Summary
The Air Traffic Organization (ATO) has 35,000 controllers, technicians, engineers, and support personnel whose daily efforts keep aircraft safe, separated, and on time. Air Traffic Services provides safe, secure, and efficient management for the National Airspace System and international airspace assigned to U.S. control. We are responsible for more than 5 million square miles of airspace in the U.S. and more than 24 million square miles over oceans.
Duties
The Director of Strategic Operations oversees the management of field operations across air traffic facilities throughout the Eastern, Western, and Central Service Areas. The Director oversees current processes, policies, and orders to ensure field understanding and compliance; assesses operational needs and coordinates with other lines of business to develop solutions; ensures the safe and efficient integration of new technologies and procedures; and promotes fiscal accountability as related to labor resources and financial obligations.
The Director has direct line authority over approximately 64 staff members, including 12 senior managers, who assure adherence to policies and standards and risk mitigation in the National Airspace System (NAS), interface with external stakeholders regarding air traffic operations and policies, and oversee federal contract towers. The incumbent manages a budget of approximately $11 million.
Principal Responsibilities
- Oversees the implementation and development of national policies and standards of en route and terminal air traffic control (ATC) operations, including implementing new technologies. Acts as the focal point for air traffic services operation needs domestically and internationally.
- Provides input on NAS Architecture for the development of operational concepts and collaborates across Service Units to resolve ATC concerns.
- Provides executive leadership, direction, and guidance in preparing and managing the cumulative impact of NAS modernization and new entrant changes and the related effect of these changes on the air traffic operational workforce.
- Provides oversight of federal contract tower operations, requirements, and weather certification.
- Solves complex operational problems and develops new, more efficient air traffic control systems and services. Collaborates across service units to resolve field concerns and support initiatives across the NAS, including new hardware, software, airspace, and procedures designs in Terminal, Tower, and En Route operational environments.
- Provides policy guidance for new NAS initiatives consistent with established operational goals and objectives.
- Leads field facilities in operational integration planning for NextGen and emerging technologies. Develops and executes plans to realign and consolidate air traffic control facilities and services.
- Exercises delegated authority to make commitments on behalf of the Deputy Vice President, Air Traffic Services and represents the FAA in meetings and forums.
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.
Qualifications
As a basic requirement for entry into the FAA Executive System, you must clearly articulate and describe within your five (5) page resume evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive-level management capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Leadership and Technical Requirements listed below.
In addition to the minimum qualifications, the following have been determined to be selective factors for this position. This means possession of these criteria is part of the minimum qualifications and is essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Applicants who do not possess these criteria are ineligible for further consideration.
- LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience in achieving operational results? If so, provide examples of ways you have exercised leadership to deliver significant results. Explain how you established goals, assessed outcomes, and improved products and services. Indicate how you identified and met customers' requirements and addressed the needs of stakeholders. Include examples of complex problems you solved or difficult obstacles that you overcame as a leader. Your description should include (1) the size and complexity of organizations you have led, (2) the scope of programs you have managed, and (3) the impact of your results on customers and other stakeholders.
- LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience leading people? If yes, describe the size of the organization and number and types of positions you have managed. Discuss ways that you have established and maintained positive work environments and prevented or eliminated discrimination or harassment. Describe ways that you have mentored and developed employees and built individual and team performance. Discuss how you have established and led teams to deliver products and services. Include in your description experience in leading others in a matrix environment across organizations.
- LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience building relationships? If yes, describe (1) the types of individuals with whom you routinely collaborate; and (2) the purpose and outcomes of the communication. Discuss your experience in communicating and cooperating with others to achieve goals. Provide examples of how you have built relationships to achieve consensus and how you were able to obtain the cooperation of others with competing priorities and perspectives. Describe how you effectively communicate information within and outside of your organization.
- LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience leading strategic change? If yes, describe examples of strategic changes that you led for your organization; describe the entities that the change affected (agency, industry, organizational components). Discuss obstacles you encountered and how you overcame them to the benefit of the agency. Include in your description ways that you applied long-range vision, developed strategies, and applied innovative ideas and techniques.
- TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: Experience leading, managing, and setting strategic direction for an aviation organization responsible for developing and implementing policies, standards, and procedures that governs all aspects of air traffic operations, including air traffic operational activities.
Education
An education requirement has not been established for this occupational series.
Preview Job Questionnaire
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.
Benefits
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.
Required Documents
1. A resume that does not exceed five (5) pages. Any information submitted in excess of five (5) pages WILL NOT be considered. The resume must provide evidence (such as related professional experience and accomplishments) that demonstrates you possess the required leadership and technical requirements.
2. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, if you are claiming noncompetitive eligibility as a current/former FAA Executive or current/former member of the Senior Executive Service or equivalent system.
3. A Senior Executive Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) certificate if you are claiming noncompetitive status based on your completion of an SESCDP program.
Note: Please do not submit additional materials (e.g. ECQ written narrative statements, DD Form 214, performance plans/evaluations, letters of recommendation), they will not be considered as part of the application package.
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
The application process used to recruit for this position is RESUME ONLY. Your five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the leadership and technical requirements. Uploaded resumes must be attached to your application in USAJOBS and submitted in 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 for specific examples and guidance on writing effective executive resumes, found here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf.
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.
SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) graduates should submit a copy of their CDP program certification with their package.
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 90 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.