Supervisory Transportation Specialist (Regional Director)

Summary

This position serves as Pipeline Regional Director, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, US Department of Transportation. You will exercise management direction over the activities of the region to effectively promote, implement, and administer the pipeline safety program of PHMSA. You will report directly to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety and represent the agency with both internal staff and external organizations.

Duties

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As a Supervisory Transportation Specialist (Regional Director), you will:

• Direct the planning, implementation, and execution of the regional pipeline safety program under federal statutes (Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act, Transportation Safety Act, and Oil Pollution Act) to protect life and property; set risk-based priorities and collaborates with national leadership to establish agency-wide policies and initiatives.
• Direct the regional inspection program, accident/incident investigations, and formal enforcement operations; determine probable violations, assess preliminary civil penalties, issue proposed compliance and corrective action orders, preside as the senior official at enforcement hearings, and monitor state pipeline safety program performance.
• Supervise a geographically dispersed professional and technical workforce, manage workforce planning, and allocate regional operating budgets; serve as the primary regional authority representing PHMSA with governors, state commissioners, other federal/state agencies, technical associations, and corporate executives to negotiate sensitive safety issues.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished executive leader with extensive expertise in pipeline safety, hazardous materials transportation, and regulatory compliance, capable of directing a large-scale regional program to safeguard life, property, and the environment. You will demonstrate proven mastery in leading a geographically dispersed technical workforce, administering multi-million-dollar regional operating budgets, and driving organizational health and inclusion. A decisive regulatory authority, you will possesses substantial experience executing risk-based inspection strategies, overseeing accident and incident investigations, and adjudicating high-stakes enforcement actions such as compliance orders, corrective action orders, and civil penalties. Furthermore, you are skilled communicators and negotiator adept at representing the agency before governors, state utility commissioners, federal counterparts, and corporate C-suite executives, seamlessly translating regional insights into national policy and strategic initiatives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National.
• 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 may 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).
• 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.
• 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. See other information for additional instructions.
• DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• DRUG TEST:See Other Information Section for more information.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) and the specialized experience requirements.

To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14 it must include:

• Experience leading, planning, and executing a regional or comprehensive transportation, pipeline, or hazardous materials safety compliance program, including establishing risk-based inspection priorities, directing incident/accident investigations, and executing regulatory enforcement actions (e.g., assessing violations, proposed civil penalties, and compliance or corrective action orders).
• Experience supervising a multidisciplinary, professional, or geographically dispersed technical workforce, including setting performance standards, addressing employee relations/grievances, championing EEO and inclusive workplace initiatives, and managing regional budget formulation, staffing allocation, and resource planning.
• Experience serving as an authoritative agency representative or liaison negotiating sensitive, controversial safety and regulatory matters with senior stakeholders (such as state/federal agency leaders, elected officials, and industry executives), while advising executive leadership on the development and implementation of national safety policies, statutory updates, or operating standards.

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. Developing Others / Conflict Management / Team Building): Mastery of leadership and supervisory principles to oversee, guide, and engage a large, geographically dispersed technical workforce through subordinate supervisors. Skill in setting performance standards, resolving employee grievances and disciplinary actions, managing regional workforce and succession planning, and leading an inclusive, high-morale work environment.
2. Compliance Inspection / Risk Management / Technical Credibility): Mastery of advanced transportation, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety statutes, engineering/scientific principles, and administrative laws. Skill in directing regional risk-based inspection programs, incident investigations, and formal enforcement operations (including issuing compliance orders, corrective action orders, and preliminary civil penalties).
3. Partnering / Influencing/Negotiating / External Awareness): Ability to represent the agency as an authoritative spokesperson in negotiations with high-level external stakeholder including governors, state utility commissioners, federal/state partner agencies, and corporate C-suite executives on sensitive or controversial regulatory matters, while collaborating with senior agency leadership to formulate national policies and strategic initiatives.

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

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 a7 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R a7 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

CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL APPLICANTS:Submit SF-50 documentation proving your highest competitive grade, federal eligibility, and 52-week time-in-grade requirement. To pass HR validation, it's recommended to combine and upload these into a single PDF:

• Start Date: The SF-50 showing when you were originally appointed or promoted to the qualifying grade.
• End Date: An SF-50 dated at least 52 weeks later (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase, promotion, or subsequent action) to prove a sequential 52-week period.

Warning on Incomplete Documentation: Do not submit an award or current-year annual pay adjustment SF-50 by itself. These do not prove your original entry date or grade. If your documents fail to conclusively prove a full 52-week history, you will be rated Ineligible.

Additional Information: This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.ID entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace." Therefore, is selected for this position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment / pre-appointment drug test. you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.

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

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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.