TRAVEL REQUIRED:

25% or less - Some travel is required.

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED:
Relocation expenses reimbursed No

KEY REQUIREMENTS:
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You must meet specialized experience to qualify.

Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

Review Required Documents Section as documents are required by closing date

Announcement also advertised U.S. Citizens: FRA.S-2019-0016.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• DRUG TEST: The selectee will be required to pass a drug test prior to appointment unless currently employed in a DOT position that requires a drug testing.  The selectee will also be subject to random drug testing while employed in this safety-sensitive position.
• 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.
• 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.

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

• The railroad industry, including economic and operating considerations and equipment.
• General safety and health principles and practices applicable to the railroad industry.
• Railroad accident investigation techniques
• Railroad track system construction, maintenance, testing, or inspection techniques
• Safety criteria for track structure and engineering
• Federal railroad safety regulation

You must also meet this Selective Factor:

• Experience interpreting and applying on Title 49 CFR 214, as it applies railroad workplace safety.

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 interpreting and applying on Title 49 CFR 214 , as it applies to Railroad Workplace Safety.
• Experience conducting special investigations and inspections involving Railroad Workplace Safety and Track.
• Experience working on a team, task force, or committee that includes industry officials, labor unions, the public and state and local governments to develop practical solutions and/or recommendations to  problems pertaining Railroad Workplace Safety issues.

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 interpreting and applying on Title 49 CFR 214, as it applies to Railroad Workplace Safety.
• Experience leading and conducting analyses of Railroad safety statistical data and performing analytical investigations or special studies to make policy/program recommendations.

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

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

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

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

EEO STATEMENT: The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

This vacancy may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days for this location.

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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.

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 or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers.  If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.  The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.

To preview questions please click here.

Read more Security clearance Other

Drug test required No