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Transportation Specialist- (Multimodal Freight and Infrastructure) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Summary

The Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy coordinates freight policy across USDOT operating administrations, serves as a liaison to federal agencies on supply chain matters, oversees freight research, and provides technical assistance to State and local governments on freight planning. The Office is liable for the National Freight Strategic Plan, National Multimodal Freight Network, State Freight Plans review, and supports DOT’s freight infrastructure investment programs.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this month · Apply by 07/09/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 9, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
14
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Travel Required
25% or less - Some travel maybe required.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes - This is a Bargaining unit position represented by AFGE Local 3313.
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
OST.F-2026-0002
Control number
873604900

Duties

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As a Transportation Specialist, you will:

  • Serve as point of contact and lead and perform liaison work for projects designated by senior members of the office to improve freight transportation efficiency requiring keen attention to detail, professional acumen, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Proactively market programs of OST-F and supporting special projects requiring research or outreach and partner with stakeholders to build understanding of the programs featured in the Department designed to facilitate efficient mutlimodal frieght operations.
  • Analyze and research specific mutlimodal freight related topics in support of policy development to support policies, procedures, legislation, proposals, techniques, and technology in the transportation sector. Make decisions and actions impacting international orgranizations and other Federal Agencies and make decisions on resource commitments and resolve idifferences between key officials as necessary.
  • Plan, implement, and monitor programs and activities; interface with officials throughout the Department and other agencies; work closely with senior officials to develop program objectives and monitor progress of program development and achievement.
  • Respond directly to requests from external organizations for general information or official comments on a specific topic by either providing the information after careful review and analysis, or by developing with senior staff a fully clear and coordinated DOT response.
  • Conduct and lead studies and analysis for planning, formulation, developing and implementation of policies involving all modes of transportation as it relates to multimodal freight programs and activities, and serve as a subject matter expert in the planning and implementation of programsn designed to promote transportation cooperation between the United States and industry.

The ideal candidate: OST is looking for a seasoned, motivated and self-reliant professional with expertise in planning, implementing, improving, and outreach of multimodal freight programs to support DOT's investment transportation systems across the globe. This position is in the DOT building, which sits directly across the street from the Metro and a few blocks away from the National's Baseball stadium. OST has flexible work schedules and flexible health benefits.

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.
  • 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 qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

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 planning and/or conducting analytical studies assessing freight transportation programs/projects (e.g., global commerce, services, supply chains, economic growth, technology transfer, freight infrastructure investment,etc.) to improve effectiveness and efficiency OR researching, identifying, and assessing the economic impact of freight transportation programs OR analyzing the effects of existing or proposed regulatory/policy alternatives affecting freight transportation involving public policy issues; AND preparing written analytical reports that address the consequences of adopting them as a regular and recurring part of a job with minimal supervision.

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:

  1. Technical Competence (Transportation)- Uses knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or godd by air, rail, sea, or road including costs and limits that are 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.
  2. Stakeholder Management- Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and techniques used to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a work effort; including those actively invloved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who havea vester interest in the outcome (positive or negative).
  3. External Awareness- Understands and keeps up to date on local. national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; is aware of the organization's impact on the external environment.
  4. 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 organizationto accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
  5. Political Savvy- Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly. 

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.

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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Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Working at the U.S. Department of Transportation

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As we usher in a Golden Age of Transportation, DOT values a results-oriented, high-performing workforce dedicated to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and a safe, collaborative environment. If you want to build big, beautiful infrastructure, scale transformative technologies, and achieve results that will serve our nation for generations to come, please consider joining the DOT family.

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Agency contact information

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

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