Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Safety and Technical Training Service Unit, Safety Directorate, Safety Services Group (AJI-1500). This Group is responsible for analyzing reports and data to formulate corrective actions for continuous improvement, and serves as collaborative liaisons between different lines of businesses.

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Responsibilities

Apply experience and comprehensive technical knowledge of National Airspace System (NAS) operations, infrastructure, and air traffic procedures to research, evaluate and prepare a detailed analysis of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) related safety data. He/she performs multiple, varying and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager. This work is critical to the safety and efficiency of the NAS and the flying public.

Analyze safety data to assess and identify hazards related to remote identification and the operation of small UAS over people, low altitude authorization and notification capability. He/she analyzes options to determine mitigation effectiveness beyond visual line-of-sight operations, and to determine impact on NAS infrastructure. He/she plans and coordinates activities of multiple organizations to design, develop, modify, or evaluate the NAS. He/she applies experience and comprehensive technical knowledge of UAS Traffic Management and of new technologies and methodologies, to solve complex problems and develop improved technical processes or systems.

He/she applies experience researching NAS operations to review human performance activities related to controller management of UAS and to develop a human performance research plan addressing any related research gaps. In this capacity, he/she will complete a human performance gap analysis to identify needed research regarding controller management of UASs. Using knowledge of UAS, he/she coordinates research efforts to identify appropriate sponsors from across the FAA/ATO and to develop detailed research plans. He/she applies experience using MS Office, XML and/or data analysis tools, such as Business Objects, Tableau, etc. to track research progress, develop status reports and briefings for leadership information and decision making.

He/she often represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact on UAS projects, programs and other work activities. He/she plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports for final approval prior to external distribution. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies. Coordinates significant technical matters with representatives of external organizations.

He/she uses considerable discretion to develop new and innovative approaches and draws on experience to solve unusual problems. Provides guidance to lower-level staff on how to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of the team manager. Work is reviewed rarely, typically though status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time- to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
NA

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)
• A recent SF-50 is required (See Required Documents for requirements)

Qualifications

Candidates must have one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (FV-I or FG/GS-13) that 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 researching National Airspace System (NAS) operations to review human performance activities related to controller management of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
• Experience using MS Office, XML and/or data analysis tools, such as Business Objects, Tableau, etc. to track research progress and to prepares status reports.

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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.*

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

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

Education

Education cannot be subsituted for experience at the FV-J level.

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.

1. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm.

2. 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.

3. 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; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

4. Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed.

5. This Level 5 (Moderate Risk; Public Trust) position requires favorable adjudication of a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

6. In accordance with HRPM EMP 1.29/1.29a, this position MAY be a Career Enhancement Program/Career Progression 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. CEP/CP selectees will be required to certify eligibility. Pay retention is not guaranteed.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

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.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

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 or missing faxed 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.