AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST - DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Duties

- Serve as UAS Integration Flight and principle expert advisors to WPAFB on small UAS airspace integration, de-confliction, and management matters.
- Direct and/or provide technical expertise for WPAFB airspace integration activities related to developing standards, procedures, policy and enabling technology necessary to safely integrate small unmanned aircraft operation with manned aircraft operations in non-segregated airspace.
- Plan, organize, and train users of WPAFB ensuring that the Unmanned System operations comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs.
- Must be articulate, in both written and oral form, to communicate issues and requirements to both domestic and foreign stakeholders as well as formulate and coordinate decisions and policies to and for senior USAF and other government agencies.
- Assist WPAFB organizations and mission partners and non-DoD agencies in the development of UAS guidance, policy and procedures, training materials, concepts of employment and operations (CONEMPS/CONOPS) and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs).

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.
• This position may require drug testing and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection.
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
• This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• This Public Notice may be used to fill positions in other equivalent pay systems (i.e., NH, NJ, NK).
• This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position. Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position. Leave accrual may be authorized upon request.
• Qualified Small UAS operator experience and system knowledge is highly desired for the successful completion of the work
• Contract Representative (COR) experience highly desired for the successful completion of the work
• Air Traffic Control experience highly desired for the successful completion of the work

Qualifications

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Air Traffic Control Series, 2152.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year, or will have one year within 120 days of closing of this announcement, specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience is described as an advisor on small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) airspace integration, standardization, and operations matters of UAS; provide technical direction, organization, and integrate the work of military, civilian, civilian contract, and other personnel who are assigned to work specific UAS integration issues.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in- grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. Due to the use of 120 day rosters, applicants within 120 days of completion of TIG requirements are encouraged to apply.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Detailed, comprehensive knowledge of owned and/or leased UAS operations including physical and performance capabilities and limitations. Air Traffic Control or Pilot certifications desired.
2. Comprehensive knowledge of FAA, OSD, USAF, AFMC UAS/airspace management regulations, instructions, and guidance.
3. Knowledge of Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures. Combat airspace operational experience or combat airspace instructor experience is highly desired.
4. Comprehensive knowledge of UAS operations, lessons learned, and operational policy and procedures. Close coordination with these agencies is constantly required and knowledge is not limited to the air traffic control career field alone.
5. Knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to participate in the assessment and improvement of command level UAS plans and programs in areas such as NAS access, ATC operations, airspace and frequency management, and scheduling.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SPECIAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered as an Air Traffic Controller under 5 USC 2109. This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS (5 USC 3382, Involuntary Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8335(a) and 8425 (a), Mandatory Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8336(e), Immediate Retirement; 5 USC 8339(3) and 8415(d), Computation of annuity, and 8412(e).

-5 USC 5546a - DIFFERENTIAL PAY FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
(a)The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Administrator") and the Secretary of Defense (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Secretary") may pay premium pay at the rate of 5 per centum of the applicable rate of basic pay to
-(1)Any employee of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Department of Defense who is
-(2)Occupying a position in the air traffic controller series classified not lower than GS-9 and located in an air traffic control center or terminal or in a flight service station

This position may be entitled to 5% premium pay as authorized by 5USC 5546a (a)(1)

MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: The maximum age of original entry into an identified ATC position is 36 years old. An individual shall not be appointed or assigned to an ATC position if that appointment cannot be completed prior to the last day of the month in which the individual reaches his/her 36th birthday. Applicants over the age limit must meet re-entry or age waiver requirements in accordance with DoDI 1400.25-V331 dated 26 Jan 15, Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Manual, Subchapter 331, Civilian Air Traffic Controllers. Any individual who has reached the mandatory separation age (56) is not eligible for employment/reemployment as an ATC (5USC 3323 (a) (reference 9b)).

NOTE: ATCs have a mandatory separation age of 56. This position is covered as an Air Traffic Controller under 5 USC 2109. This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS (5 USC 3382, Involuntary Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8335(a) and 8425(a), Mandatory Separation; 5 USC 8336(e), Immediate Retirement; 5 USC 8339(3) and 8415(d), Computation of annuity, and 8412(e).

RE-ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: ATC Specialist in receipt of a refund, of retirement contributions for the years of service covered under special retirement, will not receive service credit towards the 20 years required to retire under special retirement coverage, unless the redeposit is paid in full prior to date of retirement.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: In general, air traffic control specialist applicants and employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of these positions without risk to themselves or others. The provision of sufficient information about physical capacity for employment requires that before appointment, applicants undergo appropriate pre-employment physical/medical evaluations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS : The work is primarily sedentary, however, walking, stooping, and climbing may be required in performance of duties. Occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 50 pounds may be required.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This job announcement will be used to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA).

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click . To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated in the "Highly Qualified" or "Best Qualified" Category on the rating criteria for this vacancy. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click for more information.

Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition. Additionally, if you are serving on a term appointment in the competitive service, you may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition. NOTE: Current federal civilian employees may apply for this position and if selected, a break in service of at least 3 days may be required prior to appointment to this position.

Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information, click .

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click .