Duties

Summary

The incumbent serves as the Chief of the Report Development Division for the Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations (RPH). RPH investigates accidents involving railroads, pipelines, and hazardous materials, and evaluates the associated emergency response.

THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Manages division work product development. Plans, implements, and manages the editing assignments and work processes of division products.
• Provides guidance and assistance with writing for an audience that is not familiar with technical terms or industry-specific nomenclature.
• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work.
• Manages the Office of RPH?s notation and correspondence activities using the agency?s correspondence and workflow system(s).
• In coordination with RPH managers, develops and implements strategic and long-term plans.
• Serves as liaison with the NTSB Executive Secretariat and the NTSB writer/editor group to ensure that RPH products are consistent with NTSB Style Guide and other agency policies.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Resume and supporting documents (see "How to Apply" section.)
• Suitability for Federal employment
• Financial Interest in transportation enterprises will be evaluated on a case by case basis
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Direct Deposit is required.
• A Supervisory probationary period may be required.
• This position is being announced concurrently under Government-Wide procedures under Vacancy Number RPH-11032854-21-VB. To be considered under both Public (US Citizens) and Government-Wide procedures, you must apply to both announcements.
• You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.

Qualifications

The position of Technical Writer-Editor falls under the 1083 occupational series, which has a Individual Occupational Requirement.

Basic Minimum Qualifications: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Must have included a total of 15 semester hours in an appropriate scientific, technical, or social science field(s), and at least one course above the introductory level in the field(s) covered by the position. For technical manuals and specifications writers or editors, the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through vocational or educational training above the high school level at a public, private, or Armed Forces school.
OR
Experience that required substantial subject-matter or technical knowledge of the field. This experience must have demonstrated the ability to acquire and present technical information through independent reading, interviews with subject-matter specialists, observation of tests and experiments, interpretation of blueprints or diagrams, or other appropriate methods. Such experience may have been acquired as a writer or editor of technical reports, articles, manuals, or specifications.

AND
Minimum Qualification Requirement:

Specialized Experience:

Applicant must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level directly related to this position. Specialized experience includes:

• *Managing the development and execution of high quality error free written reports and other products related to a transportation safety or engineered system investigation report that describes and analyzes the facts and circumstances associated therein;
• *Ensures analysis methodologies in the report products follow proven logic principles that fully support findings, conclusions and recommendations;
• *Experience organizing a major project such as a board meetings, hearings, symposiums, forums; and
• *Experience independently planning and guiding agency or organization technical publications reports.

For more information see link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1000/technical-writing-and-editing-series-1083/

If selected for an interview, you will be required to submit a report of technical topics involving complex transportation or engineered systems that include findings, conclusions and/or recommendations.

NOTE: Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the specialized experience will results in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Must have included a total of 15 semester hours in an appropriate scientific, technical, or social science field(s), and at least one course above the introductory level in the field(s) covered by the position. For technical manuals and specifications writers or editors, the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through vocational or educational training above the high school level at a public, private, or Armed Forces school. You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GENERAL EDUCATION: All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see http://www.ed.gov

Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For additional information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and various benefits as well as work life amenities such as alternate work schedules, telework, flextime, fitness and transit benefits.
• Moving expenses associated with permanent change of station (PCS) ARE NOT authorized for this position.
• If you left Federal Employment and received a buy out and you are selected for this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the payment.
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. For more information on VEOA please visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/#veoa
• Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements identified below please visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/
  • - Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
  • - Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
  • - Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
  • - Other Special Appointment Authorities
• Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) meet the basic qualification standards (including minimum educational and experience requirements; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 and above on the rating criteria for this position; and, (4) submit the appropriate documentation ( to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
• Note: ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
• Telework may be authorized on a case-by-case basis.
• Multiple and subsequent vacancies may be filled from this announcement.
• NTSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants will be rated using the Category Rating System. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the Screening Questions/Occupational Questionnaire for consistency. Applicants must first meet any mandatory education/licensure/certification requirements before experience is evaluated. Failure to meet any mandatory requirement as outlined in the qualifications section will disqualify you from further consideration. Based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training in relation to these competencies, you will be placed into one of the following three categories:

• Highly Qualified - Applicants with a background that demonstrates a superior level of possession of all competencies.·
• Well Qualified - Applicants with a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of possession of the competencies.·
• Qualified - Applicants possessing the specialized experience described above and any education or selective factor if also required.

The Category Rating Method does not add Veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Documented preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification/eligibility requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% will be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Experience must be clearly reflected in your resume. If mandatory education/licensure/certification requirements are met, your application will be further evaluated based on training, experience and other factors critical to successful job performance such as:

• Communications and Media
• Human Capital Management
• Leadership
• Project Management
• Reasoning and Analysis
• Transportation Safety and Investigation
• Writing

If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience or your application may be removed from further consideration.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE:

To fully determine eligibility, all applicable documents listed below must be submitted. Failure to submit any of the below documentation may result in your disqualification from further consideration.

• Resume: Your resume should include relevant experience and dates (month/day/year) of employment and work schedule for each (e.g., part-time XX hours per week or full-time) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk
• Responses to the questionnaire
• If claiming Veterans Preference, DD-214(member copy 4)or equivalent; if claiming compensable injury, include SF-15 and VA Letter.