Department Federal Aviation Administration
Salary $62,660.00 to $97,132.00 Grade G to G
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/15/2026 Close Date 5/5/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Salt Lake City, UT


Summary

Incumbent serves as a Air Traffic Assistant (Lead)/Flight Data Communications Team Lead (FDTL) at an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).

This job is open to

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current FAA employees in the ATO.

Duties

As the Flight Data Communications Team Lead, performs multiple and varying assignments under the limited direction of a manager and is responsible for providing flight data processing and communications service for the National Airspace System (NAS). Applies experience and advanced knowledge to plan and accomplish multiple, varying Flight Data assignments.

Assignments include the following:

Relays Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) departure clearances. Processes and monitors the input of proposed and active flight plans. Assists customers in amending flight plan data, correcting flight plan formatting and route errors. Develops and maintains bulk storage flight plans as required. Prepares, transmits, and coordinates alert notices and administrative messages. Recovers and manually processes and disseminates flight plan data and weather data during outages. Receives, updates, and analyzes critical weather information and immediately notifies operational personnel. Collects and disseminates flow control restrictions, notices to airmen (NOTAMS), and other data related to flight safety. Prepares and transmits NOTAMS, information requests (INREQS), alert notices (ALNOTS), AIRMETS, Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPS), Center Weather Advisories (CWAs), defense communication messages and traffic management messages.

Updates local automated information systems using voice recordings and manual data inputs. Trains developmental staff as required.

Demonstrates considerable independence in planning time and coordinating only as needed with their manager. Often assists managers and other employees plan and identify resources to accomplish assignments, projects, and other work activities. May approve leave on a limited basis in accordance with instruction/guidance from management.

Provides information to supervisor as requested concerning promotions, reassignment, employee performance, and personnel needs and reports to supervisor on performance, progress and training needs of employees, and on behavior problems.

May serve as the Alternate COMSEC Responsible Officer (ACRO), Classified Information Security Manager (ACISM), and/or Classified Information Account Custodian (ACIAC).

Contacts are both internal and external. Internal contacts are with managers and other employees to share information, coordinate efforts, discuss the statuses of assignments, and identify resources needed to complete assignments. External contacts include members of the aviation community, including pilots, air traffic controllers, flight service specialists, dispatchers, and weather unit personnel to relay flight information.

Existing policies and procedures provide guidance for most assignments, but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach, or to recommend a new approach. As the team lead, resolves most problems and work issues without assistance. Informs manager and other employees of problems/issues that require their attention and helps them develop and recommend solutions. Provides guidance to lower level employees for handling routine problems and issues.

Work is reviewed periodically, normally through status reports and at completion, to ensure policy compliance and alignment with the requirements of projects and/or work activities.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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).
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.

Qualifications

Candidates must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade or pay band (FV-F or FG/GS-7/8) that demonstrates knowledge of and skill in the use of FAA Air Traffic Control procedures.

Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in work involving:

-Experience using NAS computer systems such as the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system, Flight Data Input/Output (FDIO) system, and Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (DASI) system; or
- Experience operating air traffic control operational computer and flight data equipment; or
- Experience amending proposed flight plans for flow control restrictions, Severe Weather Avoidance Plan (SWAP), and Expect Departure Clearance Time (EDCT) restrictions/changes; or
- Experience as a military or civilian air traffic controller, flight instructor, instrument rated pilot, command center operators (base ops),dispatcher for an air carrier, or as Flight Services Specialist.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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

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.

With the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative, the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of KSA narratives. Therefore, you are NOT required to provide a response below each KSA.

KSA responses not required. In lieu of a KSA response, please include information that provides specific examples indicative of the response level for each KSA in your work history. Examples should be specific/clearly reflect the highest level of ability. KSA’s will be evaluated to validate the level selected. Your answers may be adjusted by an HR Specialist as appropriate.

Eligible applicants meeting qualification/selective factor(s), may be further evaluated on the announcement’s KSAs. After evaluation, applicants will be placed in alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

FAA employees, their spouses and minor children may not hold stock or any other securities interest in an airline, aircraft manufacturing company, or in a supplier of components of parts to an aircraft manufacturing company. This prohibition is effective on the date of your appointment. Your acceptance of the agency’s Final Offer means you agree to comply with this prohibition. Questions may be directed to an agency ethics official at 9-faa-agc-ethics-office@faa.gov.

Security Clearance: Selection/placement are contingent upon waiver or completion of satisfactory security requirement.

This position is covered by the FAA Core Comp plan. Additional info available at: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm

Interview Policy: Interviews may be conducted.

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.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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.

Required Documents

To be considered for this announcement, you must complete the on-line application using the AVIATOR system by the closing date of the announcement. Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Applicants may be asked to verify information on their application for employment with the FAA. If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your on-line application, e.g. transcripts, SF-50, or veterans' documentation, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS. Supplemental documentation can also be faxed to (206) 231-4150 on or before the closing date of this announcement. Please include your name and the vacancy announcement number on each of your faxed pages and redact all Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as social security number and date of birth.



If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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.

How to Apply

Applicants may be required to complete one or multiple assessments as part of the evaluation process. This assessment aims to evaluate the competencies and qualifications essential for the position.

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.

RESUMES ARE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES. IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC AND INCLUDE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)

  • Relevant work experience: should align to the Job Announcement and address all required qualifications and include job title, employer name, start/end dates, number of hours worked per week.
  • Education, certification or licensure: If required, education should include school/institution name, completion date, degree type and GPA.

Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.

You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies.

Agency contact information

Joni Foushee
Phone
1 (206) 231-4037
Fax
1 (206) 231-4150
Email
joni.foushee@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
ANM Regional HR Services Branch
2200 S. 216th St.
AHF-N210
Des Moines, WA 98198
US

Next steps

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.

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

Joni Foushee
Phone
1 (206) 231-4037
Fax
1 (206) 231-4150
Email
joni.foushee@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
ANM Regional HR Services Branch
2200 S. 216th St.
AHF-N210
Des Moines, WA 98198
US

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