Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is where innovation meets purpose. We ensure the safety and efficiency of the nation's aerospace system, overseeing air traffic, advancing cutting-edge aviation technologies, and shaping the future of flight. Our mission is to deliver the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. Join a team where your work has real impact, your ideas drive progress, and your career helps keep millions moving safely every day.
This job is open to
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Senior executives
Individuals looking for an executive-level job and who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
Clarification from the agency
Open to Current Permanent U.S. Department of Transportation Employees Only
Duties
The Director of Investment Planning and Analysis provides enterprise leadership, strategic direction, and executive oversight for the FAA's business case development, benefits estimation, and lifecycle cost analysis functions across all Lines of Business and Staff Offices. The Director ensures the rigor, quality, and credibility of analytical products that inform decisions on major capital investments, including legacy air traffic control infrastructure and next generation air transportation.
This executive leads a multidisciplinary organization responsible for developing and validating the analytical foundation that supports the FAA's investment portfolio. The Director manages a $200K operating budget, provides executive financial oversight for all major FAA contracts, and leads a workforce of 30 employees, including seven K-Band managers. The role encompasses leadership of several key analytical and oversight divisions: the Business Case Group, Operations Research Division, Life Cycle Cost Estimating Group, Standards and Guidance Group, and the Acquisition Oversight Division.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides executive oversight of complex projects, programs, studies, and initiatives involving significant technical parameters, economic risk, and schedule analysis. Leads independent business case analyses, benefits assessments, and lifecycle cost evaluations supporting decisions for legacy air traffic control infrastructure.
- Directs the development of sound business cases for all components and advances analytical methodologies, models, and tools used to evaluate investment alternatives.
- Oversees independent reviews of cost estimates, benefits estimates, and business cases. Ensures all analytical products meet standards of sufficiency, accuracy, reasonableness, and thoroughness.
- Provides executive guidance and training to interdisciplinary teams across the FAA on the design, development, and application of methods and tools supporting National Airspace System (NAS) investment analysis.
- Leads the development, tracking, and evaluation of metrics associated with business case development, cost analysis, independent review processes, and related training initiatives.
- Conducts independent financial reviews of major FAA contracts, validates investment plans, and assesses early cost and schedule estimates for budget formulation. Evaluates program alternatives by analyzing schedule, cost, benefits, strategic alignment, risk, and economic return. Provides approval recommendations to the CFO and monitors compliance with approval conditions.
- Partners with the Chief Financial Officer to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including Congress, the national military establishment, Federal agencies, State and local governments, aviation industry representatives, and domestic and international organizations. Ensures investments are cost effective, mission aligned, and responsive to stakeholder needs.
- Serves as a member of the Capital Investment Team (CIT), Acquisition Executive Board (AEB), and Enterprise Architecture Board (EAB). Contributes to long term strategic planning, ensuring alignment between enterprise goals, investment priorities, and stakeholder expectations.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- US Citizenship is required.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- You will be required to serve a one-year FAA Executive System (FAAES) probationary period unless you have previously completed a probationary period in either the FAAES or the Senior Executive Service (SES).
- You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you must clearly articulate and describe within your two (2) page resume evidence that you possess the Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs) and Mandatory Technical Requirements (TRs) related to this position. Your resume should include examples of experience and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications. Applicants who do not possess these criteria are ineligible for further consideration.
Please do not submit separate documents addressing the Technical Requirements (TRs) and Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs), only your two (2) page resume will be accepted and considered.
MANDATORY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS (TRs):
- TR 1: Experience leading an organization in investment and portfolio analysis, business case development, and operations research modeling to drive strategic decision-making and optimized organizational performance.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DIMENSIONS (ELDs)
- ELD 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This ELD 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.
- ELD 2: Driving Efficiency -This ELD involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
- ELD 3: Merit and Competence - This ELD involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
- ELD 4: Leading People - This ELD 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.
- ELD 5: Achieving Results - This ELD involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.
Note: Applicants who are current members of the FAA Executive System (FAAES), Career Senior Executive Service (SES), individuals certified through successful completion of an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or those with Career SES reinstatement eligibility are not required to address the Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs). Such applicants must provide documentation verifying eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the FAAES (e.g., SF-50, or certification from OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB).
Education
An education requirement has not been established for this occupational series.
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.
Additional information
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
Veterans preference does not apply to the FAA Executive System.
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.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
This is not a bargaining unit position.
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.
Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you possess the Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs) and Mandatory Technical Requirements (TRs) listed above, your application package may be further evaluated by an Executive Rating Panel. Additionally, Hiring Managers may choose to interview highly qualified candidates via one or more interviews.
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
RESUME: All applicants must submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Eligibility and qualifications will be determined solely based on the information provided within this two-page resume. Your resume must include sufficient detail to validate your qualifications, including employment start and end dates (month/year), position titles, and full-time or part-time status (or average hours worked per week). It must clearly demonstrate your relevant experience and education as they relate to the position's requirements.
SF-50: Current U.S. DOT employees must submit an SF-50 showing eligibility. Submit your current or most recent SF-50. Do not submit an award SF-50, as these do not verify eligibility. Additionally, Career Executives or those with FAA Executive System (FAAES) or Senior Executive Service (SES) reinstatement eligibility must submit an SF-50 showing career FAAES or SES to receive non-competitive consideration.
Candidate Development Program (CDP): If you have completed an OPM-approved SES CDP, include a copy of your OPM certificate.
Failure to submit any required documents by the closing date will remove you from consideration.
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
This recruitment will be conducted using a RESUME-ONLY application process. Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages and must clearly describe your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the Executive Leadership Dimensions and Mandatory Technical Requirements for this position. Resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted and will result in removal from consideration.
Resumes must be uploaded to your USAJOBS application and submitted in either Word (or Word-compatible) or PDF format.
You are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and Qualifications Review Board for examples and tips on preparing an effective executive resume: OPM SES Qualifications Guide.
To apply, click the Apply Online button in the job announcement. You will need to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account: USAJOBS Help.
Be sure to upload your two-page resume and all required supporting documents before submitting your application.
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.
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 80 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.
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.