Director, Safety

Director, Safety

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $153700 - $216400 Per Year

Job Summary: The Air Traffic Organization (ATO) comprises 35,000 controllers, technicians, engineers, and support personnel whose daily efforts ensure that aircraft are safe, separated, and on time. The Office of Safety is composed of highly skilled experts who proactively identify and mitigate operational risk in the National Airspace System.

Major Duties:

• The Director, Safety collects, monitors, reports, and mitigates risks in the National Airspace System (NAS) through voluntary safety programs, quality assurance, compliance, and safety services. The Director oversees investigations and establishes policies on independent validation and verification of safety issues and incidents. Principal Responsibilities Establishes safety policies for air traffic movement, runway safety, voluntary reporting, quality assurance, and quality control. Manages and provides safety advice, guidance, and oversight of NAS operations and equipment, including converting safety and quality data into management information. Identifies system-wide trends and risks affecting safety and service quality and recommends mitigations. Provides technical assistance to ensure the horizontal integration of the ATO safety mission and objectives throughout the organization. Oversees the development of policies, standards, and procedures for safety, investigations, quality assurance, and quality control within the ATO, as may be deemed necessary, and modifies or revokes such policies when required. Supports the Joint ATO Operations Center by providing real-time safety reporting and assessment of the ATO's safety performance through field communications, investigations, audits, and assignments.

Qualifications: To meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you must clearly articulate and describe within your two (2) page resume evidence that you possess the Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs) and Mandatory Technical Requirements (TRs) related to this position. Your resume should include examples of experience and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications. Applicants who do not possess these criteria are ineligible for further consideration. Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the technical and executive leadership requirements. Only your two (2) page resume will be accepted and considered. ELDs and TRs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. MANDATORY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT (TR): TR: Experience leading, managing, and providing strategic direction for a large organization responsible for the development, execution, and oversight of safety programs related to air traffic operations, including the identification and mitigation of operational risks and safety trends that impact service quality. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DIMENSIONS (ELDs) ELD 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding – This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ELD 2: Driving Efficiency -This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ELD 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ELD 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ELD 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Note: If you are a current member of the FAAES, Career SES, or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have Career SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to address the ELDs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the FAAES.

How to Apply: This recruitment will be conducted using a RESUME-ONLY application process. Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages and must clearly describe your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the Executive Leadership Dimensions and Mandatory Technical Requirements for this position. Resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted and will result in removal from consideration. Resumes must be uploaded to your USAJOBS application and submitted in either Word (or Word-compatible) or PDF format. You are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and Qualifications Review Board for examples and tips on preparing an effective executive resume: OPM SES Qualifications Guide. To apply, click the Apply Online button in the job announcement. You will need to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account: USAJOBS Help. Be sure to upload your two-page resume and all required supporting documents before submitting your application. You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register. SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) graduates should submit a copy of their CDP program certification with their package.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-23