Transportation Specialist (Gateway Director) (P)

Summary

The position serves in the Office of Maritime and Intermodal Outreach to advance MARAD's mission and strengthen the U.S. Maritime Transportation System. The position leads regional initiatives that promote economic competitiveness, resilient maritime infrastructure, environmental sustainability, safety, security, and preparedness while building strategic partnerships across the maritime and intermodal transportation community.

Duties

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Transportation Specialist (Gateway Director):

• Serves as a regional technical expert and principal liaison on maritime and intermodal transportation issues, providing authoritative advice and recommendations to MARAD leadership and Federal, State, local, and private-sector stakeholders on port, terminal, freight, waterway, and transportation system needs.
• Leads regional stakeholder engagement and partnership development by convening and coordinating diverse public- and private-sector partners to identify emerging transportation challenges, develop collaborative solutions, and advance MARAD programs and strategic priorities.
• Analyzes regional maritime and intermodal transportation conditions, policies, and trends and translates maritime policies and programs into regionally appropriate strategies, action plans, and recommendations that improve freight mobility, infrastructure, resilience, and transportation system performance.
• Provides technical assistance and program support for maritime infrastructure investments and Federal assistance programs, including identifying potential funding and financing resources, evaluating project needs, and assisting stakeholders in developing and advancing competitive infrastructure and resilience projects.
• Supports regional port readiness, emergency preparedness, and operational resilience efforts by identifying transportation system vulnerabilities, coordinating with Federal and non-Federal partners, supporting exercises and response activities, and providing recommendations to address disruptions affecting maritime operations.
• Represents MARAD in meetings, conferences, forums, and other engagements involving maritime transportation and intermodal issues; prepares and delivers briefings, reports, presentations, and correspondence; and provides informed recommendations on complex issues affecting the U.S. maritime industry and MARAD's mission.

The ideal candidate is a maritime transportation professional with expertise in port operations, intermodal transportation, and port preparedness. The candidate demonstrates strong analytical and communication skills; can assess complex transportation issues, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop sound recommendations; and can build productive relationships with Federal, State, local, and private- sector stakeholders to advance MARAD's mission and regional priorities.

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 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:PCS Expense Reimbursement is only being offered for the Anchorage, Alaska location.
• 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.
• 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 requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

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 establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with public and private stakeholders across the marine and intermodal transportation system.
• Experience analyzing, applying, or advising on maritime and intermodal transportation practices, logistics operations, freight flows, or related federal policies and regulations.
• Experience serving as a technical advisor or subject matter expert on transportation, maritime, or supply chain matters.

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 leading stakeholder engagement and strategic partnership initiatives across complex marine and intermodal transportation networks.
• Experience directing the integration of national maritime, freight, or intermodal transportation policy into regional or program-wide operational strategies.
• Experience serving as an authoritative subject matter expert or senior technical advisor on maritime, intermodal, or logistics matters.

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:

• Lead cross-sector coalitions and regional working groups involving ports, carriers, shippers, labor, state and local governments, federal agencies, academia, shipyards, inland waterway operators, offshore energy entities, and private investors.
• Establish structured, recurring engagement mechanisms with shippers, carriers, railroads, trucking firms, terminal operators, inland waterway carriers, and third-party logistics providers to capture system-wide customer experience across all modes of the intermodal transportation network.
• Identify and coordinate federal, state, and private financing tools to support port, waterway, shipyard, and intermodal infrastructure. Provide technical assistance for federal assistance programs, including PIDP, Marine Highway, Small Shipyard Grants, TIFIA, BUILD/RAISE, INFRA, and other DOT programs.

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

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, or other fields related to the position.

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

CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and federal applicant eligibility. To prove you meet the 52-week time-in-grade requirement for the highest grade level requested, you must submit SF-50 documentation showing a sequential 52-week period. Box 4 of the SF-50 must show an effective date at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing date. Do not submit an award SF-50 or a current-year pay adjustment SF-50, as these generally do not verify grade, eligibility, or the full 52-week requirement.

To ensure your application passes HR validation, you are highly encouraged to combine and upload the following required SF-50 documents into a single PDF:
• The SF-50 showing when you were originally appointed or promoted to your qualifying grade level (establishing the start of your 52-week timeline) OR subsequent SF-50 (such as a Within-Grade Increase, promotion, or award) dated at least 52 weeks later.

Warning on Incomplete Documentation: Submitting only an annual general pay adjustment SF-50 or an award SF-50 by itself is insufficient, as these individual documents do not track or prove your original entry date into that grade. If your documentation fails to conclusively prove a full 52-week history at the next lower grade, you will be rated Ineligible for that tier.

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.