Duties

Summary

Position Summary

The Director, Office of Research, Development and Technology, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) plays a critical role in fulfilling OST-R's primary mission in coordination, facilitation, and review of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) cross-modal research and development programs and activities.

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Responsibilities

The Director is a leader in fostering collaborative research across the U.S. DOT and with external stakeholders; is responsible for fostering innovation in transportation, performing strategic planning for federal and U.S. DOT transportation research and development; and manages DOT-wide transportation advanced technology, research, education and technology transfer programs.

The candidate participates in and leads policy functions and interdepartmental and cross-modal councils dealing with federal and U.S. DOT transportation science and technology. This includes developing Federal and U.S. DOT transportation science and technology policy and strategy, maintaining outreach, facilitating public-private partnerships, fostering long-term research, and furthering workforce development through university transportation research and education programs. The Director is a collaborator and keeps the Assistant Secretary and the Deputy Assistant Secretary apprised of operational issues or potential problems on a day-to-day basis.

The Director has responsibilities, such as:

• Coordinating, facilitating and reviewing the U.S. DOT's collaborative research, development and technology (RD&T) programs and activities.
• Providing multi-modal expertise in transportation research and analysis, research strategic planning, and systems engineering.
• Advancing innovative technologies through research, development and deployment.
• Leading the U.S. DOT's university research and education programs in transportation and transportation related fields.
• Supporting the OST-R Assistant Secretary and the Deputy Assistant Secretary's role as Principal Advisor to the Secretary with respect to scientific, technical and analytical matters.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Requires occasional travel (less than 10%).

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Provide all required documents by closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Complete a one-year SES probationary period (unless already completed).
• FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Complete a Public Financial Disclosure report, OGE-278. You will need to provide the information annually.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), you must clearly articulate and describe within your resume evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity. The experience must have been sufficiently responsible to show clearly your ability to perform the duties of this position and meet the mandatory Technical Qualifications and Managerial Executive Core Qualifications listed below.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Below is the description of the technical qualifications that must be clearly evident in your resume.

1. Demonstrated ability to provide professional advice and counsel to top Government and Transportation Industry officials, Congress, Executive Branch agencies, and key White House staff on the development, analysis and articulation of new and revised policies and services in the areas of transportation policy.

2. Demonstrated ability to provide corporate level leadership in directing and promoting a national transportation research program, including policy development and implementation, technology deployment, and research program assessment.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Below are descriptions of the ECQs that must be clearly evident in your resume.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Leadership Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating

FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.

Additional information about the SES and Executive Core Qualifications can be found on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) SES Website .

You are strongly encouraged to review OPMs Guide to SES Qualifications for specific examples and guidance on writing effective ECQ narrative statements and executive resumes.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

Retirement/Pension Plan - You will be covered by a defined benefit, contributory Federal retirement system that provides benefits for both normal retirement (with as few as 5 years of civilian service) and for circumstances that might occur earlier, such involuntary retirement because of disability.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) - You may participate in a retirement savings investment plan that offers before-tax savings and tax-deferred investment earnings. For more details, please visit the TSP website
Employee Assistance - Employees and their immediate families can take advantage of free confidential counseling with health professionals as part of the Federal Employees Assistance Program.
Transit Benefits - We subsidize up to $255 of mass transit commuting costs each month.
Telework - Yes, but as determined by agency policy.
Information related to performance, suitability, and security will be verified.If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

An SES reviewing panel will evaluate your application based on the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience, and education. Applicants determined to be highly qualified may undergo an interview and a reference check. If you are contacted for a second-round interview, you may be asked to submit a written narrative statement addressing each of the ECQ areas (Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, Building Coalitions). If selected, your written narrative statement addressing the ECQs must be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB), unless you are a current SES executive or have successfully participated in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program. You must receive certification before you can be appointed to the position.

All applications must be completed and submitted electronically no later than midnight ET of the closing date. Final reviews will be performed after the announcement closing, and timely notice of the status of your application will be emailed to you. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and selecting Application Status.
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Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

The following documents must be provided by the closing date:

• RESUME - You must submit a resume which cannot exceed five (5) pages. Any information submitted in excess of five (5) pages WILL NOT be considered. The resume must provide evidence of how you possess the technical qualifications and the 5 ECQs. Include name on each page. No photos allowed.
• COVER LETTER - You should submit a one-page cover letter highlighting key experience and interest in the position advertised.
• SF-50 - Current & former federal employees should submit an SF-50 which shows your current (or most recent grade.)
  
  • Current Career Senior Executives and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility must submit a copy of an SF-50 which shows career SES status
• CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CERTIFICATE - individuals who have successfully completed an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved SES Candidate Development Program, submit a copy of your OPM certificate.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the announcement will result in your removal from consideration for this position.

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.