Mediator (Railroads or Airlines)

At the GS-13:

Mediates labor-management disputes involving situations which range from a moderate degree of difficulty to those which may be highly complex, nationwide in scope and involve large carriers and their respective labor organizations.

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. Determines actions or basic approach to be taken.

At the GS-14:

Trains and mentors GS-13 mediators for six months to prepare them for handling complex disputes and dynamics using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services to address labor relations issues in accordance with the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

Possesses expertise in various mediation techniques, using in-depth knowledge of parties' backgrounds, relationships, prior agreements, and ongoing issues to aid in dispute resolution.

Designs special projects aimed at improving the Board's services through research, mediation support, exchange programs, and training for labor and management participants.

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.
• This position may require extensive travel and irregular duty hours.

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-13 level, you must meet the following qualification:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies 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: Demonstrated expertise in the historical development of industrialization and the labor movement, with experience analyzing current labor-management economic trends and shifts in union agreements; Demonstrated expertise in collective-bargaining principles, management functions, and labor-organization structures, with experience with laws governing collective bargaining, wages, and hours; Demonstrated experience applying effective interpersonal skills to manage tense or sensitive situations, lead meetings with dignity and impartiality, and engage constructively with both labor and management to understand and address complex issues.

At the GS-14 level, you must meet the following qualification:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies 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: Demonstrated expertise in the history of industrialization and the labor movement, alongside applying insights into economic, industrial, and labor trends, as well as current issues in labor-management relations and evolving union agreements; Demonstrated extensive expertise of collective-bargaining principles and procedures, management and labor organization functions, and relevant laws governing wages and hours; Extensive experience applying interpersonal skills effective in tense situations, fostering dignified and impartial meeting environments, and engaging with both labor and management representatives to comprehend and explain diverse and complex issues; Extensive experience with effective team management skills, including mentoring and training, promoting individual growth and enhance team dynamics, leading to greater productivity and collaboration.

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.

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, and 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.

Once the application process is complete, your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and any applicable assessment required for this position. Cheating on the online assessment may 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.
• 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):

Collective Bargaining/Mediation, Creativity and Innovation, Oral Communication, Problem Solving, Technical Competency - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and Technical Competency – Labor Relations

Note: Duplicative competencies indicate that the competency is being assessed in both the Assessment Questionnaire and additional assessment.

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).

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.

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

2. Other supporting documents:

• 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/).
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/

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