Clarification from the agency

This announcement is for Merit Promotion (Federal Government) opportunities and also serves as a Direct Hire Public Notice to gather resumes. Vacancies are open under merit promotion to current and former Federal employees with competitive status and VEOA Applicants AND/OR applications will be accepted from All U.S. Citizens under Direct Hire Authority. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

As a Motor Carrier Safety Specialist (Border Inspector), you will:

• Plan and conduct inspections of carriers’ equipment, drivers’ documentation, insurance, and permitting during highway operations to ascertain compliance with safety and permitting standards.
• Conduct inspections of carriers’ equipment, driver’s documentation, insurance, and permitting highway operations to ascertain compliance with safety and permitting standards. Perform routine inspections at port-of-entry on commercial type vehicles (trucks and buses) to determine compliance with authority, registration, safety, and equipment system requirements. Inspections include detection of missing, worn or defective parts including braking systems; inadequate permitting and insurance; or drivers operating in excess of allowable hours of service or without the required documentation. Inspect vehicles transporting hazardous materials for compliance with all applicable shipping and handling requirements.
• Perform inspections on all types of trucks and buses for safety hazards, reviewing carrier operating authorities and insurance requirements for evidence of violations of the regulations and explaining the regulations and program requirements to carriers or drivers found to be in noncompliance.
• Research, evaluate, and interpret Federal Motor Carrier Safety and Hazardous Materials Regulations to individuals, industry, and other officials.
• Recognize vehicle defects via visual inspection or by measurement with such instruments as the tire tread gauges; detect obvious discrepancies in records; cite the applicable regulations in violation; and propose practical means of problem resolution.
• Prepare detailed written reports of inspections and investigations.

This is an ideal entry-level position for a recent college graduate with some post-graduate study, or a person seeking a second career with the Federal Government, wishing to do meaningful work to make travel on our nation’s highways safer for all who use them. Excellent inter-personal skills are required. Some customer service/customer relations experience or a demonstrated ability to relate to all types of personalities in challenging, sometimes contentious, circumstances is essential to success. The ability to multi-task and adapt to changing mission demands and requirements is also essential for success. Above average communication skills are required.

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. Overnight travel, ranging from approximately 1 to 3 weeks per month, away from the official duty station is required in order to complete training assignments and perform official business. You are also required to travel to a foreign country; e.g., Mexico or Canada, to carryout work assignments.
• 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).
• SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: You must be able to speak, read and write fluently in English and Spanish. You must meet the selective placement factor to qualify.
  
• 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.
• DRUG TESTING: You will also be subject to Random Drug Testing. Tentatively selected candidates are required to undergo urinalysis in accordance with DOT 3910.1D entitled “Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace.” Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test. 
• DRIVER’S LICENSE: You must drive a motor vehicle in order to drive to and from assigned trucking companies. You must maintain a valid State driver’s license to perform these official duties.
• 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.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1)meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration, AND (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification. You must also meet the selective placement factor 

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: You must be able to speak, read and write fluently in English and Spanish. You must meet this in order to qualify.

To qualify for the GS-05 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-04 it must include:

• Experience analyzing and evaluating factual data to interpret technical information, legal provisions, regulations, precedents, and general principles and concepts.
  

To qualify for the GS-05 on Education alone, you must have four years of education above high school.

To qualify for the GS-07 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-05 it must include:

• Experience in applying Federal and/or State safety regulations.
• Experience collecting and reviewing data.

To qualify for the GS-07 on Education alone, you must have at least 1 year of graduate-level education OR superior academic achievement.
•    **Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.
•    1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
•    2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate level education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 it must include:

• Experience in applying and interpreting the Out-of-Service criteria while conducting safety inspections to identify violations and render a commercial motor vehicle or operator out of service.
• Experience in conducting various roadside inspections of commercial trucks and buses.
  

To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

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:

• Personnel Security and Safety - Knowledge of methods and controls of personnel, public safety, and security operations; investigation and inspection techniques; or rules, regulations, precautions, and prevention techniques for the protection of people, data, or property.
• Organizational Awareness - Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
• Reading Comprehension - Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
• Writing (†) - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

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

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

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

How you will be evaluated

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

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. 

DIRECT HIRE: All applications will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran's Preference does NOT apply. All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official. Applications received under direct hire public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection. Management has the prerogative to select at any grade level.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: 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, 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.

Applicants who apply for Merit Promotion (Federal Government) consideration will also receive consideration under Direct Hire.