Human Factors Scientist

Federal Aviation Administration •

Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States

Position Type: Contractor

Job Description:

This position is located in the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Safety and Technical Training, Policy & Performance Directorate, Safety Performance Group (AJI-3400). This Group is responsible for creating and managing safety performance metrics and for incorporating human performance management programs, data and efforts to maximize safety performance.

Duties

The Human Factors Scientist applies comprehensive technical knowledge of scientific principals related to human factors, industrial/ organizational psychology, safety and training to update and prioritize risk mitigation strategies that integrate human factors into the Air Traffic Organization. The Scientist performs multiple, varying and complex assignments under the minimal direction of the manager. This work is a critical area of human performance and directly affects the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System (NAS).

As a principal technical specialist, the Scientist uses experience and comprehensive technical knowledge of human performance related factors such as human performance safety investigations and taxonomies, safety culture, and human performance management to research, analyze and lead teams in identifying and assessing issues involving safety culture, training performance and human performance. Solves complex problems and develops improved technical processes, systems or safety mitigations for the operational workforce. Considers the objectives of Safety and Technical Training and the ATO when developing, integrating, and implementing solutions to diverse, complex problems. Plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports for final approval prior to external distribution. Develops and recommends innovative changes to NAS systems, equipment and procedures.

Applies knowledge of program/project management principles to define, organize, and assign resources to accomplish organizational objectives. Allocates resources to accomplish large work activities within established schedules. Has a direct responsibility for program/project management. Develops plans for technical operations human performance management programs and activities. Develops plans to facilitate program reviews to predict potential issues and proposes recommendations to mitigate risks. Investigates, collects and analyzes human factors and performance data to identifies and assesses existing or potential issues, risks, and solutions involving human factors and performance in civil aviation operations. Examines the role of environmental, social, financial, emotional, and other health and wellbeing factors on human performance. Prepares results and conclusions; writes reports and presents findings which may address topics from training, selection, change management, ergonomics, industrial organizational psychology, educational psychology, and applied cognition. Develops plans, techniques and policies to address current and anticipated training problems and issues. Leads and contributes to focus groups, workshops and programs.

Contacts are internal and external. Often represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact for human factors and performance. Communicates results to all levels internally within AJI and externally with other FAA lines of business, other governmental agencies and private industry. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies. Works across functional and/or organizational lines to coordinate significant technical matters with representatives of external organizations. Supports the development of Human Performance Standards of Excellence for the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization.

Although broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues, the Scientist is allowed considerable discretion to develop new and innovative approaches. Draws on experience to solve unusual problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations as the situation require. The Team Manager rarely reviews work typically though status reports and at project completion to ensure technical compliance and alignment with requirements of the project or other work activity. Work activities typically impact
directly on the objectives of one or more major subdivisions or LOBs/SOs and may impact on the objectives of the FAA.

Job Requirements:
Requirements Conditions of Employment

US Citizenship is required.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I, FG/GS-13 level. This experience 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 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 IS DEFINED AS:

Experience using human performance related factors such as human performance safety investigations and taxonomies to lead teams in researching, analyzing, identifying and assessing issues involving safety culture, training performance and human performance.

Experience developing techniques and plans to improved technical processes, systems or safety mitigations for the operational workforce.

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; priority 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.

Degree: Behavioral or Social Science (or related disciplines appropriate to the position); or a combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field; or four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

*Applicants who are not currently in the 101 occupational series in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive consideration for this vacancy. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

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

ALL applicants MUST submit the following:

(1) resume with complete work history; and

(2) a copy of your 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.

Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, illegible or missing 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.

Applicants claiming eligibility for the Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO), MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.
This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 101 series.

College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 101 series with the FAA.

College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 101 series.

If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

If you are a current or former Federal employee (including a current FAA employee), you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are a current Federal employee and need a current copy of your SF-50, please contact your personnel office. If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/. If you are a former Federal employee, you can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by writing the National Personnel Records Center Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL 62295. Additional information is available from this link: https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/opf.

Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO) are preference eligibles and veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active service. Applicants claiming eligibility for EVHO, MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.

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.

Salary Range: $123,884 - $192,056

Job Ident #: 817873800

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Human Factors Scientist

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