Air Traffic Control Specialist
About This Position
Leads the ATO's operations-centric efforts in national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, disaster response, and other significant incident management arenas. AJR-2 leads the ATO's use of Air Traffic Management (ATM) security capabilities to help interagency partners protect the Nation and its interests from Air Domain-related threats in the aforementioned mission areas.
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, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be credible, 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 developing and executing test scripts to validate filtering algorithms used to identify and protect sensitive information. -Experience coordinating with program officials and external partners to ensure work products meet quality standards and align with objectives. -Experience maintaining or managing data files and repositories used to identify, track, and protect sensitive operations, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and compliance with established security protocols. 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
Major Duties
The Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) serves as the Sensitive Flight Data (SFD) Security Program Manager and performs complex, specialized air traffic control assignments within the Operations Security Plans and Procedures Team (OSPP, AJR-222). Provides expert technical guidance to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) organizations and external stakeholders on SFD protection requirements, ensuring consistent application across programs that share flight data outside the FAA. Supports the System Operations Security mission by carrying out assigned duties related to national-level operational security initiatives, including participating in directorate response efforts during natural disasters, crises, or other emergent events.
Leads national-level efforts to safeguard the confidentiality of flight data associated with classified and sensitive unclassified U.S. Government missions operating in the National Airspace System (NAS). Develops, implements, and oversees procedures for identifying, tagging, and protecting Sensitive Flight Data (SFD) across all applicable NAS systems and programs.
Manages the operational sustainment of the SFD program, requiring ongoing program evaluation, refinement of SFD protections, and support of long-term mission continuity. Maintains and manages national data files and repositories used to identify, track, and protect sensitive flight operations, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and compliance with established security protocols. Identifies and resolves highly complex operational and policy issues related to SFD protection that cross organizational boundaries and impact national-level aviation security objectives.
Coordinates with program officials and external partners to ensure work products meet quality standards and align with regional and national objectives, providing status updates and final reports as required. As a recognized expert, serves as the FAA¿s national focal point for SFD-related issues, representing the agency in inter-agency forums involving national defense, homeland security, intelligence, and law enforcement partners. Develops procedures and technical approaches to enhance the protection of sensitive flight data, ensuring alignment with FAA policies, government-wide regulations, and industry standards.
Conceives, plans, and directs studies and analyses addressing emerging risks, vulnerabilities, and operational impacts associated with sensitive flight data management. Prepares and reviews national-level reports, policy documents, and recommendations for internal and external distribution, ensuring technical accuracy and alignment with agency objectives. Identifies, defines, and organizes work for multiple work activities, acquiring and allocating resources to accomplish the integration of SFD protection activities with broader FAA and national security priorities, within established timelines and performance expectations.
Filters, organizes, and interprets large datasets to ensure SFD protections are correctly applied. Develops and executes test scripts to validate filtering algorithms used to identify and protect Sensitive Flight Data (SFD). Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to verify the accuracy, completeness, and proper application of SFD protections across all relevant systems.
Ensures the protection of Sensitive Flight Data (SFD) by incorporating appropriate Sensitive Unclassified Information (SUI) clauses into FAA contractual agreements with external entities and by ensuring NAS program documentation properly addresses SFD handling requirements. Collaborates with the FAA NextGen Office to integrate SFD protection requirements into the master NAS Requirements Document.
Conditions of Employment
We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.
Education
Education cannot be substituted for experience.
How You Will Be Evaluated
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.
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
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.
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/.