Summary

**Selectee will conduct the work from their current approved official duty station**

These positions are located in the Railroad Investigations Division, Office of Railroad Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Investigations (RPH). The Railroad Investigations Division investigates accidents & incidents involving passenger & freight railroads, commuter rail transit systems, & other fixed guideway systems. The incumbent will serve as a Branch Chief supervising a team of Railroad Accident Investigators.

Duties

Help

As a Supervisory Railroad Accident Investigator, GS-2121-15, you will perform the following major duties:

• Assist with the oversight of investigative projects including but not limited to reviewing reports and other work products of the staff; responsible for overall timeliness and quality of products, including technical accuracy and adequacy, investigative approach, issue identification based upon facts, thoroughness of analysis, and general presentation of such products.
• Manage personnel, providing authoritative advice and guidance; assigns tasks to investigative staff; identifies and assesses the significant aspects of each investigation; participates in the identification and selection of safety issues; and plans, develops and initiates the investigative procedures, and the evidence to be preserved and its public dissemination.
• Assign work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Evaluates work performance of subordinates and appraises staff performance.
• Assure that major emphasis of railroad investigations are of timeliness and quality, and that the investigation results achieve tangible safety improvements.
• Participate in all planning meetings related to the investigation and the final report product and reviews drafts of the final report for technical accuracy, ensuring necessary changes are made and that all applicable safety issues are identified and addressed.
• Initiate, maintain, and exchange information with other federal agencies and international organizations, industry, labor, trade, and other interested officials through meetings, conferences, seminars, letters, reports, studies, briefings, and other similar methods.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be regi or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• Resume and supporting documents (see "How to Apply" section.)
• Suitability for Federal employment
• Financial Interest in transportation enterprises will be evaluated on a case-by-case-basis.
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Direct Deposit is required.
• Trial or probationary period may be required.
• Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level) by the closing date of this announcement. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
• You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Multiple and subsequent vacancies may be filled from this announcement.
• Two-Page Resume Limit: Resumes must not be more than two standard single-sided pages (or one page if submitting a front and back, hard-copy).
• The selectee is required to serve a probationary period upon initial appointment to a supervisory and/or managerial position.
• You must have a valid unexpired State-Issued Driver's License,
• Selectee will conduct the work from their current approved official duty location.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Supervisory Railroad Accident Investigator, GS-2121-15, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal service.

Specialized Experience is experience in rail accident investigation protocols, procedures, and methodology as they relate to railroad design, human performance factors, railroad operational factors, survival factors, equipment and structural factors; and identifying safety issues and developing safety recommendations; and reviewing reports for technical accuracy. Specialized experience should also show that you possess the following:

• 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; and
• Skill in written and oral communication.

In addition to the above, you must have the Knowledge in the following specialty areas shown below:

Hazardous Materials:

• Practical knowledge of the typical reactions of different hazardous commodities to various environmental conditions and of safe procedures for containing or controlling fires, leaks, or explosions of these materials;
• Knowledge of the construction, testing, and retesting of containers used to ship hazardous materials by rail; and
• Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards governing the shipment of hazardous materials by rail, including containerization, loading, handling, documentation, and placarding.

Track:

• Knowledge of railroad track system construction, maintenance, testing, or inspection techniques;
• Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of various track system configurations; and
• Knowledge of Federal railroad track safety standards.

Signals and Train Control:

• Knowledge of the design, installation, maintenance, testing, or inspection of signal and train control systems and their capabilities and limitations;
• Knowledge of applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to railroad signaling and train control systems; and
• Knowledge of locomotive braking systems and their relationship to and interface with train control or automatic train stop systems and braking distances.

Operating Practices:

• Knowledge of railroad operating practices, rules, and procedures, especially as they relate to safety issues; and
• Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards relating to railroad operations and requirements in such areas as hours of service, accident reporting, blue signal protection of workers, rear end markers, radio communication, railroad employee qualifications, and railroad employee testing.

Motive Power and Equipment:

• Knowledge of the design, maintenance, or inspection of various types of locomotive and freight cars currently in use and their capabilities and limitations;
• Knowledge of the installation, maintenance, or testing of railroad safety appliances and power brakes, their capabilities and limitations; and
• Knowledge of the applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to inspection and testing of locomotives, freight cars, safety appliances, and power brakes.

For more information see link: Railroad Safety Series 2121 (opm.gov)

NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and various benefits as well as work life amenities such as alternate work schedules, telework, flextime, fitness and transit benefits.
• Moving expenses associated with permanent change of station (PCS) ARE NOT authorized for this position.
• NTSB may authorize Recruitment Incentives currently offered by the Federal Government for highly qualified candidates who possess unique skills and abilities.
• Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP eligibility criteria; (2) meet the basic qualification standards (including minimum educational and experience requirements; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 and above on the rating criteria for this position; and, (4) submit the appropriate documentation ( to support your CTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's web site at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
• Selectee will conduct the work from their current approved duty station.

Expand Hide additional information

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

Help

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.

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.