Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens.

This position is one of the Technical Centers at Volpe whose function is to undertake transportation analysis, research and system development that contributes to a compelling vision of the 21st Century transportation enterprise and supports decision making in the development, management, operation, and financing or an integrated multimodal national transportation system that meets 21st Century mobility needs for goods and people.

• The Director for Communications, Navigation, Surveillance Systems and Engineering provides executive leadership and strategic direction over programs by developing plans and policies ensuring that projects for sponsoring organizations are properly identified, formulated, staffed, conducted, and managed to support and advance the strategic goals of the DOT and OST-R as they pertain to transportation communications, navigation and system operations.
• The Director oversees existing programs, develops and prototypes new systems and operations programs and ensures technical excellence within the staff and programs of the Volpe.
• Maintains and applies internationally recognized capabilities in communication, navigation, surveillance, operations management, and associated information technology and data science disciplines to enhance the capacity, safety, and security of current and next generation transportation systems
• Leads assessments of new and advancing technologies for applicability, integration, and deployment to meet emerging transportation needs, problems, and opportunities; and develops strategies to translate and apply those technologies to sponsors.
• Manages the development and deployment of strategies and systems for national airspace system enterprise information sharing, air traffic management systems engineering, and new entrant integration, including ground-based detect and avoid for remotely piloted aircraft, and leverages these efforts to other transportation modalities.
• Formulates program development plans for the Communications, Navigation, Surveillance Systems and Engineering Technical Center to maximize involvement in and support of the highest priority issues on the national transportation agenda, including work in all DOT Operating Administrations; other
  Federal, state and local agencies; and international organizations.

The ideal candidate would have an engineering or research background.

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.

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.
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: Must obtain & maintain a Secret Clearance.
• DRUG TESTING: Position is subject to a pre-appointment and random drug testing.

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. 

TQ 1 : Demonstrated experience and expertise leading applied research, technology and demonstration projects, ideally as an engineer/scientist, in one or more areas of transportation operations and systems, including communication, navigation, surveillance, and aviation and/or surface-based traffic control safety and security. Demonstrated experience in envisioning and developing new operational and/or supporting transportation systems through collaboration with transportation leaders in government, industry, and academia.

TQ 2: Demonstrated executive management and leadership experience in a large government, not-for-profit, or private sector professional sciences organization that focuses on innovations in transportation infrastructure systems and technologies, including directing and managing technical staff responsible for applied research and development programs; managing significant program budgets; adjusting organizational structures to meet program needs; and leading/collaborating both horizontally and vertically to ensure the delivery of programs, products, and services while meeting time, budget, and customer
requirements.

TQ 3: Demonstrated experience in a fee-for-service or similar environment developing sponsored work opportunities and ensuring successful business relationships with clients, including successfully attracting funded programs from the customer; ensuring all the business needs of the customer were met; and facilitating discussions between research and development managers and customer leaders to define future opportunities, strategies, and plans and develop funded programs.

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.

A Senior Executive Service (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 multiple interviews.  The best qualified applicant will be asked to submit a written 10-page 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.