Summary
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Branch Manager for the Suitability Adjudication Branch in AHL-130. Incumbent will be responsible for the overall strategic and operational management of the FAA's Suitability Program. This includes compliance, timelines for background investigations, pre-employment checks, suitability determinations, and directing a team of technical specialists. This position will be subject to the AHR reorg and duties may be subject to change.
Duties
Provides comprehensive management, oversight, and administration of the agency's federal suitability program, ensuring strict alignment with OPM's 5 CFR Part 731 requirements, Executive Orders, and internal FAA security protocols. Enforces operational frameworks and workflows to guarantee that all background investigations, pre-employment checks, and suitability adjudications are initiated, tracked, and completed within mandated agency and OPM timelines. Monitors and reports on branch-wide performance metrics, ensuring that processing timelines are met and backlogs are prevented. Directs the continuous evaluation of program processes, implementing streamlined workflows and incorporating automated screening and tracking technologies to improve efficiency and accuracy. Personally reviews, evaluates, and makes/recommends final determinations on highly complex, sensitive, or high-profile suitability cases, applying OPM's specific suitability factors and additional FAA security considerations. Provides authoritative second-level review and quality control (100% check) of suitability recommendations made by subordinate specialists, ensuring consistent application of adjudicative guidelines, evidentiary standards, and legal sufficiency. Defines and manages formal communication protocols and procedures for issuing letters of inquiry, notices of proposed action, and final decision letters to candidates and employees. Represents the agency in coordinate efforts with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Chief Counsel, and the Security and Hazardous Materials Safety organization (ASH) regarding complex appeals, administrative hearings, or litigation arising from negative suitability actions. Identifies, designs, and implements comprehensive training plans and mandatory certification curricula needed for subordinate technical experts to perform federal suitability adjudications. Provides expert advisory and consultative services to FAA senior leadership and hiring managers across all Lines of Business/Staff Offices (LOB/SOs) on complex suitability requirements, applicant background issues, and security risk assessments. Monitors federal regulatory updates, OPM directives, and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) rulings to determine their degree of impact on existing suitability practices; develops and updates local operating policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure continuous legal compliance. Directs, coaches, and supervises a team of professional Human Resources Specialists (Suitability) and support staff. Establishes performance plans, monitors progress and conducts formal annual performance evaluations. Structures and assigns workload priorities, ensuring balanced distribution of cases among the team based on complexity and specialist capability. Performs critical administrative supervisor functions, including approving leave, initiating award nominations, addressing employee grievances, and executing appropriate corrective or disciplinary actions when required.
Requirements
We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.
Education
Education cannot be substituted for experience.
How you will be evaluated
IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.