Summary Serves as a Flight Data Communication Specialist (FDCS) Team Lead in a Level 12 Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and is responsible for providing flight data processing and communications service for the National Airspace System (NAS). Responsibilities Performs multiple and varying specialized flight data assignments and provides support to complex air traffic control facilities under limited direction of a manager, project/program manager, and/or more experienced employee. Acts as an individual contributor and/or member of a team in assigned area of expertise on broad work activities and/or may be individually responsible for projects. Serves as the point of contact in the absence of the Supervisor of the Flight Data Communications Specialists unit. Applies experience and advanced knowledge of air traffic control, flight data procedures and operations. Contributes directly to the success of regional or national programs of the integrated National Airspace System (NAS) as well as research and development efforts. Relays instrument flight rules (IFR) departure clearances including clearance and control information for satellite, uncontrolled airports and temporary military/civilian airports and special events operations. Relays cancellation of flight plans for satellite and uncontrolled airports to approach controls and ARTCCs. Supports large scale military exercises and military alert responsibilities by entering flight plans, notification procedures, and airspace configuration commands into the NAS. Responsible for the coordination and approval of airspace requests from military units. Tracks all requests and approvals. Disseminates data to the appropriate air traffic sectors within the ARTCC. Provides flight data processing and communications service for the NAS. Operates and maintains a variety of air traffic operational computer systems. Processes and monitors the input of proposed and active flight plans for ARTCC, terminal facilities, flight service stations, general aviation, and air carrier operations. At the request of Air Traffic Operation Manager in Charge OMIC assists with search and rescues efforts including pilot contact information, Information Requests (INREQs, and Alerts Notices (ALNOTs). Provides manual flight plan processing and coordination during Canadian Automated Air Traffic System (CAATS) / ERAM equipment failures. Recognizes incorrect flight plan entries into the NAS and enters corrections as required. Amends proposed flight plans when requested by the flight crew, dispatch operations, Leidos Flight Service, or other air traffic facilities. Monitors ERAM for duplicate flight plans and takes appropriate action. Responsible for ensuring the information in Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) is current. This includes updating the Blocked List by either adding or deleting aircraft from both the history or query lists. Monitors flights crossing international control boundaries and corrects information to allow processing of flight plan information to and from International Civil Aviation Organization ((CAO) partners. Utilizes Traffic Situation Display (TSD)/Departure List Program to aid in processing departure information. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications Candidates must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade or pay band (FV-F or FG/GS-7/8) in the Federal Government that demonstrates knowledge of and skill in the use of FAA Air Traffic Control procedures. Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in work involving: (1) Civilian or military aircraft operations work, such as flight instructor, instrument rated pilot, flight engineer or air transport pilot; (2) FAA Certified Dispatcher for an air carrier; (3) Flight Information Expediter involved in determining flight times of airplanes and transmitting information to flight operations and command centers; (4) Civilian or Military Air Traffic Controller; and (5) Flight Data Processor; or Successful completion of an FAA or Military Air Traffic Control Training Program; or Possession of an FAA Control Tower Operator Certificate. Additional examples of specialized experience include: experience using NAS computer systems such as the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system, Flight Data Input/Output (FDIO) system, and Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (DASI) system; experience operating air traffic control operational computer and flight data equipment; experience amending proposed flight plans for flow control restrictions, Severe Weather Avoidance Plan (SWAP), and Expect Departure Clearance Time (EDCT) restrictions/changes; or experience in positions such as a military or civilian air traffic controller, flight instructor, instrument rated pilot, command center operators (base ops), dispatcher for an air carrier, or as Flight Services Specialist. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education Duties and Responsibilities Continued: Receives, acknowledges, and/or transmits ICAO alert messages which include the following, Uncertainty phase (INCERFA), Alert phase (ALERFA) and Distress message (DISTRESFA). Assigns a Departure Transition Area (DTA) to a flight plan when advised by Air Traffic that the flight plan is missing a DTA, the aircraft does not have over water equipment, or the aircraft filed a flight plan from departure airport to destination airport. Responsible for filing Flight Restrictive Zones (FRZ) flight plans and Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) flight plans in and out of national defense airspace in the Washington D.C. area. Configures airspace for all appropriate air traffic facilities when they open and close, or when a situation requires the airspace to be reconfigured. Serves as the focal point for weather dissemination which includes receiving and analyzing Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETs), Air Mission Meteorological Information (AIRMETs), Center Weather Advisories (CWAs), and Routine/Urgent Pilot Reports (PIREPs) and distributes the data to operations and NAS users. Monitors and updates Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) and Surface Weather Observation Stations (AWOS) information in ERAM and AIS-R. Coordinates outages with technicians. Acts as the backup for Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METAR)/PIREP data entry for underlying approach control facilities. Receives, reviews, and disseminates General Notices (GENOTs), Circuit Notices (CIRNOTS), and Altitude Reservations (ALTRVs). Formats and inputs Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) into the NOT AM Entry System (NES) as required. Receives and analyzes TFRs submitted by government agencies and third-party customers to ensure accuracy prior to forwarding to the US NOT AM Office (USNOF). Coordinates USNOF approved TFRs with appropriate airport management, military, and any affected third-party groups. Verifies and manually enters Canadian NOTAMs. Receives, reviews, disseminates and logs newly issued and canceled FDC NOTAMs for interim IFR flight procedures (ODP, SIAP, SID, and STAR, charting changes) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (Presidential, disaster/hazard areas, aerial demonstrations, hijacking) for facility operational areas and underlying ATC facilities in accordance with FAA and local orders. Receives, reviews, and disseminates DNOTAMs to underlying or adjacent facilities which may include runway closure, field condition reports and airspace/obstruction NOT AM information. Provides backup D NOTAM coordination for designated alternate flight data units, ensuring seamless transition of NOTAM coordination when the primary flight data unit is unable to provide the service. Oversees the coordination of the daily planned NAVAID/ frequency outages, which includes tracking the start and end time of the outages. Maintains facility logs and archives as required. Trains developmental Flight Data Specialists in the performance of flight data and data communications system functional responsibilities, including the use of equipment and local standard operating procedures. Serves as a point of contact for ARTCC national security messages, and designated as Alternate COMSEC Responsible Officer (ACRO), and or Alternate Classified Information Security Manager (ACISM). Attends COMSEC/CISM training as required. May serve as a Trusted Agent for the Department of Homeland Security (OHS) to FAA ARTCCs and or other agencies when needed. Serves as the Training Coordinator (TA) for the Flight Data Unit, recommends certification or additional training when necessary. Reinforces and communicates policies relating to Standards of Conduct and local procedures. Keeps Flight Data Specialists up to date on current and future assignments that will affect the FD unit. Serves as Team Lead for the Flight Data Unit and performs varying assignments under minimal direction of a manager. Applies experience and advanced knowledge to plan and accomplish multiple varying assignments. Demonstrates considerable independence in planning and coordinating as needed with the manager. Assists managers and other employees to plan and identify resources to accomplish assignments, projects, and other tasks. May approve limited leave and assist with schedule development with guidance from management. Provides information to supervisor concerning personnel needs and training progress of employees. Contacts are both internal and external. Internal contacts are managers and other employees to share information, coordinate efforts, discuss the status of assignments and identify resources needed to complete assignments. External contacts include members of the aviation community including pilots, air traffic controllers, flight service specialists, dispatchers, and weather unit personnel to relay information. Existing policies and procedures allow considerable discretion for the Team Lead to select the most appropriate approach or recommend a new approach. Work is reviewed periodically to ensure policy compliance and alignment with the requirements of projects and/or work activities. Performs other related duties as assigned. 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. 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. 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 initial 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 information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: All persons appointed to Air Traffic Assistant positions are required to successfully complete a training program to gain specific job knowledge. Those failing to complete the program may be separated, demoted or reassigned. Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job. 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 preemployment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing. If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA