Assistant Chief Counsel for Airports and Environmental Law

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is where innovation meets purpose. We ensure the safety and efficiency of the nation's aerospace system, overseeing air traffic, advancing cutting-edge aviation technologies, and shaping the future of flight. Our mission is to deliver the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. Join a team where your work has real impact, your ideas drive progress, and your career helps keep millions moving safely every day.

Duties

• The Assistant Chief Counsel for Airports & Environmental Law provides executive direction and oversight for all aspects of legal services supporting the agency's activity on airport and environmental matters, including relationships with state and local governments. Specifically, the Assistant Chief Counsel for Airports and Environmental Law provides legal advice concerning policies, procedures, and rulemaking for airports law, airport planning and programming, federal grants and other funding, airport compliance, air traffic procedures and modernization, commercial space transportation activities, and unmanned aircraft systems. The Assistant Chief Counsel works with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to represent the FAA in federal court litigation concerning airport and environmental law matters. The incumbent executes these duties and responsibilities through a geographically dispersed organization of approximately six managers, 20 attorneys, and support professionals. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Directs the planning, policy development, and execution of FAA's airports and environmental law programs, ensuring legal sufficiency and alignment with the priorities of the FAA Administrator and Chief Counsel. Serves as the subject matter expert and provides strategic legal advice and counsel on airports and environmental law matters. Renders authoritative legal opinions and interpretations of FAA airports and environmental authority and policies, ensuring consistency with applicable statutes, Executive Orders, and Department of Transportation and FAA policies. Oversees all legal aspects of FAA's airports and environmental law programs across headquarters and regional offices, including litigation, training, policy formation, and evaluation of legal services provided to client offices. Provides expert legal advice on complex airports and environmental law matters and related strategic initiatives, including the Airport Improvement Program, Passenger Facility Charge Program, Airport Compliance Program, airport noise and access restrictions, environmental impacts of airport development and airspace initiatives, and commercial space launch activities. Leads and manages the Airports and Environmental Law Division, establishing objectives and strategies; directing subordinate managers and attorneys; allocating resources and workload; evaluating performance; and fostering employee development, organizational effectiveness, and a positive workplace culture.

Requirements

We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

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. Education: Must have earned at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school; and Bar Membership: Must be an active bar member in good standing (as defined by the relevant bar) of any U.S. jurisdiction, state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.