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Supervisory Highway Safety Specialist (CDL Program Manager) - SME

Department of Transportation
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Summary

This position is in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Office of Safety Programs within the Midwestern Service Center area locations. As a Supervisory Highway Safety Specialist, you will perform duties related to the development and administration of the commercial driver’s license program, specifically the management and oversight of the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) grants, within the CDL Division of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/25/2026 to 04/03/2026
Salary
$125,776 to - $182,790 per year

Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/general-schedule.

Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Ames, IA
Des Plaines, IL
Matteson, IL
Springfield, IL
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
25% or less - Some travel is required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
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
FMCSA.S-2026-0003
Control number
862390800

Duties

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As a Supervisory Highway Safety Specialist (CDL Program Manager), you will:

  • Provide leadership and supervision to Midwestern Service Center level CDL specialists in the development and delivery of multifaceted transportation safety programs through geographically dispersed technical program management staff and represents the FMCSA in dealing with Federal, State, and local government officials and industry representatives on driver safety and CDL program matters.
  • Coordinate the development and implementation of a broad transportation safety program within the geographical assigned area focused on commercial driver qualifications, licensing issues in State and Federal criminal justice systems, and State licensing operations.
  • Establish a collaborative program management relationship between Headquarters, the Service Center, and Division Offices to ensure day-to-day operations and programs are implemented consistently, program and controversial issues are effectively resolved with management and staff to ensure FMCSA’s safety objectives are accomplished.
  • Provide program guidance, recommendations, and direction to technical and program staff on regulatory, policy, and procedural matters.
  • Lead Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) driver safety program planning and evaluation efforts; and provides guidance and direction in the completion of program reviews evaluating State effectiveness and compliance with CDL program regulations, policies, and procedures.

The ideal candidate is a professional with knowledge of the commercial driver regulations, and skilled in the overall management of grant programs, with emphasis on managing grants to States, local governments, and non-profit organizations, and the continuous review and monitoring of internal controls and grantee performance to ensure effective program delivery, compliance with applicable regulations and policies, and elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse.

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.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory 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.

Qualifications

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

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

  • Experience with motor carrier programs with emphasis on motor carrier enforcement and applicable regulations.
  • Experience in evaluating State compliance with CDL regulations, driver qualification programs, and CMV transportation safety programs, including interpretation of complex data, policy, legislation, regulations, procedures, requirements, technological advancements, and/or strategies.

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:

  • Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.
  • Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
  • 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.
  • Strategic Thinking (*) - Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy. Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long-term perspective. Determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.


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.

Education

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. 

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).


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999.

Our primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

FMCSA is headquartered in Washington, DC. We employ more than 1,200 individuals, in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, dedicated to improving bus and truck safety and saving lives.

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 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 #6 in the 2023 best places to work in the Federal Government!

Agency contact information

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

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