Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens.

Specifically, the Director, Office of Railroad Infrastructure and Mechanical will provide executive oversight of the motive power and equipment, track, rail integrity, and bridge inspection, enforcement, and accident investigation technical areas. As a senior member of the Office of Railroad Safety leadership team, the Director is a primary source of executive advice and leadership for technical standards, policies, and enforcement.

As Director, Office of Railroad Infrastructure and Mechanical, you will:

• Ensure coordination of safety enforcement policy and technical support within the Office of Railroad Safety, with other FRA offices and DOT Operating Administrations, and with top-level railroad officials and industry/labor associations/committee executives. Keep abreast of technological advances and maintain a continuous cognizance of current industry conditions.

• Oversee the enforcement of regulations related to railroad safety as prescribed by Federal laws and formulate policy for programmatic and technical aspects of discipline-specific operations and their integration with all disciplines within the Office of Railroad Safety.

• Ensure that FRA’s inspectors in the applicable disciplines are trained, resourced and managed to perform their safety compliance and enforcement roles.

• Lead implementation of FRA regulations through the preparation and upkeep of inspection manuals and the management of field inspection staff, including directing resource allocation systems, workload projections, and inspection coverage standards designed to optimize the utilization of staffing in achieving safe practices in the railroad industry.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Provide all required documents by closing date.
• A Secret clearance is required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Complete a one-year SES probationary period (unless already completed).
• FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Complete a Public Financial Disclosure report, OGE-278. You will need to provide the information annually.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), you must clearly articulate and describe within your five (5) page resume evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity.  Your resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of this position and meet the mandatory Technical Qualification(s) and Managerial Executive Core Qualifications listed below.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Below are the descriptions of the mandatory technical qualifications for this position. Your  five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet these technical qualifications. 

1. Demonstrated knowledge of and management experience with the safety assessment of railroad equipment and components, track structures, and operation practices.

2. Demonstrated leadership experience formulating program goals and objectives related to transportation safety, rules and regulations to enhance the safety culture, assure safety compliance, and improve the safety record of transportation systems.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Below are descriptions of the mandatory ECQs that are required for all SES positions. Your  five (5) page resume must provide information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the 5 ECQs.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating

FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.

Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website.

You are strongly encouraged to review OPMs Guide to SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements and executive resumes.

How you will be evaluated

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

An SES reviewing panel will evaluate your application based on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Applicants  determined to be highly qualified may undergo an interview and a reference check and and may also be asked to submit a written 10-page narrative statement addressing each of the ECQ areas.  If you are contacted for a second-round interview, you may be asked to submit a written narrative statement addressing each of the ECQ areas (Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, Building Coalitions). If selected, your written narrative statement addressing the ECQs must be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless you are a current SES executive or have successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program. You must receive certification before you can be appointed to the position.

All applications must be completed and submitted electronically no later than midnight ET of the closing date. Final reviews will be performed after the announcement closing, and timely notice of the status of your application will be emailed to you. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and selecting Application Status.