The position serves as a transportation advisor performing work involved in planning, directing, coordinating, and executing a wide range of grant program services and grants management process improvement for FHWA. The position uses knowledge of the Federal highway transportation program processes to provide advice and guidance to the Discretionary Grants Program Manager in the development and implementation of policies for the office’s grants activities.
Summary
The position serves as a transportation advisor performing work involved in planning, directing, coordinating, and executing a wide range of grant program services and grants management process improvement for FHWA. The position uses knowledge of the Federal highway transportation program processes to provide advice and guidance to the Discretionary Grants Program Manager in the development and implementation of policies for the office’s grants activities.
FHWA-wide employees with competitive status only.
This announcement is being advertised under the FHWA's Alternative Duty Location (ADL) Program and can be filled in any one of the approved ADL locations listed on this announcement.
This is not a Bargaining unit position.
Serve as an advisor in development of a comprehensive grant management system of policies, procedures and guidelines, protocols, and requirements. Provide advisory service to the Discretionary Grants Program Manager/Team Leader, in support of improving the efficiency of grant activities involving cross-functional interaction with HAD and all stakeholders to include FHWA program offices, Division/Field offices, recipients, and supported Office of the Secretary (OST) offices.
Coordinate and monitor the status of the Federal-aid discretionary grant projects to ensure the projects are developed and constructed in accordance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies. Engage in management, planning, policy, and decision-making functions for the transportation discretionary grant programs. These activities may be in response to legislative changes, technology improvements, or changes in government policies and procedures involving Federal transportation programs, Departmental grant management, and grant considerations.
Coordinate with the Discretionary Grants Program Manager on developing procedures, standards, and methods for FHWA policies, orders, and procedures for grant program operations. When appropriate, recommend for development, and new or modified policies and procedures and develops under direction of leadership. Provide technical guidance and assess the programmatic aspects of grants planning and strategy to the DG Program Manager, team members, and program officials to ensure project plans and milestones effectively integrate grants activities and timelines with project schedules, goals, objectives, fiscal requirements.
Manage the coordination and development of all required documentation to support the review process for discretionary grant program activities. Provide policy expertise and problem-solving to unique and complex situations.
The ideal candidate is an experienced mid-career professional with knowledge of transportation principles and discretionary grants administration methods and practices. Would have a through understanding of Title 23 and 2 CFR 200 to interpret laws regulations, policies and procedure and provide guidance and direction on assigned discretionary grants programs and projects. Has demonstrated the ability to collaborate across offices.
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.
TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position is approved for occasional telework. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor, and if applicable, approval of additional officials. You are required to report to the office on a regular basis since this is not a full-time telework position, or approved as a remote work position.
Qualifications
For the 2101 series, specialized experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled is required.
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. You will be asked related questions as part of your application, but you need to verify how you meet the specialized experience in your resume and applicable documentation or you may be deemed ineligible.
For the GS-13:
On Experience, you must have at least one year of experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level, which included:
Experience managing projects/programs to implement strategies that advance transportation programs or policies with an emphasis on environment, design, safety, project management, financial management, contract/administration/innovative contracting, procurement, and/or construction operations; AND
Experience in defining transportations problems and recommending solutions.
For the GS-14:
On Experience, you must have at least one year of experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level, which included:
Experience independently developing and managing projects/programs or leading teams to implement strategies that advance transportation programs or policies with an emphasis on environment, design, safety, project management, financial management, contract/administration/innovative contracting, procurement, and/or construction operations; AND
Experience in formulating and advancing agency goals or project/program management using discretionary grants administration methods, principles, and practices in the role of Federal, state, and local government to help advise on transportation grant management programs.
You cannot qualify based on education, you must meet the specialized experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will also be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
Transportation Technical Assistance - Expert knowledge of transportation principles and practices used in developing highway improvement projects, with emphasis on environment, design, safety, project management, financial management, contract administration/innovative contracting, procurement, and construction operations.
Program Management (Grants) - Advanced knowledge of grant administration methods, principles, and practices and the role of the Federal, state, and local governments sufficient to plan, evaluate and advise on transportation grant management programs.
Communication - Skill in communication to provide executive advisory service in support of grants grant projects, prepare reports, and formulate new guidance and templates. Skill in communicating in order to serve as a spokesperson for FHWA with discretionary grant officials and other stakeholders; negotiate with and propose ideas to partner agencies; forge and foster Federal and non-Federal partnerships, both formally and informally to effectively achieve surface transportation objectives; and summarize and present findings to a variety of audiences.
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.
All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Additional information
This announcement is being advertised under the FHWA’s Alternative Duty Location (ADL) Program and can be filled in any one of the approved ADL locations listed on this announcement. Locations listed in this announcement are subject to change based on space availability.
PLEASE NOTE: Salary will be adjusted in accordance with the locality pay for the specific area.
Under this program, relocation assistance is not available to applicants residing in any one of the ADL locations. Employees who are not eligible for relocation because they reside in one of the advertised locations may apply for positions in other advertised duty locations; however, if selected, they must move themselves to the locations at their own expense.
Positions under the ADL program have several unique requirements, such as remote supervision, the required signing of an ADL agreement, and possibility of increased travel.
Applicants are responsible for selecting the locations in which they want to be considered.
Applicants will be considered based on their qualifications for the position as represented in their application for the position.
Additional specifics regarding the ADL Program are located on Staffnet under April 2022 Alternate Duty Location Program Guide found at http://intra.fhwa.dot.gov/had/adl/index.htm.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
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.
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.
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.
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. In eligibility question 14: select Yes/Other/Former Incumbency of a Position brought into the Competitive Service. 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.
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.
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.
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.
RESUME - All applicants must provide a resume created within USA Jobs Resume Builder, that shows relevant experience, education and support the required specialized experience. Formatted resumes can by uploaded later in the application process.
FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50. Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks’ time-in-grade requirements for a promotion.https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/service/SF-50/
PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application. To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).
If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP):
your most recent performance appraisal,
the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL 3 documents and meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) to be considered under CTAP.
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 USAJobs 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:
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.
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
DOT, FEDERAL HIGHWAY 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"). Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. Qualified candidates will be assigned a category, not including points that may be assigned for veterans' preference. If the vacancy is advertised under status, your application will be scored on a scale between 70 - 100. The most highly qualified candidates are then referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. 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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
RESUME - All applicants must provide a resume created within USA Jobs Resume Builder, that shows relevant experience, education and support the required specialized experience. Formatted resumes can by uploaded later in the application process.
FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50. Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks’ time-in-grade requirements for a promotion.https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/service/SF-50/
PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application. To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).
If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP):
your most recent performance appraisal,
the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL 3 documents and meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) to be considered under CTAP.
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 USAJobs 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:
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.
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
DOT, FEDERAL HIGHWAY 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"). Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. Qualified candidates will be assigned a category, not including points that may be assigned for veterans' preference. If the vacancy is advertised under status, your application will be scored on a scale between 70 - 100. The most highly qualified candidates are then referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. 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.