Attorney-Adviser

All Aviation Jobs; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 86,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

All Aviation Jobs in Washington, DC is seeking an Attorney (FV/H to I) to provide legal counsel on international aviation matters for the Federal Aviation Administration. The role requires a JD and bar admission, with specialized experience in international aviation law being highly valued.

The position offers full-time work with situational telework options and a TS clearance requirement, located in Washington, DC. Salary ranges from $86,134 to $160,571 with locality pay.

Qualifications

• JD Degree from an accredited law school
• Admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
• Active member of that bar
• To be considered for higher bands: demonstrate specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade in international aviation law or related areas

Responsibilities

• Provides legal advice and counsel to FAA on international aviation matters, including aviation safety and space-related issues.
• Reviews, drafts, and negotiates agreements such as technical assistance agreements and BASA with foreign governments.
• Provides policy guidance on international affairs matters related to aviation safety and air navigation services.
• Conducts legal research, assesses arguments, and communicates with clients at various levels within the agency.
• Manages workload to meet deadlines and coordinates with others as needed.

Education

JD Degree

Job description

Summary

Serves as legal counsel within the Office of the Chief Counsel, International Affairs & National Security Law Division (AGC-700), providing advice and counsel concerning a variety of national aviation security matters.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals With Disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Duties

Provides legal advice and counsel to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on all international aviation matters, including matters that arise from the operation of foreign air carriers in the United States (U.S.), the operation of U.S. air carriers overseas, the provision of technical assistance by the FAA to foreign countries, and other international aviation matters arising under federal aviation legislation.

Reviews, drafts, and negotiates agreements for the provision of technical assistance agreements, research and development agreements, and Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (BASA) and associated implementation procedures between the FAA and foreign governments.

In conjunction with other legal practice areas, provides advice and counsel regarding international affairs matters related to aviation safety, air navigation services, and commercial space. This includes a wide range of aviation safety, air navigation services, and commercial space-related matters, including but not limited to International Aviation Safety Assessments (IASAs) and Bi-lateral Commercial Space Transportation Agreements (BCSTAs).

Provides legal and policy advice and guidance to headquarters and regional offices relating to the foregoing matters, which cover a diversified and complex field of law and international, inter- and intra-governmental relations. The work involves contact with high-level officials within the FAA, the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), other executive and legislative agencies, foreign governments, and industry. Reviews regulatory and legislative proposals to ensure conformity with the authorizing statute and agency policy.

Conducts thorough legal research by appropriately identifying and analyzing relevant legal and factual issues and arguments. Assesses legal strengths and weaknesses of available arguments to provide accurate, complete, and practical legal advice and conclusions. Identifies and learns emerging issues, principles, and practices relevant to the legal practice area.

Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the agency. Adjusts communications to meet audience expectations and level of understanding. Keeps client and practice area management informed of issues and activities that may or should be discussed at a higher level. Manages workload to ensure that priorities are achieved and deadlines are met.

Participates in appropriate training and/or learning activities.

Performs full performance level assignments under limited direction. Serves as an individual contributor, team member, or project leader for routine assignments. Applies considerable experience and advanced professional legal knowledge to assignments. Performs most assignments independently. Receives direction from a manager or more experienced attorney when exceptionally difficult issues are encountered.

Based on professional knowledge, plans and carries out assignments, resolves most conflicts, coordinates with others, and completes assignments on own initiative. Independently plans use of time and resources to accomplish complex objectives. The employee is expected to complete activities within established schedules and deadlines, analyze program requirements and accomplishments, and recommend adjustments needed to address program needs.

Contacts are internal and external to the organization and the agency. Contacts are with other attorneys, agency managers, aviation industry representatives, and officials of courts.

Laws, regulations, orders, and procedures apply directly to many assignments, but the attorney possesses considerable latitude to select an optimum approach or recommend a new approach to a problem or issue. Work is reviewed from an overall standpoint for consistency and effectiveness in meeting requirements or satisfying expectations.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

• have a JD Degree from an accredited law school;
• be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico;
• be an active member of that bar; and
• To be considered for an H Band: Applicant must demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-11/FV-G) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

• Experience providing legal advice and counsel on basic or routine matters concerning international aviation law.
• To be considered for the I Band: Applicant must demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-12/FV-H) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

• Experience providing legal advice and counsel on issues concerning international aviation law, and;
• Experience representing agency/firm in international aviation law matters.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

• Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

For additional information regarding foreign education, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

• Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

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 person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation‑related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

Leave Enhancement: FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants' prior non‑Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee.

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.

NOTES

• As a part of the Federal‑Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), 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 section, 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.

• This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm
• This Level 3 (Critical‑Sensitive; Top Secret) position requires favorable adjudication of a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.
• This announcement is limited for the receipt of applications. Once at least 75 applications are received, it will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on that date, or on the initial closing date, whichever occurs first.
• Salary for each band with locality:
• H Band including locality: $86,134-$133,515
• I Band including locality: $103,604-$160-571
• Some, all, or none of the referred applicants may be interviewed.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.

Benefits

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.

Review our benefits

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

Required Documents

• resume (Two pages or less);
• proof of active membership to the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia. (Please provide bar association number(s) and verification of active status.);
• writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages in length); and
• copy of unofficial or official transcript from an accredited law school verifying JD degree.

Applicants who are or have ever been employed by the Federal Government SHOULD also upload a copy of the most recent SF‑50 (Notification of Personnel Action).

For guidance on how to create a Federal resume, visit http://www.archives.gov/careers/jobs/forms/resume-guide.pdf.

Only the documents listed above will be accepted in combination with your on‑line application. These documents MUST be uploaded or before the closing date of this announcement.

Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, missing, or illegible documents. Please DO NOT email your application documents. We cannot accept documents received via the email system. Documents sent via email will NOT receive consideration.

This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 905 series.

College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 905 series with the FAA.

College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 905 series.

If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

If you want consideration for one or more of the Special Hiring Authorities, documentation that must be submitted at time of application can be found at Direct Hiring Authorities | Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov).

Forms

• SF-15 : Application for 10‑Point Veteran Preference
• SF-256 : Self‑identification of Disability

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Agency contact information

Amber Newkirk

Phone

1 [phone]

Fax

1 [phone]

Email

[e-mail]

Federal Aviation Administration

HQ Employment Services Branch

800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523

AHF-110

Washington, DC 20591

US

Next steps

Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.

Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non‑merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision‑maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.

Overview

Accepting applications

Posted this week

• Apply by 07/20/26

Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 20, 2026

This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Washington, DC

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible

Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Salary

$86,134 - $160,571 per year

The salary listed above includes a 33.94% locality payment for the Washington, DC area.

Pay scale & grade

FV H - I

Promotion potential

NA

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.

Appointment type

Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

No

Federal service type

This job is in the Excepted Service

Drug test

Yes

Security clearance

Top Secret

Announcement number

AWA-AGC-26-92555AN-99128

Control number

875431200