Public Notice for Alaska Flight Service Station Air Traffic Control Specialist (Aviation Development Program for PWTD) - Military Veterans

Summary Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee for Flight Service Stations in the State of Alaska. The State of Alaska has the only Federal Flight Service Stations. Responsibilities This is a public announcement to apply to a FAA position open to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and Persons with Targeted Disabilities (PWTD). Individuals seeking to apply to this job opportunity should visit the following site for additional information about the PWD/PWTD eligibility criteria: https://employees.faa.gov/org/staffoffices/ahr/program_policies/policy_guidance/hr_policies/hrpm/emp/emp_sup/emp-1-26h/ This is a developmental Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) position responsible for providing preflight briefings and inflight assistance to pilots, requiring knowledge of the information needed to conduct safe flights. Developmental controllers receive a wide range of training in FSS processes as well as weather, communication, navigational and other equipment. As an ATCS, you will receive pay increases as you successfully complete the progressive phases (benchmarks) of controller training at your assigned facility. Prior experience or training in air traffic control is not required. If a candidate applies for and is selected under this temporary trainee announcement, all of the employment conditions associated with this AT-AQ position will apply. As a new ATCS, you will spend your first several weeks of employment in an intensive training program. While attending academy training, you will be on a temporary appointment. Academy students receive basic air traffic control training through the FAA Academy in a virtual environment, which includes complete occupational indoctrination including highlights of Federal employment and basic air traffic training in both a classroom and laboratory environment. Upon successful completion of the FAA Air Traffic Basics Course, continued training will be held at the FAA Alaska Flight Service Station Academy (AFSTA) in Kenai, AK. While attending academy training, you will remain on a temporary appointment. Academy students will receive basic air traffic control training that includes familiarization with the FSS organizational structure and functions, and basic air traffic training in both a classroom and laboratory environment that simulates actual FSS job functions. Individuals who do not successfully complete training at the FAA Academy, AFSTA and all other necessary requirements will have their employment terminated. Prior failure of FAA Academy or AFSTA training or prior declination of permanent facility placement offer after completing Academy training may constitute a basis for non-selection and/or veterans' preference pass over. ATCS's will be paid long-term expense rate (per diem) while attending the AFSTA in Kenai, AK, to help offset daily cost of living expenses. Upon successful completion of the AFSTA initial training program & other employment requirements, newly hired ATCS's will be offered a permanent appointment at an FAA FSS facility with a basic salary of $60,414, which includes 31.96% locality pay. A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be based on facility assignment and is subject to change. Applicants with prior ATC experience will have their salary set in accordance with the ATCS Collective Bargaining Agreement. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications All candidates must meet ONE of the following FIVE minimum qualifications for the position outlined below. Additional Pool eligibilities are required based on specific Pool election. Please read carefully and contact the Alaskan Region Human Resources Office PRIOR to the announcement close date if you have any questions. 1. TO QUALIFY BASED ON PROGRESSIVELY RESPONSIBLE WORK EXPERIENCE: applicants must document 1 year of full time (40 hours per week) progressively responsible experience. Most types of paid or unpaid employment will provide progressively responsible experience as the individual doing the work learns about the organization, gains knowledge about the work, and demonstrates responsibility. 2. TO QUALIFY BASED UPON EDUCATION: applicants must document a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. Schools must be accredited as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and copies of the transcript official/unofficial which includes the name of the institution, semester or quarter hours earned and/or confer date at time of application. CTI: To be eligible for Pool 1 your transcript must reflect the confer date and you must also provide the Official CTI Endorsement Letter at time of application. 3. TO QUALIFY BASED UPON THE COMBINATION OF BOTH WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: The applicant's total qualifying experience time is converted to a percentage, then the education time is converted to a percentage. The combined percentages must equal 100%. At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours, and transcripts are required at application submission for verification purposes. Example: associate degrees equate to 18 months or 50% of the 12 month requirement. Additionally, study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school. 4. TO QUALIFY BASED ON SPECIALIZED WORK EXPERIENCE AS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST: applicants qualifying based on specialized experience must provide supporting documentation that verifies this requirement has been met (e.g., FAA certificate, military certificate or training record). 5. TO QUALIFY BASED ON ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS: applicants must provide supporting documentation that verifies at least one of the following alternative requirements are met: a. Do you hold or have held an appropriate facility rating and have actively controlled air traffic in civilian or military air traffic control terminals or centers? b. Do you hold or have held an FAA certificate as a dispatcher for an air carrier? c. Do you hold or have held an instrument flight rating? d. Do you hold or have held an FAA certificate as a navigator or have been fully qualified as a Navigator/Bombardier in the Armed Forces? e. Do you have 350 hours of flight time as a copilot or higher and hold or have held a private certificate or equivalent Armed Forces rating? f. Have you served as a rated Aerospace Defense Command Intercept Director? Successful candidates must be able to speak English clearly enough to be understood over radios, intercoms, and similar communications equipment. Minimum qualifications required for all positions; additional eligibilities required based on Pool election. APPLICANT POOLS: POOL 1 - ELIGIBILITY: Applicants MUST meet one of the following criteria (1, 2, OR 3) listed below, and MUST provide supporting documentation in order to be eligible for consideration in Pool 1. 1. A graduate from an institution participating in the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program, and who has received from the institution an appropriate recommendation (i.e., official endorsement letter). MUST SUBMIT: (1) official/unofficial transcripts showing degree confer date AND (2) the official endorsement letter from the school. All supporting documentation must be received prior to the closing date of this vacancy. 2. A Veteran eligible for a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) pursuant to Section 4214 of Title 38 and can provide a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty within 120 days from the announcement closing. 3. An eligible Veteran maintaining aviation experience obtained in the course of their military experience and/or entitled to Veterans' Preference (must meet eligibility requirements in section 2108 of Title 5, United States Code) and can provide a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty within 120 days from the announcement closing. NOTE for 2 & 3: Applicable Veterans MUST SUBMIT a DD-214 with character of service in block 24, OR written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the closing date this announcement. Applicants who are not within 120 days of separation will be assessed as non-preference eligibles. Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) eligible applicants: Disabled Veterans; or Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; or Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; or Recently separated Veterans (defined as; within the last 3 years). Veterans claiming eligibility on the basis of service in a campaign or expedition for which a medal was awarded must be in receipt of the campaign badge or medal. In addition to meeting the criteria above, eligible Veterans must have been separated under honorable conditions, or general discharge. Please also see section 'All Veterans' at the bottom of this vacancy announcement, for further documentation requirements for Veterans. POOL 2 - ELIGIBILITY: Pool 2 applicants are all other U.S. Citizens not meeting the requirements for Pool 1, OR Pool 1 eligibles who elect to be considered for Pool 2. Pool 2 applicants may not apply for Pool 1 unless they meet the eligibility requirements outlined for Pool 1. Education Applicants who are using education as a qualifier must submit a copy of the official/unofficial transcripts to substantiate all credit hours and/or confer date. Applicants qualifying based on Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) education must submit a copy of the official/unofficial transcripts to substantiate all credit hours and/or confer date AND an appropriate recommendation letter or endorsement certifying the individual would have met the CTI requirements in effect as of December 31, 2013 for an appropriate recommendation. ***CTI applicants: To be eligible for Pool 1, your transcripts with confer date and appropriate recommendation letter must be submitted prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement, and the confer date must be prior to announcement close date. An appropriate recommendation letter is not a personal recommendation. This letter must be on official CTI school letter head, signed by the designated CTI point of contact and certify/endorse that all CTI program requirements have been met (or would have been met effective as of 12/31/13). 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 U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. 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. All applicants found qualified for the position will be required to complete the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA). Travel to & from testing locations will be at the expense of the applicant. Most recent ATSA results will be utilized for referral, regardless if they are higher or lower than previous score. Applicants who set up their USAJOBS account to provide email updates will receive an email notification with any change in status of their applications. Requirement for pre-employment medical clearance: Applicants selected for ATCS positions must pass a medical examination that includes psychological screening prior to appointment. Applicants with prior military service are encouraged to obtain a sealed copy of their military medical records prior to discharge and to retain these records to be provided upon request if selected. Requirement for security clearance: This position has been designated as Moderate Risk and will require a Public Trust background investigation or higher prior to appointment unless a waiver is obtained. Training Requirements: After successful completion of Academy training, the ATCS will enter the appropriate phase of field training as determined by the assigned facility to prepare for advancement to the Certified Professional Controller (CPC) level. They must learn the skills needed for operation at higher levels of responsibility. Successful certification at assigned FAA facility is required. Failure to certify will result in separation, demotion or reassignment. Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. On-the-Spot will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. This Public Notice will serve as a resume repository – positions may or may not be filled from this announcement. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA