PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Air Combat Command
Posted: February 24, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Federal Aviation Administration
Department of Transportation
Location
Salary
$64,308 - $173,980
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Other jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves applying psychology expertise to evaluate human factors in aviation safety, such as how pilots and teams perform in flight environments, through research, data analysis, and reporting.
It's based in Belgium for the Federal Aviation Administration and suits psychologists with advanced degrees and experience in human performance studies, especially those interested in international aviation roles.
A good fit would be someone with a background in clinical or counseling psychology who enjoys blending science with practical safety improvements.
Direct hiring authority for the 0180 series is being used to fill this position in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Aviation Safety (AVS) organization.
Public Notices serve as a resume repository, and positions may or may not be filled from this announcement. To view the complete qualification standard, applicants should reference the U.S.
Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Individual Occupational Requirements for the Psychology Series (0180): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/psychology-series-0180/ in conjunction with the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements in Psychology required for all specializations.
Clinical psychology and counseling psychology specializations have additional educational requirements as stated below: Clinical psychology: For positions at grades FV-H (GS-11) and above, satisfactory completion of all the requirements for the doctoral degree (Ph.D.
or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required.
Counseling psychology: For positions at grades FV-G (GS-9) and above, satisfactory completion of 2 full academic years of graduate study directly related to professional work in counseling psychology, or satisfactory completion in an accredited educational institution of all the requirements for a master's degree directly related to counseling psychology is required.
In addition to the above basic requirement(s): TO QUALIFY AT THE FV-H (FG/GS 10-12) LEVEL, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess one (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the FV-G (FG/GS 5-9) level.
Specialized Experience* may include: Experience in planning and conducting human factors evaluations or research, analyzing data collected using statistical techniques or modeling, and communicating scientific information.
OR Non-Research Positions: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D.
or equivalent doctoral degree gained from an accredited college or university may be qualifying if it provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Education must be directly related to position being filled.
OR Research Positions: Master's or equivalent graduate degree gained from an accredited college or university may be qualifying if it provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Education must be directly related to position being filled. OR Combination of education and experience may be qualifying.
TO QUALIFY AT THE FV-I (FG/GS-13) LEVEL, you must demonstrate in your application you possess one (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the FV-H (FG/GS 10-12) level.
Specialized Experience* may include: Experience designing and executing research plans, analyzing data using advanced statistical techniques or modeling, leading a research team, or communicating scientific information; and/or preparing reports and making presentations on research projects related to measuring the efficiency/performance of individuals, teams, or work unites while in training or on the job.
TO QUALIFY AT THE FV-J (FG/GS-14) LEVEL, you must demonstrate in your application you possess one (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the FV-I (FG/GS-13) level.
Specialized Experience* may include: Experience of the design and certification of advanced flight deck designs and flight displays systems in FAR 23/25/29/29 and human factors regulations/policy; developing cross-functional programs such as climate and change management; developing and conducting human factors research with aviation occupations; utilizing simulators or other specialized equipment in laboratory experiments or field settings; publishing scientific articles in referred journals; and/or presenting research to scientific and lay audiences.
TO QUALIFY AT THE FV-K (FG/GS-15) LEVEL, you must demonstrate in your application you possess one (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the FV-J (FG/GS-14) level.
Specialized experience* may include: Experience with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality lnventory-2 and other tools or testing utilized for personality assessments; standardized neuropsychological tests; Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS) program training and experience; conducting research on Air Traffic/Tech Ops Human Factors and presenting findings at national/international scientific meetings; successfully contracting complex, large scale acquisitions; and/or leading in aviation-related human factors organizations or public/private sector work groups.
*Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
NOTE: Licensure and/or board certification may be required depending on the position being filled. Applicants should provide examples of Specialized Experience in their Work History.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Major Duties:
Duties consist of professional work relating to the behavior, capacities, traits, interests and activities of human factors principles. This work may involve any one or a combination of the following functions:
experimenting with or systematically observing organisms to develop scientific principles or laws concerning the relationship of behavior to factors of environment, experience, or physiology, or to develop practical applications of findings;
applying professional knowledge of psychological principles, theories, methods, or data to practical situations and problems; and
providing consultative services or training in psycho-logical principles, theories, methods, and techniques to advance knowledge of them and their appropriate use
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