(The following was sent to the BLET by the Federal Railroad Administration on March 13.)
Senior Executive Service Career Opportunity
ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER:
FRA-07-40N
OPENING DATE: March 12, 2007
CLOSING DATE: May 10, 2007
POSITION: Director, Office of Research and Development, ES-301
SALARY RANGE: $111,676 to $168,000 per year
LOCATION:
Federal Railroad Administration
Office of Railroad Development
Office of Research and Development
Washington, D.C.
AREA OF CONSIDERATION:
All Qualified Candidates
Transportation impacts every facet of American life, providing people access to work, school, loved ones, and nature’s rich bounty. As a DOT employee, you will become a part of the dedicated workforce who works day-to-day to make measurable improvements in our transportation system, the security of our nation, and the quality of American life.
The Federal Railroad Administration, an Operating Administration under DOT, was created to promote and enforce safety throughout the U.S. railroad system, consolidate Federal financial support for rail transportation, and support research and development to benefit rail transportation for passengers, railroad employees and the general public.
The mission of the Office of Research and Development is to administer research, development, and demonstration programs designed to improve the safety, security, efficiency, and capacity of freight rail transportation and passenger rail transportation, including intercity, commuter, and high-speed ground transportation systems.
The Federal Railroad Administration is ranked by its employees as one of the top-rated agencies in which to work, according to the Office of Personnel Management 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey.
Due to the possible delay in the mail system, we strongly encourage applicants to submit applications electronically (nancy.coyle@dot.gov) or fax to 202-493-6169 or via a professional delivery service (FedEx, UPS, etc.) by the closing date to ensure timely consideration. Mailed applications must be postmarked by the closing date. Hand carried applications are due on the closing date.
Duties: The Director, Office of Research and Development is responsible for all technological and human factors research and development conducted by the Federal Railroad Administration. This includes responsibility for the development and successful completion of programs and projects to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents attributable to, and improve the performance of, rail vehicles, equipment and components, track structures, components and vehicle/track dynamic interactions; operating practices, control systems and human factors and to develop advanced inspection and maintenance processes and practices. The incumbent serves as a primary point of contact with the rail industry and the DOT concerning rail research and development issues, and interacts and engages in technical exchanges with executives, managers and professionals of other research organizations, academic institutions, testing centers, and international groups. She/he conceives and evaluates concepts and approaches and directs interrelated programs that improve railroad safety and stimulate beneficial advances in railroad and intercity ground transportation technology on a national scale. She/he acts as the principal DOT official in determining budgetary requirements at the Transportation Test Center and assesses national requirements for rail research and development.
Qualifications: You must meet the technical and managerial qualification factors identified below. Your application must demonstrate that you possess these qualifications. Please provide examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope, and the complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts. All qualified candidates will be evaluated on the relevance of their experience, leadership, accomplishments, recognition, education, and outside activities in relation to the following eight factors that are necessary to successfully perform the duties of this position. Interviews, qualification inquiries, and references may be required as part of the evaluation process.
Technical Factors:
1. In-depth knowledge of engineering science as related to technological research, development, and deployment within the transportation industry.
2. In-depth knowledge of transportation systems, in particular railroad systems, and safety programs.
3. Ability to define and oversee the accomplishment of complex, sophisticated research programs, which result in increased railroad safety and advancement of railroad technology.
Managerial Factors: Additional information regarding the following Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) listed below is available on the Office of Personnel Management’s SES website at www.opm.gov/ses/index.html. (You must clearly demonstrate progressively responsible experience and proficiency in all ECQs listed below.)
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 for ECQ1 are:
• Creativity and Innovation: Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.
• External Awareness: Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders’ views; is aware of the organization’s impact on the external environment.
• Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
• Resilience: Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
• Strategic Thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.
• Vision: Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.
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 for ECQ2 are:
• Conflict Management: Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
• Leveraging Diversity: Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
• Developing Others: Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
• Team Building: Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.
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 for ECQ3 are:
• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
• Decisiveness: Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
• Entrepreneurship: Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
• Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
ECQ 4 – Business Acumen. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
Leadership Competencies for ECQ4 are:
• Financial Management: Understands the organization’s financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.
• Human Capital Management: Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.
• Technology Management: Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.
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 for ECQ5 are:
• Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
• Political Savvy: Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.
• Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
Fundamental Competencies: These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the ECQs and should be addressed as appropriate within your narrative statement covering the technical factors and ECQs.
• Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
• Oral Communication: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
• Integrity/Honesty: Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
• Written Communication: Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.
• Public Service Motivation: Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.
Position Status/Conditions of Employment: This is a Career position in the Senior Executive Service (SES). As a condition of employment, you will be required to enter the SES, if not already a member. Persons newly selected for appointment to an SES position must have their managerial qualifications approved by the Office of Personnel Management (unless already in the SES with career status or an OPM certified graduate of an SES Candidate Development Program). New career appointees to the SES will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. If you are selected for this position, you will be subject to the Department of Transportation’s Standards of Conduct and will be required to file a public financial disclosure report within 30 days of entry on duty. This position requires a Secret security clearance and is subject to random drug testing.
Federal Government Travel Card Requirement: The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 [pub.L.105-264] and the Federal Travel Regulations [41 CFR Part 3000 et seq.] require that all Federal employees obtain and use contractor-issued Federal travel charge cards for all payments or expenses related to official Government travel. To be considered for this position, all applicants who are current employees of either the Federal Railroad Administration or another Federal agency will be asked to certify that their Government travel card is in good standing (i.e. not suspended or cancelled) as of the date of this application and that there exist no reasonable circumstances which would jeopardize that good standing. All applicants understand and agree that FRA’s offer of employment or a position under this announcement is voidable at the sole discretion of FRA if: 1) if the applicant fails to provide the required certifications; or 2) if the certification is found to be untrue; or 3) if the applicant is unable to obtain a Federal Government travel card for whatever reason.
Employee Benefits: The Federal Government offers excellent benefits, flexible work schedules and family-friendly programs. You will receive paid annual leave and sick leave. This is a permanent position and you will be eligible for retirement, health insurance, life insurance and Long Term Care insurance. A brief summary of the Federal benefits for permanent employees can be found at http://www.usajobs.gov/ei61.asp.
Additional Information
• Applications will be accepted from US Citizens and Non-Citizens as allowed by appropriations and statute.
• If you are a United States male between the ages of 18 and 26 or were born after December 31, 1959, certification is required at the time you are employed that you have registered with the Selective Service for the draft, unless Selective Service has approved a waiver for you.
• Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• FRA may consider paying moving, travel and/or transportation expenses.
• If you are selected or among the best qualified candidates for this position, you will be subject to a determination of your suitability for Federal employment.
• Before being hired you will be required to sign and verify the accuracy of the information in your application if you have not done so using an application form such as the OF 612.
• The FRA has determined that seniority rights, leaves of absence, and reemployment rights with or from a railroad generally constitute an actual or an appearance of a conflict of interest. New employees may be required to divest themselves of such rights immediately upon hire if these rights are determined to constitute an actual or appearance of a conflict of interest. No waivers of this requirement will be granted.
• FRA employees are prohibited from owning railroad stock, except, under certain circumstances, as part of a diversified mutual fund.
How To Apply: Please submit the following documents:
(1) An Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612), a resume, or any other application document you choose that includes sufficient information to demonstrate that you possess the quality and years of experience as specified under the qualification requirements. (The OF-612 can be found on OPMs website at www.opm.gov/forms.) Required information is listed in the section below labeled “Here’s What Your Application Must Contain.”
(2) A current performance appraisal or equivalent (if available).
(3) A narrative statement that briefly addresses each of the three technical and five managerial factors and in the same order as they are listed above. The narrative statement provides you an opportunity to relate your background to the specific demands of the position. Failure to provide the specific information in the narrative statement may result in you receiving a lower rating or no rating in the evaluation process.
(4) A Standard Form 50, “Notification of Personnel Action” if you are a current or former Federal employee.
Where To Send Your Application
• You may mail or deliver your application to the Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Human Resources, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20590. You may email your application package to nancy.coyle@fra.dot.gov.
• You may fax your application to our fax number at 202/493-6169. We will not accept applications faxed from a Federal Government fax machine.
• ALL application forms and narrative statements must be in our office or postmarked by the closing date of the announcement.
• Applications mailed in a Government envelope will not be accepted.
HERE’S WHAT YOUR APPLICATION MUST CONTAIN
JOB INFORMATION
• Announcement number and title of the position
PERSONAL INFORMATION
• Full name
• Mailing address (with Zip Code)
• Social Security Number
• Country of citizenship (Most Federal jobs require United States citizenship)
• Federal employees & Reinstatement eligibles (Attach SF-50)
• Highest Federal civilian grade held
EDUCATION
• High School name, city, state, and date of diploma or GED
• College/University names, city, and state
• Major(s)
• Type and year of degree(s) received WORK EXPERIENCE
(paid and unpaid)
• Job Title
• Duties and accomplishments
• Employer’s name and address (indicate if we may contact your current supervisor)
• Supervisor’s name and telephone number
• Starting and ending dates (month and year)
• Hours per week
• Salary and/or Grade (GS-or equivalent)
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
• Job-related training courses (title and year)
• Job-related skills (e.g., foreign languages, computer software/hardware, etc.)
• Job-related certificates and licenses (current only)
• Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g., memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards and publications) (give dates)
Questions?
Call Nancy Coyle at 202/ 493-6119 or TDD 202/493-6487 or 6488, or email at nancy.coyle@.dot.gov.
Alternative Formats: If you need a copy of this announcement in an alternative format to accommodate a disability, please contact Marcella Mullins at marcie.mullins@fra.dot.gov, on 202/493-6114 or at the TDD number 202/493-6487 or 6488.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you are requesting reasonable accommodation in connection with applying for this vacancy, please contact Marcella Mullins as listed above.
Privacy Act Requirements: The forms referenced in this announcement are used to determine applicants’ qualifications for the position and are authorized under 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
DOT is an Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.