Transportation Program Specialist

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Many', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

This position is geographically located in a single FTA Regional Office but may be responsible for carrying out job responsibilities for multiple regions, as stated below:

As a Transportation Program Specialist, you will:

• Provide consultation to headquarters in program evaluation, systems planning and data analysis, and provides  management assistance and policy guidance to grantees to ensure they comply with Federal laws.
• Participate in the review, analysis, development and recommendation of FTA policies and serves on task forces as  necessary to develop new policies and procedures where needed or to improve existing procedures when changes occur.
• Advise grantees in developing creative solutions for operations, budgeting and planning problems. Uses judgment and  specialized knowledge to detect and subsequently resolve unique problems by developing the appropriate regional office response.
• Represent FTA through oral and written communications in meetings at Regional and Headquarters levels and in the field  with state and local officials, representatives of private and publicly owned operators, and various public and private  groups concerned with transit matters.
• Participate in planning, grant development, project management and oversight activities. 

The ideal candidate for this position  is a professional who functions independently and demonstrates leadership in team environments. The ideal candidate also has strong analytical, strategic planning, and communication skills. Experience in the oversight and analysis of transportation policy, programs or procedures is desirable. 

Conditions of employment

• 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.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority/SME will be used to fill this position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) and the specialized experience requirements.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): To qualify for this series, applicants' resume must show experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled OR have an Educational background that shows they meet the IOR for the series, as listed in the Education Section.

In addition to meeting the IOR requirement for this position, you must also meet the Specialized Experience at the Grade which you are requesting consideration. 

To qualify for the Grade 11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09, it must include:

• Experience analyzing and evaluating transportation related programs, and
• Experience utilizing methods and techniques to conduct research studies or work on projects relating to transportation.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the Grade 12, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include:

• Experience analyzing and evaluating transportation related programs and developing innovative solutions and strategies for solving problems identified in such analyses, and
• Experience utilizing methods and techniques to conduct analytical studies and/or projects relating to transit safety-oriented programs.

You cannot qualify for the GS-12 on Education alone; you must also have experience.

To qualify for the Grade 13, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

• Experience analyzing and evaluating transportation related programs and developing innovative solutions and strategies for solving problems identified in such analyses, and
• Experience utilizing methods and techniques to conduct analytical studies and/or projects relating to transit safety-oriented programs, and 
• Experience in managing projects/programs to implement strategies that advance transportation programs or policies.

You cannot qualify for the GS-13 on Education alone; you must also have experience.

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:

1. Planning and Evaluating - Knowledge of methods for researching and analyzing external products to determine their potential for meeting organizational standards and business needs.
2. Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including costs, work, and contractor performance.
3. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
4. Oral and Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

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/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/

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.

For this announcement, applications will be reviewed to determine if the applicant meets the basic qualifications for this position. The applications of individuals who meet the basic qualifications will be assessed to validate that the applicant possesses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) at the level of proficiency needed to perform the job successfully. Applicants who are found to possess the necessary KSAs to perform the job may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Next steps

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