Director, System Operations Security

The Air Traffic Organization has 35,000 controllers, technicians, engineers, and support personnel whose daily efforts keep aircraft safe, separated, and on time. System Operations Services leads the agency in a broad range of operational services, including all national air traffic flow management initiatives, policy and concept development for airport surface flow management programs, all national flight service functions, and operational oversight of National Airspace security issues.

An education requirement has not been established for this occupational series.

The Director, System Operations Security is responsible for managing all programs related to air traffic national security and leads System Operations Services in protecting the United States and its interests from security threats involving the Air Domain. The Director leads, manages, and executes the Air Traffic Organization’s (ATO) core function regarding air domain security policy, classified operations, real-time operational security management of the National Airspace System, and collection and analysis of security data as appropriate.

The Director, System Operations Security oversees and has direct line authority over five (5) groups comprised of approximately 90 highly technical positions, including 15 senior managers responsible for managing the operational efforts to protect the United States and its interests from threats associated with the Air Domain, including the novel risks related to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and other new entrants. The Director oversees and manages a budget of approximately $6.4 million.

Principal Responsibilities

• Directs ATO’s use of Air Traffic Management capabilities to deter, detect, respond to, defeat, mitigate, and recover from threats, such as hostile aircraft involving the Air Domain.

• Manages sensitive and classified national defense, homeland security, and emergency operations-related missions involving the Air Domain.

• Oversees emergency operations activities to ensure that essential air navigation services are sustained during major incidents.

• Establishes policies, plans, and procedures that enable effective national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, and emergency operations efforts.

• Leads participation in internal and interagency development and implementation of Air Domain security and emergency operations policies, plans, standards, and procedures.

• Manages the National Response Framework-related efforts, including crisis management support for the agency’s leadership; coordination and execution of national emergency operations; development of interagency contingency plans; and deployment of personnel to key crisis management nodes such as State Emergency Operations Centers and Federal Government Joint Field Offices.

• Leads all counter UAS policy, intra and interagency coordination, and maintains operational oversight of counter UAS missions for the ATO. Has operational control of special government interest UAS authorizations, ensuring critical lifesaving, law enforcement, and crisis response missions are conducted in a timely manner.

• Represents FAA in meetings, committees, groups, and forums by serving as an authority on air transportation security matters. Exercises delegated authority to make commitments on behalf of the FAA on matters directly affecting air transportation security issues.

As a basic requirement for entry into the FAA Executive System, you must clearly articulate and describe within your five (5) page resume evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive-level management capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Leadership and Technical Requirements listed below.

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the following have been determined to be selective factors for this position. This means possession of these criteria is part of the minimum qualifications and is essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Applicants who do not possess these criteria are ineligible for further consideration.

1. LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience in achieving operational results? If so, provide examples of ways you have exercised leadership to deliver significant results. Explain how you established goals, assessed outcomes, and improved products and services. Indicate how you identified and met customers’ requirements and addressed the needs of stakeholders. Include examples of complex problems you solved or difficult obstacles that you overcame as a leader. Your description should include (1) the size and complexity of organizations you have led, (2) the scope of programs you have managed, and (3) the impact of your results on customers and other stakeholders.
2. LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience leading people? If yes, describe the size of the organization and number and types of positions you have managed. Discuss ways that you have established and maintained positive work environments and prevented or eliminated discrimination or harassment. Describe ways that you have mentored and developed employees and built individual and team performance. Discuss how you have established and led teams to deliver products and services. Include in your description experience in leading others in a matrix environment across organizations.
3. LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience building relationships? If yes, describe (1) the types of individuals with whom you routinely collaborate; and (2) the purpose and outcomes of the communication. Discuss your experience in communicating and cooperating with others to achieve goals. Provide examples of how you have built relationships to achieve consensus and how you were able to obtain the cooperation of others with competing priorities and perspectives. Describe how you effectively communicate information within and outside of your organization.
4. LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENT: Do you have experience leading strategic change? If yes, describe examples of strategic changes that you led for your organization; describe the entities that the change affected (agency, industry, organizational components). Discuss obstacles you encountered and how you overcame them to the benefit of the agency. Include in your description ways that you applied long-range vision, developed strategies, and applied innovative ideas and techniques.
5. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: Experience leading, overseeing, and providing strategic direction for an organization responsible for national security and emergency response to protect the United States and its interests from threats and hazards associated with Air Traffic Management.
6. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: Experience leading and managing the safe-handling, safe operation or protection and control of classified or sensitive information in support of the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System.