Transportation Specialist (Grant Program Manager) - FHWA ADL

Summary

The position serves as a Transportation Specialist (Grant Program Manager) in the FHWA Office of Operations or other FHWA Offices. Selectees will work on the implementation of a discretionary grant program of projects; provide expertise and leadership in the recommendation of grant awards and the administration of the assigned program; and as applicable to certain grant programs, serve as the FHWA Program Modal Coordinator and a Point of Contact in the FHWA-assigned grant program.

Duties

As a Transportation Specialist (Grant Program Manager), you will:

• Serve as the assigned grant Program Modal Coordinator and a Point of Contact in an FHWA-assigned grant program for the Office of the Secretary (as applicable to certain grant programs).
• Engage with FHWA Headquarters units and Division Offices in States with discretionary grant projects, and with senior leadership and key staff. Oversee a variety of projects. Represent agency views and interests on assigned grant program issues at various levels within and outside of the organization.
• Be responsible for reporting requirements for all phases of FHWA-assigned grant projects.
• Interpret discretionary grant program transportation policies and procedures.
• Analyze proposed regulations or legislation affecting assigned grant program; make recommendations on the agency's position on the proposals and assess possible impacts on the delivery of FHWA's grant program; develop plans, policies, guidance, and procedures related to FHWA's administration of the assigned grant program. Implement the program and work with public and private stakeholders - as appropriate to the role -- to identify program improvement needs and methods for meeting those needs.

The ideal candidate is a mid-career or senior professional with extensive experience in delivering or overseeing transportation programs or projects in accordance with Title 23 requirements, in program management, in the Federal Aid transportation program and in grants administration; possesses strong oral and written communication skills; and has the ability to oversee a variety of projects simultaneously. The ideal candidate will contribute to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position is approved for occasional telework. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor, and if applicable, approval of additional officials. You are required to report to the office on a regular basis since this is not a full-time telework position, or approved as a remote work position.

Qualifications

For the 2101 series, specialized experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled is required.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. You will be asked related questions as part of your application, but you need to verify how you meet the specialized experience in your resume and applicable documentation or you may be deemed ineligible.

For the GS-13:

On Experience, you must have at least one year of experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level, which included:

• Experience reviewing and analyzing transportation project plans for compliance with legal requirements, environmental impacts, Federal-aid requirements, and/or Federal funding standards; AND
• Experience researching, interpreting, or applying Federal transportation funding/aid laws, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures for transportation projects; AND
• Experience interpreting and implementing transportation policies, programs, and procedures for internal organizational entities, other federal agencies, and/or affected stakeholders.

For the GS-14:

On Experience, you must have at least one year of experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level, which included:

• Experience reviewing and making recommendations in the selection process for awarding grants; AND
• Experience resolving transportation federal grant implementation issues OR administering transportation grant programs and project facilitation in a State or local agency; AND
• Experience developing, interpreting, and implementing transportation grant program policies and procedures for internal organizational entities, other federal agencies, and/or affected stakeholders.

You cannot qualify based on education, you must meet the specialized experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will also be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Technical Knowledge
2. COR and Project Management
3. Communication Skills (Interpersonal/Written/Presentation)

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.

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

This announcement is being advertised under the FHWA's Alternative Duty Location (ADL) Program and can be filled in any one of the approved ADL locations listed on this announcement. Locations listed in this announcement are subject to change based on space availability.

PLEASE NOTE: Salary will be adjusted in accordance with the locality pay for the specific area.

Under this program, relocation assistance is not available to applicants residing in any one of the ADL locations. Employees who are not eligible for relocation because they reside in one of the advertised locations may apply for positions in other advertised duty locations; however, if selected, they must move themselves to the locations at their own expense.

Positions under the ADL program have several unique requirements, such as remote supervision, the required signing of an ADL agreement, and possibility of increased travel.

Applicants are responsible for selecting the locations in which they want to be considered.

Applicants will be considered based on their qualifications for the position as represented in their application for the position.

Additional specifics regarding the ADL Program are located on Staffnet under April 2022 Alternate Duty Location Program Guide found at http://intra.fhwa.dot.gov/had/adl/index.htm.

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

Benefits

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.

Review our 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.

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.

If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position, must indicate interest in the assessment. In eligibility question 14: select Yes/Other/Former Incumbency of a Position brought into the Competitive Service. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package. If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Benefits

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.

Review our 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.

Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

RESUME - All applicants must provide a resume created within USA Jobs Resume Builder, that shows relevant experience, education and support the required specialized experience. Formatted resumes can by uploaded later in the application process.

FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50. Pay adjustment raise (GEN ADJ) SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks' time-in-grade requirements for a promotion. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/service/SF-50/

PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application. To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).

If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP):

• your most recent performance appraisal,
• the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
• your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
• YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL 3 documents and meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) to be considered under CTAP.

Displaced employees may be eligible for CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.

• To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
• Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
• You may review your saved application(s) at https://my.usajobs.gov.

If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office

Phone

000-000-0000

Email

TRANSJOBS@fhwa.dot.gov

Address

DOT, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States

Next steps

You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com. (Select "My USAJOBS" and click "Applications"). Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. Qualified candidates will be assigned a category, not including points that may be assigned for veterans' preference. If the vacancy is advertised under status, your application will be scored on a scale between 70 - 100. The most highly qualified candidates are then referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.