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Supervisory Transportation Specialist (Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)) SME (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Summary

This supervisory position is with the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety (National Center) in the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  In this key role, you will oversee the National Center’s business operations, project management, and staff supervision, ensuring operational efficiency and alignment with organizational goals.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/25/2026 to 03/18/2026
Salary
$143,913 to - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Lake Charles, LA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Some travel will be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Yes - Relocation expenses reimbursed.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes - 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.
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
PHMSA.PSHQ-2026-0004
Control number
858933300

Duties

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As the Supervisory Transportation Specialist, your duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:

  • Lead and coordinate programs that strengthen Federal expertise in LNG facility operations, management, and safety practices; implement initiatives that provide Federal and industry stakeholders with a central repository of resources and guidance on operational best practices; and foster collaboration across government agencies, industry partners, and public stakeholders to promote safe practices, innovative solutions, and effective regulatory activities advancing LNG safety and operational excellence nationwide.
  • Supervise 4-6 staff (GS-9 or higher). Develops performance standards, assigns work, evaluate performance, resolve informal complaints, and recommend staffing actions (appointments/promotions/reassignments/details)
  • Lead the National Center’s business operations and project management. Develop project plans, manage budgets and resource allocations, establish standard operating procedures, and implement process improvements to improve efficiency and outcomes.
  • Lead multi-agency, cross-functional initiatives. Coordinate teams, set program priorities aligned with the Director, and provide implementation support of activities consistent with program objectives and within established timelines.
  • Provide senior strategic advice on LNG operations and safety. Review documentation and proposals to advise agency leadership, stakeholders, and partners on federal LNG safety programs and policy decisions.
  • Serve as principal liaison and communications lead. Maintain networks across OPS, PHMSA, federal/state regulators, industry, and public stakeholders. Prepare reports, briefings, and correspondence materials to support program execution.

The ideal candidate for this position is an experienced manager and team leader who has developed and executed national programs that produced measurable successes and improvements. As the Supervisory Transportation Specialist for the National Center, you will supervise professional staff, lead business operations and project management, and coordinate multi‑agency initiatives to advance program priorities.  You will possess strong skills to resolve sensitive, controversial and complex topics, while assessing, identifying, and recommending solutions that balance Agency requirements with stakeholder needs. This role requires strong decision-making in advising senior leadership, excellent oral and written communication skills, proven ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholders, and a mission driven, collaborative team player.

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:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

  • 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.
  • PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT:  Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required.
  • SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • 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).

Qualifications

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

To qualify for the GS-14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include:

  • Experience in trends and conditions in the LNG industry, laws and regulations that define the Federal LNG safety programs and applying the concepts, principles, and methods associated with LNG safety.
  • Experience in program and project management techniques to optimize business operations and analyze an organization’s processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Experience serving as a team leader or supervisor, such as developing performance standards; resolving informal complaints or grievances; making recommendations on personnel actions (e.g., promotions, reassignments, details, etc.); and affecting disciplinary and adverse actions.
  • Experience developing and managing project plans, budgets, resource allocations, schedules, audits, performance, and implementation/communication plans.

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:

  • Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
  • Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
  • Communications and Media - Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Managing Human Resources - Plans, distributes, coordinates, and monitors work assignments of others; evaluates work performance and provides feedback to others on their performance; ensures that staff are appropriately selected, utilized, and developed, and that they are treated in a fair and equitable manner.
  • 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.

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/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/

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

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

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

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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. 

All applicants:  Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process.  Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed.  Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME).


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