Supervisory Air Traffic Control Specialist (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Group Manager) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. AWA-AJR-25-3654CM-95603 Department Federal Aviation Administration
Salary $148,902.00 to $225,700.00 Grade K to K
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/10/2025 Close Date 7/14/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

As a supervisor/manager, the selectee for this position will be eligible to receive a Manager Performance Incentive (MPI) provided eligibility requirements noted in agency policy are met. The MPI is an annual lump-sum incentive payment that considers agency performance, the manager's individual performance, and available funding.
ATO's operations-centric efforts in national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, disaster response, and other significant incident management arenas.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent FAA employees -- ATO-Wide

Duties

The Supervisory Air Traffic Controller is the Group Manager within the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations Security Group (AJR-26) and reports directly to the Deputy Director and Director. Directs the work of subordinate employees and/or managers for more than one organizational unit/project/program within a major subdivision. Managerial duties affect employees and managers in more than one organizational unit/project/program and include: planning; communicating the organization's vision and objectives; setting priorities; assigning tasks and responsibilities; monitoring and evaluating performance; coaching and developing employee capabilities; approving leave; and taking, recommending or approving corrective/disciplinary actions as appropriate.

Applies advanced knowledge of the technical aspects of air traffic management to direct the work. The work usually includes a mixture of routine and complex projects/programs based on the objectives of the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). Provides Air Traffic Control (ATC) guidance to guide subordinate managers and employees in resolving all but unique problems without the intervention of higher-level management. Regularly called upon to identify problem areas and to develop and recommend new policies and procedures for resolution. Implements and integrates organizational improvement efficiencies of UAS for multiple organizations with the understanding
of potential air traffic impacts to the National Airspace System (NAS).

Directs a group with a diverse array of talents and responsibilities in identifying, defining, and developing policies and procedures that impact the safe and secure operations of UAS and Counter-UAS (C-UAS) in the NAS. With the understanding of ATC procedures and policies, develops UAS policies and procedures to enable airspace planning, detection and mitigation, or integration goals. Oversees coordination with spectrum engineering, ATC, aviation operators, and the Department of Defense (DOD) as well as other interagency partners to sustain national defense test and training activities in the NAS involving potential electromagnetic interference - e.g., OPS interference, Identification-Friend or Foe (IFF), and tactical data distribution activities while effectively mitigating safety and efficiency concerns. Identifies and develops security risks mitigation strategies to protect and support the NAS and UAS integration through stakeholder collaboration and joint policy development, including coordinating with those federal agencies granted authority to deploy C-UAS capabilities to address increased security threats to aviation assets. Manages team in performing analytical data and research in developing and implementing airspace management mechanisms to ensure that the integration of UAS into the NAS supports national defense and other security and law enforcement-related needs.

Oversees aviation- or airspace-related programs supporting Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), or other agencies with security and safety-based missions. Carries out duties related to the System Operations Security mission as assigned, including participating in the directorate's response efforts to address natural disasters and other crises outside of their scheduled tour of duty in various locations.

Applies advanced knowledge of budget, human resources, and other administrative policies and procedures, and an advanced understanding of the objectives of the major subdivision. Defines, plans, and organizes assigned budget, staff, and other resources to accomplish objectives for more than one organizational unit/project/program. Manages budget and either reallocates resources among organizational units/ projects/programs or requests additional resources, as needed. Performs critical aspects of the budget planning process, including projecting short-term and long-term future needs and justifying resource requirements.

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.
  • In accordance with HRPM EMP 1.29/1.29a, this position MAY be a Career Enhancement Program/Career Progression (CE/CP) assignment. The selectee(s) may be eligible for pay retention.
  • Career Diversity is not enhanced when an employee is assigned to a staff or supervisory position in which they previously held on a permanent basis. CE/CP selectees will be required to certify eligibility. Pay retention is not guaranteed.
  • This position is not covered by PL 92-267 for early retirement purposes, and is therefore, not eligible for "good time" credit. Position is ineligible for true time and one half

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-J, FG/GS-14 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:

-Experience identifying and developing strategies to mitigate security risks.

-Experience overseeing or managing testing and training, and data distribution activities while mitigating safety and efficiency concerns.

-Experience developing policies and procedures to plan, detect and mitigate, or integrate goals.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Experience in a military or civilian air traffic facility that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the level of work of the specialization for which application is made. This experience must have provided a comprehensive knowledge of appropriate air traffic control laws, rules, and regulations.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the vacancy**

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience

Preview Job Questionnaire

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.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, 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 section, 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.

Please ensure that you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.

This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation Plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the website: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits

This is a Level 4 (Special-Sensitive: TS/SCI) position requires favorable adjudication of an Special Sensitive Background Investigation) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

Management may choose to interview all, some, or none of the referred candidates.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.

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

All applicants MUST submit the following:
(1) resume with complete work history; and
(2) a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)

For guidance on how to create a Federal resume, visit http://www.archives.gov/careers/jobs/forms/resume-guide.pdf.

Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, illegible or missing documents.

Please DO NOT email your application documents. We cannot accept documents received via the email system. Documents sent via email will NOT receive consideration.

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

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:

  • Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)

  • Duties (be specific in describing your duties)

  • Employer's name and address

  • Supervisor name and phone number

  • Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)

  • Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)

  • Salary (optional)


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

Christine McNeil
Phone
1 (202) 267-3722
Fax
1 (202) 267-7032
Email
christine.mcneil@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
HQ Employment Services Branch
800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523
AHF-110
Washington, DC 20591
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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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