Address
Form of work
SalaryDuties
At the full performance level of a TransportationIndustryAnalyst (TIA), you may provide counsel to FRA management and colleagues regarding:
- Assessing the performance of passenger rail, Amtrak and freight rail service, including important, extensive, novel, and controversial issues.
- Promoting the stewardship of passenger and freight rail assets that are critical to Amtrak and other rail operations through the management of the Department’s, including FRA, various financial assistance programs, and participation in planning activities for rail infrastructure improvement.
- Developing, analyzing, and preparing internal and external communications regarding rail policy, and legislative and budget proposals which may be vague, complex or uncommon.
- Providing technical assistance and support to high level officials at the federal, state, and local level, railroads, and other stakeholders in advancing high-performance passenger and freight rail policy objectives and plans.
- Serving as a Contractor Officer’s Technical representative (COTR) on assigned contracts, with authority to monitor and provide technical and programmatic direction to contractors.
This position could be located in the following offices:
- Office of Amtrak and Northeast Corridor Program Delivery
- Office of Railroad Planning and Engineering
- Office of Railroad Program Delivery
- Office of Regional Outreach and Project Delivery
The specific duties of this position that will be filled through this announcement differ depending on the Office and may include:
Office of Amtrak and Northeast Corridor Program Delivery
TIAs support the agency's (1) review of long-term and annual capital, operating, and financial plans for investment in Amtrak-owned and other passenger rail assets and (2) development of policy and planning objectives for Northeast Corridor growth, Amtrak oversight, and state-supported and long-distance service. TIAs have a variety of duties, and depending on the team, TIAs may assess passenger rail and Amtrak service and financial performance; advise on and develop policy; engage with railroads, states, and other stakeholders in advancing passenger rail policy and performance; monitor and oversee federally funded capital projects; serve as subject matter experts on project planning and delivery; analyze data from reports; manage and mitigate risk; advise on quality assurance processes; assist with grant administration, coordinating with other teams to do so; assess Amtrak’s and other grantees’ financial, operational, and asset performance. TIAs often use data analysis and visualization tools to inform the Agency's policymaking and oversight of Amtrak, and to evaluate the health and performance of the national passenger rail transportation system.
(Continued under Benefits and Other Information)
The ideal candidate for this position is a highly motivated early- to mid-level transportation professional who can function independently and demonstrate leadership in team environments. Candidates must have the skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences; organizational skills; and the ability to handle multiple competing priorities, issues, and projects simultaneously. Applicants must have strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to analyze data, draw conclusions, and develop recommendations to present to a variety of audiences and knowledge in the areas of transportation or passenger rail infrastructure, policy, operations, project development or grant administration.
PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (3 month) vacancy announcement. Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications on an as needed basis. We will give equal consideration to all applications we receive. Duty locations will vary. The difference in salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/.
Requirements
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 will be used to fill this position
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
- POSITION SENSITIVITY AND RISK: Varies by position and will be based on the position to which appointed.
- SECURITY CLEARANCE: Varies by position. If applicable, you must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position to which appointed.
- BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
- GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: Travel will vary by position. If the position requires travel, a government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Varies by position and is determined by the hiring agency. If selected, a one-year or two-year probationary period may be required.
- PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection.
- REMOTE WORK: This position may be eligible for Remote Work. Remote work means the residence is the full-time official duty location. The difference in salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022/general-schedule/ . If selected for a remote work position, you must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency standards from the approved work location within the Contiguous United States and sign a remote work agreement.
- ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in the Title 5 of the Code of Regulations, section 2635 including restrictions on owing financial interest they may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulation, section 263. Please note that you may required to fila an annual financial disclosure.
Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you MUST meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. For the 2110 series, specialized experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled is required.
To qualify for the GS-11, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the following:
- Experience with assisting in the analysis of transportation policy and/or management.
- Experience providing management advice, implementing policies, procedures, explaining problems related to analytical work and program management activities, processes, and systems to employees and managers.
- Experience fostering working relationships with contacts and staff members at all levels within/outside the organization.
To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (See Education Requirements section for applicable fields).
- 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
- A LL.M., if related
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 GS-12, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the following:
- Experience applying policy initiatives, operating and/or financial data, program activities, laws, and/or regulations to provide factual/analytical information related to the Transportation Industry.
- Experience developing and presenting recommendations for transportation initiatives to decision makers or other officials.
- Experience with providing guidance on transportation or infrastructure development issues.
To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the following:
- Experience with a range of methodologies and techniques for developing comprehensive analyses and projections of Transportation Industry requirements and performance.
- Experience developing policy and demonstrating understanding of the inter-dependency of various operational, financial, economic, regulatory, and legal aspects of the Transportation Industry.
To qualify for the GS-14, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the following:
- Experience performing analytical, evaluative, advisory, or comparable work, developing policy positions relating to multi-modal transportation AND articulating those policy positions before multilateral organizations, industry groups, and/or foreign government officials as a regular and recurring part of your job with minimal supervision.
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:
- Technical Competence - Knowledge of regulations and policies within the Transportation Industry in order to advise on the departmental formulation, direction, and/or implementation of foreign and/or domestic policy of the United States involving the Transportation Industry to include the political or politico-economic nature of the United States with other governments to move people and goods.
- Administration and Management: Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production.
Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
- Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior; works with others towards an agreement; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Political Savvy - Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.
- Communications - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately; and writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner using correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling in a succinct and organized 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/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4
Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, or other fields related to the position.
or
Experience
Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience may have been gained with a carrier or shipper, carriers' or shippers' associations, transportation consulting organizations, State, local, or Federal regulatory bodies, or similar groups or organizations. Some positions may require specialized experience in a particular mode of transportation (e.g., air, railroad, motor carriers), or in a particular kind of traffic (e.g., passenger, freight), or both.
Additional information
The duties of this position that will be filled through this announcement differ depending on the Office and may include:
Office of Rail Program Development, TIAs may analyze rail policy, legislative and appropriation proposals, and Congressional activities related to rail transportation matters and within the Office of Railroad Development's jurisdiction. TIAs may also participate in drafting notices of funding opportunities, providing technical assistance to prospective applicants, evaluating applications submitted for review, and presenting briefing materials for Departmental leadership to review during selection briefings. TIAs establish performance measures to assess the effectiveness of national rail policies, plans and programs, including support to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer in development of priority performance goals and other performance measurement deliverables to DOT, OMB and Congress. TIAs oversee multi-million-dollar technical assistance programs, including development of policies, procedures, and operating procedures. The position may also lead the development of processes, procedures, technical guidance, and training materials for the Office.
Office of Regional Outreach and Project Delivery, TIAs support implementation of project delivery and provide oversight of through both the pre-award and post-award phases associated with DOT/FRA’s financial assistance programs. This may include evaluating applications submitted for review, monitoring Federal project progress and providing subject matter expertise in project oversight to mitigate risk, maintain quality assurance processes, solve issues, and ensure proper discretionary grant administration, execution, and compliance. TIAs oversee, within a regional, multidisciplinary team structure, the planning, design, project development, environmental analysis, construction and operations of all projects that involve Federal financial assistance or where there is a Federal interest to ensure effective delivery of projects. The position may also oversee regional customer outreach to foster effective multi-state compacts, and integrated network plans, projects, and programs; and leads development, capacity-building, and relationships with regional stakeholders.
RAILROAD STOCK: 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.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.
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.
(Duties continued...) The duties of this position that will be filled through this announcement differ depending on the Office and may include:
Office of Railroad Planning and Engineering, TIAs are responsible for establishing the processes, policies, and guidance for railroad planning and engineering undertaken as part of the development and implementation of railroad capital projects and corridors. They also support the incorporation of planning and engineering technical considerations into the requirements of FRA’s financial assistance programs and the evaluation of applications to those programs. TIAs prepare and oversee railroad systems planning efforts, including regional rail planning studies and the National Rail Plan. They manage, track submissions and review State Rail Plans for conformity with statutory requirements and FRA State Rail Plan Guidance. TIAs provide support as subject matter experts on specific railroad transportation analytical and planning disciplines (e.g. travel demand forecasting, station and station area planning, operations analysis, fleet planning, operations and maintenance cost estimation, financial planning, etc.) to project transportation planners serving on FRA multi-disciplinary teams participating in and overseeing the development of railroad capital projects and corridors, and in some instance may serve as the project transportation planner on projects.
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 this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational requirements. Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.
Applicants will not be rated or ranked. Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.
Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
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.
(Duties continued...) The duties of this position that will be filled through this announcement differ depending on the Office and may include:
Office of Railroad Planning and Engineering, TIAs are responsible for establishing the processes, policies, and guidance for railroad planning and engineering undertaken as part of the development and implementation of railroad capital projects and corridors. They also support the incorporation of planning and engineering technical considerations into the requirements of FRA’s financial assistance programs and the evaluation of applications to those programs. TIAs prepare and oversee railroad systems planning efforts, including regional rail planning studies and the National Rail Plan. They manage, track submissions and review State Rail Plans for conformity with statutory requirements and FRA State Rail Plan Guidance. TIAs provide support as subject matter experts on specific railroad transportation analytical and planning disciplines (e.g. travel demand forecasting, station and station area planning, operations analysis, fleet planning, operations and maintenance cost estimation, financial planning, etc.) to project transportation planners serving on FRA multi-disciplinary teams participating in and overseeing the development of railroad capital projects and corridors, and in some instance may serve as the project transportation planner on projects.
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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy. Formatted resumes can be uploaded when you arrive at the DOT application system. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/build/
TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED if you are substituting education for experience at the GS-11 level. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements.
- Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.
DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
- your most recent performance appraisal,
- the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
- your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration.
For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
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 USA Jobs 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.
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
You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (EST) 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 via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov
Agency contact information
Automated Staffing Office
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
TRANSJOBS@dot.gov
Address
DOT, FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United StatesNext steps
You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". As needed, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy. Formatted resumes can be uploaded when you arrive at the DOT application system. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/build/
TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED if you are substituting education for experience at the GS-11 level. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements.
- Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.
DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
- your most recent performance appraisal,
- the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
- your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration.
For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
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 USA Jobs 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.
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.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. Bargaining unit for this position varies. Some positions are represented by AFGE, local 2814.
