#3517 Senior Aviation Advisor at US Dept of State - NEA-SCA/EX

Marketing Statement: THIS IS NON-STATUS, NON-PERMANENT POSITION.  YOU DO NOT ACQUIRE A COMPETITIVE OR EXCEPTED SERVICE STATUS FROM THIS POSITION. 

Duration of Appointment: 1 year renewable for up to 4 additional years.

Key Requirements:
U.S. Citizenship is required. 
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. 
Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
*Incumbent must be willing to relocate to Baghdad, IRAQ. 

Candidate Selection: Selections may be made as early as one week after the announcement is posted.  Offer will be made based upon application meeting the minimum requirements for the position. Selectee must be in Washington, D.C., by their Entry On Duty (EOD) date.

Salary: FS-02 Equivalent ($121,803 - $178,873). 

For award, NEA-SCA/EX will negotiate for this contract based on the following:

- Entry-level salary is at Step 1 of the grade range assigned to solicitation. 

- Consideration given for experience relevant specifically to the solicitation requirements.

- Level and extent of experience dictates the salary level within the grade range. 

Veteran's Preference: Veteran's preference is not applicable to this position. 

**The applicant’s resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight work experience and professional certifications related to this opportunity.  If selected for an interview applicant may be required to provide a writing sample.**

Introduction and General Purpose of the Contract

This position is assigned to U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC) located at Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq.  BDSC is the primary logistics hub supporting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and one Consulate General.

The Senior Aviation Advisor reports to the BDSC Director and is responsible for Quality Assurance oversight of aviation, airfield, and cargo operations, functions, and activities, including the following:  air traffic control (ATC) liaison, airfield management oversight; monitoring operations of airfield facilities, and the BDSC control tower; supervision of the BDSC Aviation Liaison Office; developing and formulating plans and recommendations for the BDSC Director.

The Senior Aviation Advisor will support the BDSC Director with all BDSC aviation activities and support functions.  The position is responsible for coordination of airfield resources.

The operating environment in Iraq remains a uniquely difficult challenge. The Government of Iraq (GOI) is still progressing with institution building and often changes laws, regulations, policies and procedures with little or no advance warning, negatively affecting Embassy operations.  Unlike almost any other mission in the world, Mission Iraq continues to provide full life support to a population of over 6,000 persons, including over 4,000 contractors, involving contracts in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The position reports to the BDSC Director, or the BDSC Deputy Director in the Director’s absence.  The position operates with a high degree of autonomy in planning, organizing, and assuring successful completion of assigned responsibilities, including extensive coordinating activities with a wide range of government and nongovernment organizations and exercising a high degree of judgment and initiative in anticipating BDSC short and long range management requirements and providing Quality Assurance (QA) oversight, including ensuring the most effective and efficient approaches to meeting operational needs.  The position may occasionally make decisions without higher-level review.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent performs duties and responsibilities that include but are not necessarily limited to the following:

• Serves as the principal advisor to the BDSC Director and other senior Embassy officials in identifying and implementing short and long-range operational requirements in support of S. Mission Iraq (USMI) aviation, airfield, and cargo operations at BDSC.
• Performs Quality Assurance oversight for all airfield, ground, and aviation safety best practices, aircraft operations, and flight-related deliverables
• Develops plans and procedures for airfield operations facilities and activities and recommends policy changes to BDSC Director. Implements policies through development of plans and procedures to execute assigned airfield operations Quality Assurance and oversight, in coordination with appointed contract Government Technical Monitors (GTM).
• Develops and implements operational procedures with civil authorities to ensure safe and effective civil and military air traffic and airfield management operations.  Recommends implementation of management agreements with civil authorities to BDSC and Embassy leadership.
• Supervises the Airfield Operations Advisor (AOA). Provides guidance, establishes goals and priorities.  Reviews work assignments; mentors, evaluates and addresses subordinate performance.  Identifies training needs, opportunities, and plans.  Ensures compliance with Mission policies and procedures.

Provides work direction to the BDSC Aviation Liaison Office.

• Maintains close liaison with ICAA (Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority) officials and provides Quality Assurance oversight of changes affecting airfield operations, including landing systems maintenance, airfield operations facilities, and other affected tenants concerning flight inspection activities. 
• Trains, establishes standards, and provides QA oversight, develops formal curriculums, and conducts training for entry-level and continuing airfield operations and safety courses. Conducts and manages unit training and performance standards to ensure members of the Aviation Liaison Office have required job skills.  Conducts QA to ensure operational readiness to achieve contract deliverables.   Coordinates with other agencies to ensure support resources are adequate to accomplish the mission.
• Provides QA advice on effective use of airfield operations assets, provides functional expertise and input for activating, employing, using, or deactivating airfield operations equipment, and recommends inter-operability enhancements for airfield operations facilities and adjacent ATC and aviation support functions to allow increased responsiveness and flexibility for flight operations. 
• Provides expert advice and guidance to ensure that the organization operates at optimum efficiency and effectiveness. Briefs senior management on a regular basis on operational developments, trends, and issues of significant interest.
• Devises, advises BDSC leadership on, and implements practical solutions, to a broad range of critical and complex operational issues affecting the BDSC’s ability to efficiently fulfill its roles and responsibilities in support of USMI, such as implementing the terms of memoranda of agreement/understanding and other agreements related to co-location of USG and non-USG entities and related cost-sharing for joint use of the facilities and preparing a functional information systems plan that provides for equipment/data security, communications, information technology, and audio/visual services as needed.
• Partners with the other members of the management team and with contractors and GTMs to provide effective support for the Embassy’s air operations, medical operations, regional logistics/distribution operations, transiting of Mission personnel, and other agency-specific operations. Supports the presence of several USG agencies, non-USG agencies, non-US organizations, and those organizations’ direct hire employees and contractor staff at the Support Hub. 
• Assesses the operational strengths and weaknesses of BDSC airfield, aviation, and cargo operations to advise and assist leadership in effectively recognizing and addressing operational issues, new program opportunities, and changing requirements, and in developing methods to effectively manage the dynamic nature of the logistical, aviation, medical, housing and other missions.
• Conducts numerous complex and high priority special assignments at the direction of the BDSC Director, involving research and fact-finding, to support the development of operational plans for activities of critical importance to the effective accomplishment of the BDSC’s mission.
• Provides the BDSC Director with timely and relevant data for decision-making on critical, complex, and sensitive operational issues.
• Coordinates and facilitates communications on planning and operations matters between BDSC and other offices of USMI, other government agencies, regional representatives, representatives of donor nations, and non-governmental entities.
• Ensures Aviation Liaison Office members understand and carry out assigned duties in accordance with the decisions and directions of senior leadership, including following up on decisions and ensuring the completion of required actions in a timely manner.
• Prepares reports, papers, and other documents for senior leadership, ensuring that they are well-written, fully coordinated with other affected organizations, timely, and complete, including preparation of sensitive products for Chief of Mission-level action.
• Consults with BDSC section heads, the A/COR for Aviation and Logistics, GTMs, and other managers on a regular (at least weekly) basis to discuss operational issues and to provide expert Quality Assurance in optimizing operational effectiveness. Identifies a variety of viable alternatives for meeting current and projected operational requirements.  Recommends the most feasible options and develops action plans and strategies to implement approved options.  Advises senior leadership in responding to new and emergent operational requirements.
• Works closely with the BDSC Director in planning and conducting complex, high priority special projects involving policies, plans, programs, and operations. Projects may involve highly sensitive issues and require reconciling sharply conflicting and divergent viewpoints.  Enlists the support of other staff as necessary to accomplish project objectives within established timeframes. 
• Ensures all project objectives are met and that resulting recommendations for action are sound and practical and include implementation plans. Follows up to ensure that approved recommendations are successfully implemented.
• Provides technical guidance and direction to other employees (vice contractors) assigned to the operational planning and management area.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Factor Level Descriptions

FACTOR 1: PROGRAM SCOPE AND EFFECT

The purpose of the work is to provide expert advice, guidance, leadership, and coordination in support of USG programs in Iraq. The work also involves evaluating and reporting on the short and long-term results of these programs on the overall USG mission in Iraq.  Successful performance of assigned responsibilities is of critical importance the accomplishment of USG foreign policy and national security objectives in Iraq and the Middle East.  

Factor 2: ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING

The incumbent reports to the BDSC Director, an FS-01 position.  The FS-01 position reports directly to the Baghdad Management Counselor, an FO-OC position.  This position will report to the BDSC Deputy Director (a FS-02 position) any time the BDSC Director is on leave or otherwise unavailable.

Factor 3: SUPERVISORY AND MANAGERIAL AUTHORITY EXERCISED

The incumbent will be under Chief of Mission authority and reports to the BDSC Director, who provides broad policy guidance and direction as needed. The incumbent coordinates assignments with not only the supervisor but also with senior level officials in the Department and at post, as well as senior officials in participating USG agency and foreign governments individually or jointly involved in supporting the mission.  The incumbent operates with a high degree of autonomy in planning, organizing, and coordinating efforts to assist in the development and implementation of policies and strategies to promote capacity development in the logistics management areas.  The incumbent’s actions, decisions, and recommendations are reviewed on the basis of results achieved, conformance with appropriate laws and regulations, and contributions made toward furthering the overall mission. The incumbent’s professional judgment is relied upon by senior leadership.

Incumbent supervises the Airfield Operations Advisor (AOA).  Provides guidance, establishes goals and priority, reviews work assignments; mentors, evaluates, and addresses subordinate performance.  Identifies training needs, opportunities and plans.  Ensures compliance with mission policies and procedures.

FACTOR 4 - PERSONAL CONTACTS

Contacts include Embassy and Bureau employees at all levels including senior program and policy officials; counterparts in other USG agencies in Washington and at posts; officials and staff of Iraqi ministries; contractors representing major private companies; and the Iraqi public.  Contacts are to provide advice and assistance; plan and coordinate projects; promote cooperation among USG agencies; prepare and present reports; share information across program and organizational lines; and resolve problems.  Contacts take place in meetings and conferences and also in ad hoc situations where the incumbent must exercise a high level of diplomacy and tact at all times in representing USG interests.

FACTOR 5 - DIFFICULTY OF TYPICAL WORK DIRECTED

The work involves providing substantive expertise in the planning, development, implementation, and coordination of a myriad of multi-faceted projects that support the mission in Iraq.  Decisions on the most effective approaches for planning and coordinating assigned projects are complicated by the intricacy of contracts to acquire products and services needed to support post-conflict programs; the unique nature of  programs and initiatives in Iraq; the fluid nature of the operational environment at post that requires the incumbent to make on-the-spot decisions, without consulting senior management, involving large amounts of money and having significant strategic and/or geopolitical ramifications; the reliance placed by senior USG leadership on the advice and guidance provided by the incumbent; the need to coordinate and work closely with a large number of government and non-government organizations supporting programs in the region; the need to individually, or in concert with a variety of other stakeholders, resolve critical problems and achieve difficult goals that impact on other USG foreign policy programs; and the continuing insurgency activities in the region that require frequent adjustments to plans and operations.  A high degree of resourcefulness and flexibility is needed to develop and implement new methods and approaches to meet constantly changing operational requirements.  

FACTOR 6 - OTHER CONDITIONS

The position requires deployment to a physically challenging and stressful environment.  It may require unusual physical exertion under unfavorable conditions including extremely hot, dusty conditions and air pollution, uneven and rocky terrain.  Incumbent must be able to respond to duck-and-cover alarms and run to seek cover in a protected bunker in five seconds or less.  Living conditions are basic, with somewhat limited medical care available.

Employees are sometimes required to wear a helmet and body armor that together weigh a minimum of 30 pounds.  In some areas, and depending on security conditions, these may have to be worn throughout the workday. In addition, there is sometimes the need to walk significant distances through rough and uneven terrain wearing protective armor and/or carrying equipment and work materials.  Transportation may be in off-road vehicles, armored commercial or military vehicles, helicopters, cargo aircraft or other transportation with confined seating.

Living conditions can be challenging, with sparse amenities, little opportunity for recreation and no opportunity to go off-compound for any non-work related or recreational purposes.

The work is usually performed in a basic office setting.  The work environment is arduous and potentially dangerous with long work hours.  In a conflict zone, there may be threats requiring rapid evacuation to safety.  Employees should be prepared for the risk of terrorist or insurgent attacks, kidnapping, and intrusive surveillance.

Required basic qualifications

 The incumbent must possess U.S. citizenship.

 The incumbent must have or be able to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.

 The incumbent must be able to obtain a medical clearance to work in Iraq.

 The incumbent must have or be able to obtain a valid U.S. passport.

 Familiarity with the operating environment in Iraq.