Summary

This position serves as an integral member of the Federal Railroad Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Regional Operations and Outreach, Office of Railroad Safety's Safety Management Team (SMT). The primary role is to conduct/facilitate accident and incident investigations; multidiscipline and large-scale audits; railroad inspection plan; and special projects as directed by the Railroad Administrator or his/her designee.

Duties

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As a Railroad Safety Specialist (Accident Chief), you will:

• Conduct special studies and investigations of the most controversial problems and issues in the railroad safety program, and lead in-depth investigations of major railroad accidents, as directed by the Safety Management Team (SMT). management.
• Be responsible for facilitating the investigation of assigned accidents, leading a multi-discipline team of safety personnel, gathering the required evidence to support the investigation, analysis of data and evidence, as well as preparation and submission of the final report.
• Be responsible for the analysis and development of a recommended plan of inspection for assigned railroad(s).
• Be responsible for and/or providing subject matter expertise in one of the following areas support for programs such as Investigation & Audits, Risk Reduction, Passenger Rail, or Drug & Alcohol, and special projects.
• Fulfill the responsibilities of the FRA liaison representative with assigned railroad(s) other individuals and organizations that have an interest or are stakeholders in railroad safety, including fire departments, police departments, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Federal, State and local government agencies, public officials, and labor organizations.

The ideal Candidate is an experienced professional who is a technical expert in at least one of the five railroad safety disciplines (i.e., hazardous materials, operating practices, motive power and equipment, track, signal and train control), as well as has basic working knowledge of another discipline. Experience as a technical expert who has conducted analytical investigations and special studies, and has made recommendations to improve railroad safety.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must meet specialized experience stated in Qualifications section
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Required documents must be submitted by 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.

Qualifications

To be qualified for a Railroad Safety Specialist, you MUST have demonstrated knowledge in ALL of the following areas:

• Knowledge of the railroad industry, including economic and operating considerations and equipment.
• Knowledge of the general safety and health principles and practices applicable to the railroad industry.
• Knowledge of railroad accident investigation techniques
• Skill in written and oral communication.

To qualify for the Grade 13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

• Experience evaluating inspection programs and safety plans for Class I, short line, or passenger railroad networks.
• Experience performing railroad accident / incident investigations to determine probable cause and regulatory compliance.
• Experience providing technical guidance, regulatory explanations, or advisory opinions regarding rail safety regulations to railroad officials, labor union representatives, public officials, or other government entities.

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. Accident Investigation - Knowledge of guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with an accident investigation including preservation of accident scene, root cause analysis, and evidence detection and handling.
2. Compliance Inspection - Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with compliance inquiries, including application of compliance rules and criteria and ability to make appropriate decisions and issue citations, fines, or orders.
3. 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.
4. Influencing/Negotiating (*) - Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior; works with others towards an agreement; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions.
5. Interpersonal Skills (*)- Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult.

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

DRIVER'S LICENSE: All Railroad Safety Inspectors are required to possess a valid state drivers license at all times while employed by the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) in order to perform the duties of their positions.

Mobile Work -Duty station will be serving the geographical area of selection. The duty location for mobile worker could be your residence or other approved mobile work site(s) and is subject to management approval. You will be required to establish and maintain a residence in the same geographical area as the preponderance of work for this position. (Or within 50 commuting miles of your assigned duty location).

RAILROAD STOCK: Pursuant to 5 C.F.R. Parts 2635.403 and 6001.104, all FRA employees (or spouses or minor children of FRA employees) are specifically prohibited from holding railroad stock (including shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. which owns 100% of BNSF), whether held outright, in an IRA, or in a 401(k) or other plan. (Employees may hold a mutual fund which invests in railroad stocks, so long as the mutual fund does not invest more than 30% of its assets in such prohibited investments.) Employees having a prohibited financial interest must divest themselves of railroad stock within 90 days after their appointment to their positions. Neither the rule against holding railroad stock, nor the divestiture period, is in any way affected by the existence of re-employment rights which employees might have with railroad companies. Nor is there any monetary threshold for applicability of the rule against ownership of railroad stock; all dollar amounts are prohibited.

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

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, [redacted]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

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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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.