Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Managing Director, Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) Division. Serves as a TDA Specialist (Coordinator, Victim Services), provides direct support to transportation accident survivors and to families of victims of transportation accidents (as defined by 49 USC § 1136, 49 USC § 1139, and 49 USC § 1140), and communicates with accident survivors and family members throughout the investigation.
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Responsibilities

As a Transportation Disaster Assistance Specialist (Victim Services), you will perform the following major duties:

• Provides responsive assistance and serves as the primary point of contact within the NTSB to accident survivors and families of victims of transportation accidents, communicating both orally and in writing throughout the course of the investigation to address their questions and inform them when NTSB investigative products are available.
• Supports Senior TDA Specialists with complex cases requiring coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, representatives of transportation organizations, and non-profit organizations in the provision of services and facilities for accident survivors and family members of victims either on-scene or through remote interface.
• Collaborates with emergency management, first response/public safety agencies (i.e. law enforcement, fire, and EMS services), public health agencies, the coroner or medical examiner, other local agencies, hospitals, the American Red Cross, other non-profit and non-governmental organizations.
• Supports the implementation of family assistance plans designed to meet the needs of accident survivors and family members in the immediate aftermath of transportation accidents.
• Assists with the development of policies, programs and procedures related to remote case management to support accident survivors and family members of victims.
• Supports the development of family assistance training programs that contribute to the professional knowledge of the disaster response community regarding family assistance operations via presentations and the development of informational material.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

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: YES
• Direct Deposit is required.
• A probationary period may be required.
• You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.
• This position is also being announced through Government-Wide procedures under Announcement MD-11226725-21-VB. To be considered under both Public (US Citizens) and Government-Wide procedures, you must apply to both announcements.
• THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBILE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.
• If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotions are not automatic or guaranteed and will depend on the performance and supervisor approval.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following Basic Requirements:
Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

or

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

or

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
In addition to meeting one of the above Basic Requirements, you must also possess the following:

GS-12: You MUST have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector). Specialized experience is defined as:

• Knowledge of family assistance response operations following transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events
• Experience with victim services or family assistance case management in the aftermath of transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events;
• Ability to communicate effectively with victims and family members of victims impacted by disasters or other traumatic events; and
• Knowledge of disaster mental health, victim services, or crisis intervention services and response strategies as applied to transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events.

GS-13: You MUST have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector). Specialized experience is defined as:

• Applied knowledge of family assistance response operations following transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events;
• Experience with victim services or family assistance case management in the aftermath of transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events; ability to communicate effectively with victims and family members of victims impacted by disasters or other traumatic events;
• Applied knowledge of disaster mental health, victim services, or crisis intervention services and response strategies transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events;
• Coordinate family assistance operations during a disaster response;
• Develop standard operating procedures, emergency response plans or other guidelines focused on victim services and family assistance operations; and
• Develop and deliver training programs focused on transportation family assistance operations to transportation organizations, non-governmental organizations, state, local and federal agencies.

For more information see link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-series-0101/

NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the specialized experience will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

There is no education substitution at the GS-12 and GS-13 grade levels.

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 https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn . 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 further 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.
• A RELOCATION or RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE OFFERED TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
• 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. 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:

Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Interpersonal Skills, Stakeholder Management, Teamwork, and Transportation Disaster Assistance Specialist (Victim Services)

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
High Risk (HR)

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). Please see OPM's video on Resume Writing Tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk
• Responses to the questionnaire
• College transcripts (Unofficial or Official), if qualifying based on education or as a basic requirement.
• DD-214 (member copy 4), SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities.
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation: (1) Proof of Eligibility; (2) Your latest performance rating showing a rating of at least "fully successful" (level 3); AND (3) Your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), or equivalent personnel action, showing your tenure, position occupied, and duty station. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

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.