Transportation Industry Analyst - DIRECT HIRE BIL (Remote Eligible)

Duties

At the full performance level of a Transportation Industry Analyst (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. The first referral of eligible applicants will be 2 weeks from the opening date. 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.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• 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 States

  Next 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

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.