Supervisory Air Traffic Control Specialist

Summary

The Deputy Director for Air Traffic Services (AJT), will provide support to the Director regarding day-to-day operations, and provide expert advice, technical support, and coordination for technical operations involving the National Airspace System (NAS) and NexGen efforts.

Duties

• The Deputy Director will exercise delegated authority for the planning, coordination, and oversight of air traffic control operations that support the safe, orderly, and efficient movement of air traffic within the National Airspace System (NAS). Provides high-level, detailed, technical operational leadership over air traffic control services, ensuring alignment with FAA Orders, operational directives, and national air traffic priorities. Utilizes specialized knowledge of air traffic control procedures, airspace management, traffic flow initiatives, and operational risk management to guide strategic and tactical decision-making affecting NAS performance. Oversees and integrates air traffic operational activities across service areas, districts, and facilities, ensuring consistency in the application of air traffic control policies, procedures, and operational standards. This includes resolving complex operational issues, balancing competing NAS demands, and mitigating operational risk through informed judgment grounded in air traffic control experience. Advises senior Air Traffic Organization leadership on operational impacts of policy, staffing, traffic management initiatives, and system changes, ensuring that decisions are informed by operational realities at the facility and national levels. Represents Air Traffic Services in operational forums, providing authoritative interpretation of ATC requirements and operational feasibility. Conducts performance evaluations for subordinate managers and supervisors engaged in air traffic control operations and operational support functions, ensuring effective delivery of ATC services and continuous improvement in safety, efficiency, and workforce performance. The work requires continuous assessment of NAS conditions, emerging operational risks, and system constraints, and the development of operational strategies to maintain continuity of air traffic services during periods of disruption, transition, or increased demand. The Deputy Director utilizes skill and experience integrating facility program operations to advocate the tactical and strategic use of concepts and technologies that advance the goals of the ATO and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Develops standards, systems, procedures and techniques to improve air traffic services within the district. Continually reviews, refines, and recommends major improvements to operational projects and programs to make sure that they are aligned with long-term and short-term ATO and FAA goals, objectives, and plans. Provides support to the Director regarding day-to-day operations in applying detailed knowledge to the technical support and coordination for technical operations involving the National Airspace System (NAS). Assists the Director in achieving and maximizing operational Air Traffic goals, providing technical support, aiding in strategic planning, facility planning, and integrated consensus building across ATO Service Units. Attends Director and above executive meetings. Demonstrates detailed, technical knowledge of NAS systems, equipment, processes, and procedures to serve as the expert and focal point for air traffic issues and initiatives. This work is critical to maintaining safety oversight and directly impacts the safe and efficient operation of the NAS. Maintains contacts both internal and external to the district, including senior management, Union representatives, services center personnel, members of the state, local and federal government, foreign government aviation officials, general public. representatives of the aviation industry and military, to facilitate resolution of air traffic operational and technical program issues. Resolves high-level safety issues in operational and decision-making meetings involving safety, quality assurances, and quality control issues within the ATO.

Qualifications

To view the complete qualification standard, applicants should reference- U.S. Office of Personnel Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Air Traffic Control Series, 2152: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2100/air-traffic-control-series-2152/ To qualify for this position at the L-band you must demonstrate in your application that you have experience as an air traffic controller in a military or civilian air traffic facility that demonstrated 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. Creditable experience must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the full range of duties of the position for which application is being made. To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-K/ FG/GS-15. 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 achieving operational Air Traffic goals, providing technical support, aiding in strategic planning and facility planning. Experience applying detailed technical knowledge of NAS systems, equipment, processes, and procedures to serve as the focal point for air traffic issues and initiatives. Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Interview Policy: Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed. Pay Retention: In accordance with HRPM. EMP 1.29/1.29A, this position may be Career Enhancement Assignment/Career Progression. 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.

Requirements

We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

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. Amendment Date: 09/04/2026 Amendment Note: This announcement has been extended.