Mediator (Railroads & Airlines) Job

Vacancy No. NMB-25-DE-12631381DM Department National Mediation Board
Salary $86,962.00 to $158,860.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/9/2024 Close Date 12/20/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DCLocation Negotiable After Selection


Summary

The National Mediation Board (NMB) promotes the flow of interstate commerce in the U.S. Airline and Railroad industries through mediation, representation, and arbitration of labor-management disputes.

The incumbent will be responsible for the mediation of collective bargaining disputes and, if required, research associated with employee representation for collective bargaining processes.

Duties

  • Performs any research necessary to understand the basic context of the dispute situation, the industry or field involved, the labor relations history of the parties, and all other pertinent facts or background information.
  • Works with the individual parties in order to secure information necessary to understand the basic nature of the dispute, the issues involved, and the positions of the various parties.
  • Mediates labor-management disputes involving situations which range from a moderate degree of difficulty to those which are highly complex, nationwide in scope and involve large carriers and their respective labor organizations.
  • Mediates disputes between carriers and labor organizations over rates of pay, work rules or working conditions, or over interpretations of applicable collective bargaining agreements.
  • Designs special projects including selected research activities, performing mediator support activities, participating in exchange programs, or conducting training for labor and management participants.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
  • Direct Deposit of pay is required.
  • Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

Qualifications

Only experience obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Basic Specialized Experience Requirement:

Experience in negotiating or interpreting labor agreements covering a large number of employees or a number of different crafts or classes, on such matters as wages, hours of work, and working conditions; or in mediating between, or negotiating with, management and employee representatives in the application of labor agreements. Such experience must have demonstrated all of the following:

  • Knowledge of the background history of industrialization and the labor movement.
  • Knowledge of economic, industrial, and labor trends, of current developments and problems in the field of labor-management relations, and of changes and trends in union agreements.
  • Knowledge of collective-bargaining principles, practices, and procedures.
  • Knowledge of the general structure, functions, policies, and practices of management and labor organizations.
  • Knowledge of applicable laws governing collective bargaining, wages, hours, etc.
  • Ability to deal effectively with people in tense situations.
  • Ability to preside at meetings or conferences with dignity, poise, and impartiality.
  • Ability to confer effectively with representatives of labor and management in order to obtain a clear understanding of their views on varied and difficult problems.
  • Ability to analyze the issues in a dispute and evaluate their relative importance and susceptibility to compromise.
  • Ability to formulate concrete and practical suggestions for alternative solution, compromise, and settlement.
  • Ability to write clearly and concisely.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

  • Work as a representative of a national labor organization or of management.
  • Federal or State government or other work that involved dealing with labor relations problems and collective-bargaining agreements or that involved interpretation or application of labor laws, regulations, etc.

In addition to meeting the requirements described above, applicants for positions at GS-12 and above must have:

  • Knowledge of the Railway Labor Act, as amended, and the history of railroad and airline legislation and the background of working agreements in these industries.
  • Knowledge of current railroad and airline operations and practices, and of current railroad and airline occupations and crafts or classes, and understanding of the problems arising in the interpretation and application of railroad and airline agreements.
Applicants for positions at grades GS-12 and above must have had experience that included such activities as: (1) investigating representation disputes and conducting elections to choose collective-bargaining representatives, or (2) the mediation of increases in pay rates, or (3) the mediation of changes in rules or labor agreements. To be creditable as specialized experience, the work must have demonstrated active involvement in labor-management negotiations.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

At the GS-12 level, you must meet the following qualifications: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes: experience in (1) the mediation of increases in pay rates, or (2) the mediation of changes in rules or labor agreements. To be creditable as specialized experience, the work must have demonstrated active involvement in railroad labor-management negotiations.

At the GS-13 level, you must meet the following qualifications: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes: experience in (1) mediating disputes with another mediator between railroads and labor organizations, or (2) conducting research on the industry and labor history of parties involved in a dispute under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

There is no educational substitution for this announcement.

Additional information

Telework Suitability:
The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.

Stipulations of Employment:

Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

If selected, you will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450).

Appointment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Work Schedule:

This position allows for a flexible work schedule which may include remote work subject to agency policy review and approval.

Miscellaneous:

NMB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement #12631382 using the Merit Promotion procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet the program requirements and can apply to that announcement.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.

If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For Category Rating: Once the application and assessment process are complete, qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The categories for this announcement are defined as: Best-Qualified, Well-Qualified. Your resume and supporting documentation will then be used to determine if you are qualified for this job. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the Assessment Questionnaire and any additional assessment required for this position. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be evaluated for this job based on:
  • The experience listed in your resume and how well you meet the experience listed in the qualification section of announcement and the competencies listed.
  • On-line job Assessment Questionnaire
    • Competency based scaled self-report responses
  • Subject Matter Expert - Structured Resume Review
    • Eligible and qualified candidates who meet the pre-established cut score on the assessment questionnaire will have their resumes reviewed by a subject-matter-expert to evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and competences as they directly relate to the duties of this position.
    • If your final score places you in the group of best qualified candidates, and you meet all eligibility and qualification requirements, you may be referred to the hiring official for further consideration.
You will be assessed on the following technical and soft skill competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Note: Duplicative competencies indicate that the competency is being assessed in both the Assessment Questionnaire and additional assessment.

  • Collective Bargaining/Mediation
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Technical Competency - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • Technical Competency – Labor Relations


If your final score places you in the group of best qualified candidates, and you meet all eligibility and qualification requirements, you may be referred to the hiring official for further consideration.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligible within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted, only the most current resume will be reviewed for qualifications.
2. Other supporting documents:

  • College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education or if this position has a basic education requirement
  • Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
  • Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible
  • Cover Letter, optional
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If applicable, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Failure to provide this documentation may result in a non preference determination. For more information on veterans' preference (see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/).
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices. Note: A PDF Portfolio contains multiple files assembled into an integrated PDF unit. The files in a PDF Portfolio can be in a wide range of file types created in different applications. To ensure the document is not a PDF Portfolio document, open the document and if there are multiple different documents with a variety of extensions, it is a PDF Portfolio document and will not be processed.

It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
  • You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
  • You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
  • To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • You may preview the Assessment Questionnaire at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12631381
If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Mountain Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you may request an alternate application method from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon EST on the closing date of the announcement.

Agency contact information

Dawn Craun
Address
The National Mediation Board
1301 K Street NW, Suite 250E
Washington, DC 20005
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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