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Highway Safety Specialist (State Programs Specialist)

Department of Transportation
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located within a Field Division Office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/12/2023 to 05/26/2023
This job will close when we have received 200 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$98,496 to - $142,408 per year

Salary is determined upon the location

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Phoenix, AZ
Helena, MT
Carson City, NV
Olympia, WA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Some travel is required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
FMCSA.FO-2023-0039
Control number
725323800

Duties

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As a Highway Safety Specialist (State Programs Specialist), you will:

  • Be responsible for oversight, promotion, and review of highly technical projects and programs (i.e., Commercial Driver’s License Program, Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, Intelligent Transportation System/Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO)Programs) of the agency.
  • Coordinate the CVSP amendments and reviews of reimbursement vouchers; conduct program monitoring and evaluation of each of the MCSAP program grants; and conduct a formal program review on the State’s MCSAP program at a minimum once each three-year period and process review as warranted.
  • Review and analyze MCSAP management reports, as well as self-generated specific Safetynet activity reports. Meet with the State MCSAP officials on a regular basis to discuss MCMIS, Safetynet and state’s quarterly reports, CVSP objectives and activities. Communicate daily with the States MCSAP officials (SP, DOT, DOT Inspectors) on information received from Headquarters as it relates to the program. Meet with officials to discuss State MCSAP objectives, initiatives and concerns.
  • Prepare the program review reports and monitor all activities related to the CDL program.
  • Provide expert advisory support and technical guidance to the Division for Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP); Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Program; Performance and Registration Information System Management (PRISM); the New Entrant Program; Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD); and other duties as assigned.
  • Be responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting a program review at least once every two-year period, ensuring corrective actions are taken on reported deficiencies.
  • Represent the FMSCA in interactions with persons outside the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, such as owners of major motor carriers and their employees, contractors, state and federal agency leaders and their key representatives to include the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, senior officials of the Highway Patrol, the Director of the state Department of Transportation and key senior officials involved in transportation safety.

The Ideal Candidate is a mission focused highway safety professional with knowledge of highway safety programs including road safety. Demonstrates the ability to relate to all types of personalities in challenging and, at times, contentious circumstances is essential to success.  This is a good position for a person who wants to be challenged, who possesses leadership skills, and who wants to advance within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  The safety professional should be able to provide training to State Partners and division Staff and provide extensive monitoring to the State and Federal Investigators

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for consideration.
  • You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • 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.
  • TRAVEL: Frequent overnight travel, away from the official duty station is required in order to complete assignments and perform official business.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • Position IS telework eligible.
  • Relocation is NOT authorized.
  • 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.
  • FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
  • TRAVEL: Frequent overnight travel, away from the official duty station is required in order to complete assignments and perform official business.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications.

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

  • Experience analyzing and applying regulations, precedent decisions, interpretations and issues related to motor carrier safety and Federal compliance enforcement programs, including the management of Federal grants to state partners.
  • Experience planning, managing, and/or evaluating motor carrier safety programs, including grant programs.
  • Experience interpreting and analyzing compliance laws and regulations.

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) Grants Management - Knowledge of requirements, practices, and procedures for soliciting, receiving, reviewing, and processing proposals, and awarding and administering grants and agreements.

2) Grants Management Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines - Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of grant or agreement programs, including their order of precedence

3) Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.

4) Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

5) Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

For all types of consideration, 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

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

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

This position may be responsible for the program in multiple states.

This position is perfect for a mission focused highway safety professional with knowledge of highway safety programs including road safety. Demonstrated ability to relate to all types of personalities in challenging and, at times, contentious circumstances is essential to success. This is a good position for a person who wants to be challenged, who possesses leadership skills, and who wants to advance within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The safety professional should be able to provide training to State Partners and division Staff and provide extensive monitoring to the State and Federal Investigators. 

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 

To compete with U.S. Citizens:  If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of two categories: Qualified and Well Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

To compete with other competitive status government employees: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

All applicants:  Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


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