Executive Director, Office of Strategic Management

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 Executive Director, Office of Strategic Management, leads enterprise-wide initiatives involving strategic planning, policy development, rulemaking, financial management, human capital management, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, and organizational performance, ensuring alignment with Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) priorities and objectives. The incumbent provides executive stewardship of resources in excess of $42M and leads a geographically dispersed organization comprised of approximately 155 managers, supervisors, engineers, and support professionals, including 23 L-band and K-band managers. Directs the development, implementation, and modernization of Federal Aviation Regulations, national policies, standards, and operational frameworks governing commercial space transportation licensing, safety oversight, and regulatory compliance. Provides executive leadership in collaboration with the Office of Rulemaking and other Federal stakeholders to advance risk-informed, performance-based regulatory approaches that support public safety while enabling industry growth and innovation. Serves as or directs the Designated Federal Officer for the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, providing independent analysis, strategic counsel, and executive recommendations to the FAA Administrator and senior Department of Transportation leadership on emerging issues, risks, opportunities, and policies impacting the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. Leads the formulation, integration, and execution of AST's strategic planning, budget, acquisition, research and development, and organizational performance programs. Establishes enterprise-wide priorities and resource investment strategies that optimize mission delivery, improve operational effectiveness, strengthen organizational resilience, and promote innovation in support of the Nation's commercial space transportation objectives. Provides executive direction for workforce planning, talent management, succession planning, leadership development, recruitment, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness initiatives. Creates a high-performing, inclusive workforce culture that develops leadership capacity, enhances mission execution, and positions the organization to address evolving commercial space transportation challenges. Leads international engagements and negotiates agreements to advance U.S. commercial space transportation interests. Represents the FAA and DOT to senior global and domestic stakeholders, building strategic partnerships that promote U.S. regulatory standards, safeguard public safety, and foster a competitive, innovative industry.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you must clearly articulate and describe within your two (2) page resume evidence that you possess the Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs) and Mandatory Technical Requirements (TRs) related to this position. Your resume should include examples of experience and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications. Applicants who do not possess these criteria are ineligible for further consideration. Please do not submit separate documents addressing the Technical Requirements (TRs) and Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs), only your two (2) page resume will be accepted and considered. MANDATORY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS (TRs): TR 1: Demonstrated leadership experience establishing commercial space transportation-related policies, regulations, standards, or procedures for a federal civilian, military, or private organization. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DIMENSIONS (ELDs) ELD 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This ELD requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ELD 2: Driving Efficiency - This ELD involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ELD 3: Merit and Competence - This ELD involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ELD 4: Leading People - This ELD involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ELD 5: Achieving Results - This ELD involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Note: Applicants who are current Officers or Executives (EV-1 or EV-2 level) of the FAA Executive System (FAAES), current Career Executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent system as evidenced by an interchange agreement between your agency and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that permits noncompetitive movement of employees between the SES and your agency, individuals certified through successful completion of an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or those with Career FAAES or SES reinstatement eligibility are not required to address the Executive Leadership Dimensions (ELDs). Such applicants must provide documentation verifying eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the FAAES (e.g., SF-50, or certification from OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)). You are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications and Qualifications Review Board for examples and tips on preparing an effective executive resume: OPM SES Qualifications Guide.

Education

This position does not have an education requirement.