Special Program Investigator (Temporary - NTE 2 years) Job in FAA Location Negotiable Upon Request - See Additional Info

Vacancy No. ACT-AVS-26-AIR843-97632 Department Federal Aviation Administration
Salary $95,489.00 to $148,037.00 Grade J to J
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/27/2026 Close Date 4/9/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
FAA Location Negotiable Upon Request - See Additional Info


Summary

This Section manages the Federal Aviation Administrative (FAA) Hotline and Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUPs) programs for the Aircraft Certification Service (AIR). This position is responsible for managing, executing, and tracking all activities associated with both programs, as well as communicating with the appropriate FAA office(s) for coordination, follow-up, and completion of reports.

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

Open to Current Permanent FAA Employees Only.

Duties

Serves as a lead investigator responsible for duties in one or more assigned program areas (i.e., FAA Administrator and Aviation Safety Hotlines, Whistleblowers, and SUPs). The incumbent is responsible for the planning, evaluation, and administration of critical and complex aviation safety analysis and evaluation for these programs, which are designed to identify and address risks. The incumbent conducts interviews, research internal and external records, gather evidence, follow leads, clearly articulate findings, prepare reports and documents, and work under tight deadlines. Applies knowledge of FAA regulations and policies and interacts with personnel in various FAA offices and companies.

For these program areas, the incumbent plans, conducts, monitors, and leads complex, comprehensive investigations, inspections, and evaluations related to companies for which the FAA has regulatory and oversight responsibilities. The incumbent researches, reviews, and analyzes information obtained during the investigative process to evaluate if allegations are substantiated and prepares an investigation report, as well as assists in any follow-up activities and/or status reports. Work activities may be extremely fluid and subject to rapid and frequent change. The incumbent will manage assigned FAA programs and deadlines, perform assessments, document analysis, and work with AIR Branch personnel and appropriate oversight offices to plan investigations, determine compliance with regulatory requirements, and identify any violations to FAA standards, orders, or regulations. The incumbent will help evaluate and conduct an analysis of the associated program data to identify trends or risks, and assess system performance. This includes developing and analyzing metrics associated with the programs, relative to the FAA. Based on this analysis, the incumbent makes recommendations to management as appropriate.

The incumbent reviews new or proposed laws, regulations, policies, rulings, etc. to identify any impacts on the management of assigned programs and projects involving investigations, inspections, analysis, and enforcement activities. Based on the identified impacts, the incumbent may recommend alternatives, changes, revisions, etc. to assigned program processes, policies and regulations to eliminate program risks and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program’s performance.

Demonstrates flexibility and leadership in the performance of work activities, which encourage cooperation and joint efforts of stakeholders. Establishes and maintains appropriate liaison with the FAA, aviation industry, government officials, and law enforcement agencies essential to the program's effectiveness. Explores alternatives when resolving issues, identifies program improvement opportunities to include evaluating feedback, and uses tact and diplomacy when communicating solutions. The incumbent works collaboratively with line of business personnel to educate those asked to assist with the investigative process. Additionally, the incumbent will serve as a mentor to guide, train, and transition program duties to the new special program investigators joining the section.

The incumbent exercises a high degree of personal initiative in the accomplishment of assigned duties within the established guidance and policies and receives direction related to the program goals and objectives from the section manager. The incumbent is independently responsible and accountable for planning, managing, implementing, evaluating, and coordinating work necessary to meet program goals and objectives. Work accomplished is thorough, complete, and objective, and recommendations and decisions are accepted as technically sound. Management is kept informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, or far-reaching implications concerning funding, management, personnel problems, solutions, and program activities.

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).

Qualifications

To view the complete qualification standard, applicants should reference- U.S. Office of Personnel Group Coverage Qualification Standard for General Inspection Investigation Enforcement and Compliance Series, 1801:

General Inspection Investigation Enforcement and Compliance Series 1801

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I / FG/GS-13. 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 is:Experience supporting the planning, evaluation, or administration of aviation safety analyses or related work across oversight, certification, investigations, inspections, evaluations, or similar activities, applying relevant standards, regulations, or policies.

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

All, some or none will be interviewed.

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

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 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. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA)s.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Managerial and Leadership 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 order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

This is a temporary position not-to-exceed two (2) years. If this position remains temporary, upon completion of this assignment, the selected employee shall return to his/her original permanent position or an equivalent position in the same commuting area.

This temporary position may be extended, terminated, or made permanent without further competition at any time, at management's discretion.

This announcement may be used to fill other similar positions.

Travel Required- The job may require up to 50% of travel.

This position will be filled at an approved FAA AVS Facility. This is not a remote 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.



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

Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) is required.

Only supplemental documentation, e.g. transcripts or veteran's documentation will be accepted in combination with your on-line application. These documents must be uploaded or emailed to Danielle.C.Dombecki@faa.gov on or before the closing date of this announcement. All submitted documents should reference the announcement number.



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. Please see this guide, Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.

Agency contact information

Danielle Dombecki
Phone
1 (609) 485-4323
Fax
1 (609) 485-8995
Email
Danielle.C.Dombecki@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
ACT Regional HR Services Branch
Atlantic City International Airport, Bldg. 300
AHF-N710
Atlantic City, NJ 08405
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

Danielle Dombecki
Phone
1 (609) 485-4323
Fax
1 (609) 485-8995
Email
Danielle.C.Dombecki@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
ACT Regional HR Services Branch
Atlantic City International Airport, Bldg. 300
AHF-N710
Atlantic City, NJ 08405
US

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