Supervisory Transportation Specialist (Standards and Rulemaking Director) (Excepted Service)

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. This position is in the Excepted Service. For information on the Excepted Service, please visit: Excepted Service Appointing Authorities@ https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees#excepted-service

As a Supervisory Transportation Specialist (Standards and Rulemaking Director), you will:

• Develop a strategic approach to manage, implement and coordinate PHMSA’s pipeline safety regulatory program.
• Consider proposals from the industry, the public, and other governmental agencies, as well as needs identified through other PHP programs in developing and maintaining a regulatory program plan.
• Be primarily responsible for coordinating all proposed regulatory actions within Office of Pipeline Safety and recommend for issuance, modification, or revocation, all gas, hazardous liquid, and liquid natural gas pipeline safety regulations.
• Oversee the development, maintenance, and execution of a program to review all existing regulations and to revise or revoke those deemed ineffective in achieving intended purpose.
• Conduct public hearings in connection with proposed issuance, modification, or revocation of regulations. Maintain continuing liaison with other DOT offices, Federal agencies, pipeline operators, trade associations, state pipeline  safety personnel, gas and hazardous liquid pipeline companies, industry standards organizations, and other organizations concerning standards pertaining to the transportation of gas and hazardous liquids through pipeline and LNG facilities as well as, to obtain the input and coordination necessary to assure that the regulations represent a proper balance of safety, operating practicality, and economics and to gain information about important safety issues.

PHMSA desires a candidate with a proven record of managing a pipeline safety regulatory program related to the  transportation of natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous materials by pipeline. An individual who consistently manages and maximizes personnel potential through delegation, coaching, empowerment, and accountability. The candidate must be capable of adapting quickly to complexities and challenges and possess sound judgement and willingness to make decisions during stressful environments.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will:

• Be serving in a position in Schedule Policy/Career of the excepted service. You will obtain competitive status after two years of service in this position [if applicable]. Your employment in this position will be at-will. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals of adverse actions concerning performance, discipline, and other matters arising under chapters 23, 43, and 75 of title 5, United States Code will not be available to an individual serving in this position. Prohibitions on prohibited personnel practices will be enforced by the DOT Office of General Counsel and not the Office of Special Counsel.
• You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.  A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• DRUG TEST: This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1D 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.  
• SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

This announcement has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR).  

• Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled. 

PLEASE refer to the Education Requirements section of the announcement to review requirements for the education portion of this series.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must also meet the specialized experience requirements.

To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include:

• Experience directing or leading a hazardous materials program that includes the analysis, evaluation, interpretation, development, implementation, and application of Federal policies, regulations, and industry standards/practices related to hazardous materials transportation safety.
• Experience dveloping regulatory amendments and changes to existing guidance on the transportation of hazardous materials.
• Experience developing and preparing approval and special permit documents, position/options papers, and requests for additional information.
• Experience engaging and advising industry groups, government agencies, and the public on hazardous materials transportation issues.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):  Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Decision Support: Knowledge of Federal rulemaking concerning regulatory requirements pursuant to pipeline safety to enable the Office of Pipeline Safety to plan, develop, modernize, and maintain Federal national safety standards related to the transportation of natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous materials by pipeline.
• Labor Law: Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and Federal regulations related to transportation and safety issues to address critical environmental, safety, and regulatory issues involving broad, difficult, and complex problems.
• Manages and Organizes Information: Successfully coordinate with pipeline stakeholders in the development of regulations and standards and advocate program objectives.
• Conflict Management: Manages and resolves conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative personal impact.
• Writing: Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

For all types of consideration, 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).  Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.  You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked.

All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.

The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers.

RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application.  These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages. 

Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week,  and position titles.  If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level.  The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.

VETERANS: If you are eligible for veterans’ preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with supporting documentation, e.g., SF15, DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive credit, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).

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. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system.  You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.

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