Air Traffic Control Specialist

Summary

About the Position: Serves as an Air Traffic Control Specialist in an Army Airfield Control Tower responsible for the efficient use of the Class D airspace and traffic patterns to minimize delays and maximize effective mission time for aviators under tower control.

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Duties

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• You will provide tower control services using visual and Control Tower Radar Display (CTRD) data and apply IFR separation standards and procedures.
• You will coordinate instructions to separate and sequence aircraft conducting simultaneous arrivals and departures to a complex array of runways, landing pads and parallel taxiways including several landing areas not visible from the tower.
• As a flight data specialist, you will receive, post, and relay flight data to the local controller and ground control/clearance delivery.
• You will provide instructions and advisories to insure an orderly flow of traffic operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) within several separate multi-directional feeder corridors.
• As a Ground Controller, you will perform ground control/clearance delivery duties, assuring effective movement of aircraft on all areas of the airport.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• You must complete a pre-employment physical and are subject to periodic (e.g. annual) medical examinations following appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position.
• This is a drug testing designated position (TDP) under the Department of the Army Drug-Free Federal Workplace Program. Must sign DA Form 5019 acknowledging both pre-appointment and periodic random drug testing requirements.
• This position has been designated "Mission Essential". In the event of severe weather conditions or other emergency type situations (natural or man-made disaster) you must report to work or remain at work as scheduled to support mission operations.
• May be required to complete occasional business travel.
• This position requires shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations. Employee shifts are rotated on a regularly scheduled basis.
• Term employment is subject to a one year trial period. Employees serving a trial period can be removed with limited appeal rights.
• Must possess and maintain Air Traffic Control Specialist certification and a control tower operator's license.

Qualifications

This position is covered under Special Retirement Coverage (SRC) and may have both a maximum entry age and mandatory retirement date.

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

• 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
• Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
• Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
• Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
• Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI)
• Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
• Reinstatement

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes advising pilots of traffic patterns, weather/airfield conditions, and giving clearance for landing/take off in a military or civilian air traffic control facility. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-10).

In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirement above, applicants must also be a graduate of a DoD component or FAA approved formal Air Traffic Controller school and possess Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) and Control Tower Operator (CTO) certification. NOTE: You must attach copies of your certifications to your application package. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience aloneno substitution of education for experience is permitted.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-10).

Maximum Entry Age: Employees hired for the first time ("originally hired") into GS-2152 positions must not exceed the established Maximum Entry Age (MEA) at the time of appointment. The MEA for an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) is 36. An employee originally hired into a covered ATC position must be hired by the last day of the month he/she reaches 36 unless a waiver from Department of Army is approved prior to appointment.

As this is a Special Retirement covered ATC position, your application package must include a government-issued document indicating your date of birth. Failure to submit this document will result in your application being marked as incomplete and you WILL NOT receive further consideration for this position.

WORKING CONDITIONS: During emergency situations the work may become extremely stressful. The incumbent must maintain necessary alertness, self-control, and emotional stability and be able to make rapid decisions and use precise judgment under emergency conditions. As required by staffing, workload, and mission requirements, incumbent may be required to work during other than normal duty hours which may include working nights, weekends, and holidays.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct deposit of pay is required..
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is an Aviation Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
• Term Appointment NTE - Position may be filled as a Term Appointment NTE 5 years. Term appointments may be extended beyond of six (6) years, up to eight (8) years. With DoD approval, Term appointments may be extended beyond eight (8) years.
• Current permanent Federal employees (to include permanent Army employees) applying for a Term appointment will be appointed/converted into a Term appointment with no statutory return rights back to a permanent position.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized.
• An incentive for student loan repayment may be authorized.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.