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Director, Office of Automation Safety

Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) primary mission to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes through the development and implementation of effective education, research, safety standards and enforcement policies and programs. NHTSA is charged with writing and enforcing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as well as standards for motor vehicle fuel economy.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 12/08/2023
Closed date: 01/22/2024
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Yes, As Determined by Agency Policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$141,022 - $203,550 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Promotion potential
00
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Permanent
Travel Required
25% or less - Occasional travel is required.
Appointment type
Permanent - Career
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Senior Executive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
NHTSA.SES-2024-0001
Control number
764746900

Duties

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The Director, Office of Automation Safety, serves as the principal advisor to the Associate Administrator for Rulemaking on the promulgation of regulations, establishment of Federal motor vehicle safety standards, and the development and management of exemption petitions and special programs related to motor vehicles equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS).

  • Participates fully in NHTSA policy determination and program formulation. Directs subordinate technical managers and other staff to evaluate and act on applications for ADS exemptions, special programs, and deployments, and amend and develop ADS safety standards and regulations.
  • In coordination with the Associate Administrator for Rulemaking, initiates, reviews and approves promulgation of notices of proposed rulemaking, and recommends final rules dealing with exemptions, special programs, regulations, and standards for vehicles equipped with ADS.
  • Provides public industry with information regarding the exemptions, special programs, and rules, regulations and standards for vehicles equipped with ADS as appropriate.
  • In coordination with the Associate Administrator for Rulemaking, represents the Office, Agency, and Department in dealings with safety organizations, professional societies, Federal interagency, State groups, and foreign organizations concerning issues involving the promulgation of motor vehicle regulations and standards for vehicles equipped with ADS.
  • Acts as a widely recognized authority in motor vehicle rulemaking and standards development to exercise delegated authority to conduct conclusive negotiations and make program commitments for the Agency with respect to these matters.
  • Advises the Associate Administrator for Rulemaking and senior management team on the organizational, human resources, and budgetary parameters necessary to assure the success of the rulemaking phase of the Agency’s commitment to national highway safety related to vehicles equipped with ADS.

Requirements

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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.

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 executive experience with and broad knowledge of the Federal authorities and processes for the development and promulgation of standards and policy related to advanced technologies.

TQ 2: Demonstrated executive level experience in working efficiently through subordinate managers on complex transportation 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.

Additional information

Retirement/Pension Plan - You will be covered by a defined benefit, contributory Federal retirement system that provides benefits for both normal retirement (with as few as 5 years of civilian service) and for circumstances that might occur earlier, such involuntary retirement because of disability.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) - You may participate in a retirement savings investment plan that offers before-tax savings and tax-deferred investment earnings. For more details, please visit the TSP website

Employee Assistance - Employees and their immediate families can take advantage of free confidential counseling with health professionals as part of the Federal Employees Assistance Program.

Transit Benefits - We subsidize up to $280 of mass transit commuting costs each month.

Information related to performance, suitability, and security will be verified. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a Bargaining union position.

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.


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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation.  As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome.  If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is ranked #7 in the 2021 best places to work in the Federal Government!

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office
Phone
000-000-0000
Email
TRANSJOBS@dot.gov
Address
DOT, NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States

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