Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations

About the role

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is where innovation meets purpose. We ensure the safety and efficiency of the nation's aerospace system, overseeing air traffic, advancing cutting-edge aviation technologies, and shaping the future of flight. Our mission is to deliver the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

Join a team where your work has real impact, your ideas drive progress, and your career helps keep millions moving safely every day.

What you will do

• The Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations provides executive direction and oversight for Office of the Chief Counsel activities and functions for all regulatory legal matters pertaining to airworthiness and certification, airmen certification, operations, air traffic procedures, flight standards activities, commercial space activity, and treaties and conventions concerning aviation and space matters.
• The Assistant Chief Counsel directs planning, policy development, and execution of regulatory legal programs, including developing and executing legal aspects of the FAA regulatory program; rendering opinions and interpretations of FAA regulations; drafting regulations; ensuring that agency rulemaking policies are consistent with government statutes, executive orders, and Department of Transportation policies; and developing procedures for supporting rulemaking actions.
• The Assistant Chief Counsel executes these duties and responsibilities through a geographically dispersed organization of approximately 30 managers, attorneys, and support professionals.
• Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Provides executive leadership and strategic oversight of FAA regulatory law programs, directing the planning, policy development, and execution of legal activities and ensuring legal sufficiency and alignment with the priorities of the President, DOT Secretary, FAA Administrator, and Chief Counsel.
• Renders authoritative legal opinions and interpretations of FAA regulatory law programs and policies, ensuring consistency with applicable Federal statutes, Executive Orders, and Department of Transportation and FAA policies.
• Oversees the delivery of regulatory law services across FAA headquarters and regional offices, including legal support for litigation involving FAA regulatory activities, training, policy development, and evaluation of legal services.
• Serves as a senior regulatory law advisor and subject matter expert to FAA and external stakeholders, providing strategic legal advice and counsel to executives at FAA, the Department of Transportation, other Federal agencies, Congress, and private-sector stakeholders on matters affecting FAA regulatory programs.
• Leads and manages the Regulations Division, establishing objectives and strategies; directing subordinate managers, attorneys, and staff; allocating resources and workload; evaluating performance; making personnel decisions; and fostering organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

• We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: ***

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

Education: Must have earned at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school; and Bar Membership: Must be an active bar member in good standing (as defined by the relevant bar) of any U.S. jurisdiction, state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

How you will be evaluated

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you possess the Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs) and Mandatory Technical Requirements (TRs) listed above, your application package may be further evaluated by an Executive Rating Panel.

Additionally, Hiring Managers may choose to interview highly qualified candidates via one or more interviews. 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.

Documents you must provide

• All applicants must submit a resume limited to two (2) pages.
• Eligibility and qualifications will be determined solely based on the information provided within this two-page resume.
• Your resume must include sufficient detail to validate your qualifications, including employment start and end dates (month/year), position titles, and full-time or part-time status (or average hours worked per week).
• It must clearly demonstrate your relevant experience and education as they relate to the position's requirements.
• SF-50: Current or former federal employees must submit an SF-50.
• Submit your current or most recent SF-50.
• Do not submit an award SF-50, as these do not verify eligibility.
• Additionally, Career Executives or those with FAA Executive System (FAAES) or Senior Executive Service (SES) reinstatement eligibility must submit an SF-50 showing career FAAES or SES to receive non-competitive consideration.
• Candidate Development Program (CDP): If you have completed an OPM-approved SES CDP, include a copy of your OPM certificate.
• Failure to submit any required documents by the closing date will remove you from consideration.
• This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 905 series.
• College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 905 series with the FAA.
• College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 905 series.
• If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

What to expect next

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 80 days of the closing date of this announcement.

You will be notified of the outcome. 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.

Additional information

Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. Veterans preference does not apply to the FAA Executive System.

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. *** 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.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so (see ***)Designated or Random Drug Testing required. This is not a bargaining unit position. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA