Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation Operations)

About the role

The Principal Operations Inspector (POI) serves as the primary operations interface between assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, designees, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Has program responsibility to assure that assigned organizations meet Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation (14 CFR) with respect to general aviation operations programs.

What you will do

• The POI receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or functions.
• The POI, mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or other work.
• The work is normally accepted without change.
• Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.
• Some FG-14 assignments involve service wide responsibility for application of expert knowledge of flight operations for advanced multiengine turbojet aircraft.
• Such employees are concerned with all aspects of the operational capabilities and limitations of the aircraft.
• Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) at the FG-14 level establish technical procedures and performance indexes and review complete flight operations programs for leaders in the aviation industry, or organizations of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations.
• Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity.
• FG-14 employees develop and evaluate flight operations programs for organizations which utilize the newest, most complex aircraft, systems, and equipment.
• Because of organizational complexity or technology incorporated in the aircraft, systems, and equipment, employees must exercise originality to resolve unique problems.
• They frequently rely on engineers and designers for specific technical guidance although much of their work is carried out under very broad policy guidelines.
• Supervisors give FG-14 employees a wide leeway for independent action.
• Other inspectors seek their advice on problems relating to aircraft and their operation.
• Because of the precedent-setting nature or substantial effect on the aviation industry or public safety, their decisions may be reviewed and approved at a higher policy- setting level.
• The POI resolves all but unique problems, with the intervention of management or a technical specialist.
• Develop plans, techniques, and policies to address current and anticipated problems and issues.
• Works with management to solve problems.
• The POI is expected to follow established laws, orders, policies, and regulations that provide general guidance for completing work objectives, but is allowed considerable discretion to develop new or innovative approaches.
• The POI uses resourcefulness, initiative, and judgement based on experience to develop and implement evaluation procedures to address problems where precedents are not applicable.
• Methods, practices, or decisions may be used as guidance in similar problem areas.
• The POI keeps management informed of the status of all programs and projects and is held accountable for the technical accuracy, proper coordination, and timeliness of completed staff work.
• Provides staff assistance and serves as advisor to the manager on all matters pertaining to assigned tasking.
• Assists Safety Assurance ASI¿s, aviation safety technicians, and others on queries that are technical or guidance related.
• Assists in the preparation of a variety of technical and high priority correspondence to the other functional offices, aviation industry, other governmental agencies, members of Congress, and the general public.
• Assures that correspondence is properly coordinated, technically and grammatically accurate, clear and concise, and that it reflects the philosophy, policies, and objectives of the Division, Service, and the FAA.
• Participates in the FAA flight program to maintain qualification and currency requirements applicable to operations inspectors, for the purpose of supporting the FAA in a variety of flight-related functions to include training and evaluation of designated pilot examiners.
• Evaluates tasks contained in the FAA practical test standards and airman certification standards by participating as pilot in command or as a crewmember.
• The inspector is required to maintain an FAA second class medical.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

Education

Education is not qualifying and 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.

Documents you must provide

• You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent document that verifies tenure (block 24, code 1 or 2).
• Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.
• Applicants must apply on-line, through USAJOBS, to receive consideration; Faxed, mailed or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted.
• If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your on-line application, e.g. transcripts, SF-50, or veterans' documentation, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS.
• Supplemental documentation can also be faxed to *** on or before the closing date of this announcement.
• Please include your name and the vacancy announcement number on each of your faxed pages and redact all Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as social security number and date of birth.
• 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 ***

What to expect next

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.

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. *** 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.

Current or Former Federal employee (including a current FAA employee): You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent document that verifies tenure (block 24, code 1 or 2).

Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative, the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, 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 in your work history, please include WORK HISTORY THAT DESCRIBES HOW YOU MEET THE ANSWER YOU CHOSE FOR EACH KSA. Security Requirement: This position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a Moderate Risk (5) Background Investigation (Tier 2) unless waiver is obtained.

This is a bargaining unit position, represented by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (***). Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA