Salary : $89,033.00 to $136,771.00
Grade : 13 to 14
Perm/Temp: Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Close Date : 9/26/2011
Who may apply: Public
Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)
Job Title: Railroad Safety Specialist (MP&E) - GS - 2121 - 13 / 14 (Open to US Citizens) - BP
Department: Department Of Transportation
Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
Sub Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation
Job Announcement Number: FRA.S-2011-0057
Salary Range: $89,033.00 - $136,771.00 /year
Series & Grade: GS-2121-13/14
Promotion Potential: 14
Open Period: Thursday, September 08, 2011 to Monday, September 26, 2011
Position Information: Full Time - Permanent
Duty Locations: Washington, DC
Who May Be Considered: Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen.
This position has also been advertised under merit promotion (FRA.S-2011-0056). All current and former employees eligible for status consideration are encouraged to consider applying to the other announcement.
Job Summary:
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is responsible for ensuring safety of the Nation's passenger and freight rail operations and infrastructure by promoting safe, efficient and accessible rail transportation. The mission and focus of FRA has grown to include the design and management of an unprecedented investment in the creation of a nationwide passenger rail network. FRA is providing leadership for the creation of a more balanced transportation system, transforming the way Americans travel.
The primary purpose of this position is to provide advice and information to the Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance; Staff Director, Motive Power & Equipment Staff; FRA regional safety personnel and a variety of customers within and outside of the FRA.
This position is perfect for a mid-level professional proficient in identifying trends with strong analytical skills who can perform studies and make recommendations to improve safety. Experience should also include providing technical advice and consultation in the areas of Passenger or Freight Equipment Safety Standards, Locomotive Safety Standards, Safety Appliance Act, and all Federal regulations governing safety for passenger or freight locomotive equipment. Good communication skills are necessary.
A writing sample may be requested from applicants who are determined as qualified and referred to the selecting official.
Key Requirements:
• You must be a U.S. Citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Provide ALL required documents by closing date (see How to Apply Tab)
• Position is telework eligible.
• Announcement is also advertised merit promotion: FRA.S-2011-0056.
• Job announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 30 days.
Major Duties:
As a Railroad Safety Specialist (Motive Power and Equipment), you will be required to:
• Handle a variety of program areas, the majority of which are in the specialty areas of passenger and freight equipment and electronic appurtenances on locomotives and cars, such as rear-of-train markers, electronic displays for locomotive diagnostics, etc.
• Develop new safety regulations to cover new technology to the railroad industry in the US and direct the agency's equipment safety program.
• Coordinate complex investigative and enforcement projects involving extensive geographical areas and multi-regional activities.
• Conduct investigations and devises solutions concerning unique problems with car and locomotive construction, maintenance,operations and related user needs.
• Analyze accident reports, field inspections, carrier and manufacturers reports to determine the effectiveness of FRA safety programs and enforcement activities.
• Act as a liaison with high agency officials, railroad technical personnel and manufacturer representatives on safety problems associated with car and locomotive operation and maintenance.
• Interpret guidance, provide advice, and give recommendations relative to the enforcement of all railroad safety laws to the Division Chief, regional specialists, carriers, labor and industry,
and all involved government offices.
• Monitor violation and enforcement programs for Federal and state compliance and non-compliance to railroad safety laws, rules and regulations.
• Conduct periodic tours of FRA regions to ensure consistency of safety programs and enforcement policy and to provide advice to Motive Power and Equipment technical staff.
Qualifications:
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.
LEVEL To qualify, your experience should include at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the following:
GRADE 13 • Experience working on a team, task force, or committee that includes industry officials, labor unions, the public and state and local governments to develop practical solutions and/or recommendations to motive power and equipment safety problems.
• Experience leading and conducting special investigations and inspections involving motive power and equipment.
GRADE 14 In addition to the GS-13:
• Experience serving as an expert to provide oversight in the inspection, testing, maintenance, or repair in specialty areas such as steam locomotives, passenger cars, freights cars and/or power
brakes.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• INTERVIEW: Applicants may be required to demonstrate in a pre-employment interview that they possess the personal characteristics necessary for Railroad Safety work.
• DECLARATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT: The selectees for railroad safety positions will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
• DRUG TEST: Railroad Safety Specialists have been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation(DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1C entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace." Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.
• TRAVEL:This position requires extensive travel. The travel is a condition of employment.
• DRIVER'S LICENSE: Railroad Safety Specialists travel frequently, which requires being away from the official duty station for several consecutive nights. All railroad safety specialists are required to possess a valid state drivers license at all times while employed by the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) in order to perform the duties of their positions.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD REQUIREMENT: You must be able to obtain and retain a Government contractor-issued travel card to be used for official business as a condition of employment. If unable to obtain and/or retain a card, you may be subject to removal. Those who fail to meet this condition of employment will have our offer of employment rescinded.
• TRAVEL EXPENSES: Travel and transportation expenses will be paid if the selection results in a promotion OR for a geographical reassignment if the FRA selectee occupies a position at the same grade level that has significantly different duties from that of this position vacancy. Travel and transportation expenses will not be paid if a candidate outside the FRA is selected OR a FRA employee accepts a change to the lower grade that results in a geographical reassignment for this position vacancy.
• SENIORITY RIGHTS - LEAVES OF ABSENCE - RE-EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS: The FRA has determined that seniority rights, leaves of absence, and reemployment rights from prior railroad employment generally constitute an actual or an appearance of a conflict of interest. New employees may be required to divest themselves of such rights immediately upon hire if these rights are determined to constitute an actual or appearance of a conflict of interest. If new employees are permitted to retain such rights, which is generally the case for Railroad Safety positions, the rights must be divested at the end of the one year probationary period which begins with the date of appointment. Divestiture is a requisite to continued employment with the Federal Railroad Administration. No waivers will be granted of the divestiture requirement.
Pursuant to 5 C.F.R. Parts 2635.403 and 6001.104, all FRA employees (or spouses or minor children of FRA employees) are specifically prohibited from holding railroad stock (including shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. which owns 100% of BNSF), whether held outright, in an IRA, or in a 401(k) or other plan. (Employees may hold a mutual fund which invests in railroad stocks, so long as the mutual fund does not invest more than 30% of its assets in such prohibited investments.) Employees having a prohibited financial interest must divest themselves of railroad stock within 90 days after their appointment to their positions. Neither the rule against holding railroad stock, nor the divestiture period, is in any way affected by the existence of re-employment rights which employees might have with railroad companies. Nor is there any monetary threshold for applicability of the rule against ownership of railroad stock; all dollar amounts are prohibited. If selected, you will be subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct applicable to all executive branch employees. Selectees will be required to complete a new entrant confidential financial disclosure report (Office of Government Ethics Form 450) within 30 days of hire (except if hired between Nov.15 and Dec. 31). Thereafter, selectees will be required to annually file a confidential financial disclosure report by Feb.15 of each year, pursuant to instructions issued in early January.
• DEU REQUIREMENT: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period.
How You Will Be Evaluated:
If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If your resume does not support the specialized experience or if your application does not support your answers to the Vacancy Specific Questions, your final rating may be modified and/or you may be disqualified from consideration.
Benefits:
Benefits include health and life insurance, annual and sick leave, and retirement benefits. This position is telework eligible.
Other Information:
Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
How To Apply:
You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
• To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
• Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
• You may review your saved application(s) at https://my.usajobs.gov.
If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET) at (202) 366-1298. You may also email us at Transjobs@dot.gov.
Required Documents:
The following documents must be provided by the close date:
• RESUME - showing relevant experience and education and fully supporting required specialized experience.
• COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE.
• VETERANS - In order to be considered as a preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214 . Your DD-214 need not be official but must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability.
• SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS- If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility (e.g. military spouse or persons with disabilities), you must provide appropriate supporting documentation such as PCS orders describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability, etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments. Documents are only required if requesting non-competitive consideration.
• DISPLACED EMPLOYEE PLACEMENT DOCUMENTS - Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP /ICTAP . You must submit ALL of the FOLLOWING: your most recent performance appraisal, the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency and your most current SF-50 , displaying current series and grade . To receive priority consideration, you MUST be deemed well qualified for this vacancy (falling in the Gold Category).
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
Contact Information:
Automated Staffing Office
Phone: 202-366-1298
Fax: 571-258-4052
Email: TRANSJOBS@dot.gov Agency Information:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, DC 20590
Fax: 571-258-4052
What To Expect Next:
You may check your application status into by logging into your USAJOBS account. Within two weeks of the closing date, your application will be reviewed and rated. The most highly qualified candidates in the top group will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring manager will contact you directly. Once a hiring decision is made, we will notify all applicants of their final status.
EEO Policy Statement: http://www.usajobs.gov/eeo
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: http://www.usajobs.gov/raps
Veterans Information: http://www.usajobs.gov/vi
Legal and Regulatory Guidance: http://www.usajobs.gov/lrg
Control Number: 2384236
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