These positions are located in the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Railroad Safety (RRS). The Office of Safety promotes and regulates safety throughout the Nation's railroad industry. The office executes its regulatory and inspection responsibilities through a diverse staff of railroad safety experts.
To be qualified for a Railroad Safety Specialist, you MUST have demonstrated knowledge in ALL of the following areas: Knowledge of the railroad industry, including economic and operating considerations and equipment. Knowledge of the general safety and health principles and practices applicable to the railroad industry. Knowledge of railroad accident investigation techniques Skill in written and oral communication. 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 applying Federal regulations and standards of at least one of the six disciplines and basic knowledge of another discipline: Track, Signal & Train Control, Hazmat, Operating Practice, Motive Power & Equipment, Grade Crossing & trespass prevention. Experience conducting special investigations (including accident investigations) and inspections involving railroad rail and components to obtain determination of cause and produce useful and accurate results. Experience preparing technical reports, narratives, and correspondence regarding railroad rail and components. 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 leading and/or conducting analyses of Railroad safety statistical data and performing analytical investigations or special studies to make policy/program recommendations. 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 persistent complex problems pertaining Railroad Track issues. Experience leading special investigations (including accident investigations) and inspections involving railroad rail and components to obtain determination of cause and produce useful and accurate results. In addition, applicants for specialist positions must demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the specialization for which application is made to the degree required by the position. Only those elements required by the position to be filled, as identified below, will be used in evaluating candidates' specialized experience. Hazardous Materials: Practical knowledge of the typical reactions of different hazardous commodities to various environmental conditions and of safe procedures for containing or controlling fires, leaks, or explosions of these materials; Knowledge of the construction, testing, and retesting of containers used to ship hazardous materials by rail; and Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards governing the shipment of hazardous materials by rail, including containerization, loading, handling, documentation, and placarding. Track: Knowledge of railroad track system construction, maintenance, testing, or inspection techniques; Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of various track system configurations; and Knowledge of Federal railroad track safety standards. Signals and Train Control: Knowledge of the design, installation, maintenance, testing, or inspection of signal and train control systems and their capabilities and limitations; Knowledge of applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to railroad signaling and train control systems; and Knowledge of locomotive braking systems and their relationship to and interface with train control or automatic train stop systems and braking distances. Operating Practices: Knowledge of railroad operating practices, rules, and procedures, especially as they relate to safety issues; and Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards relating to railroad operations and requirements in such areas as hours of service, accident reporting, blue signal protection of workers, rear end markers, radio communication, railroad employee qualifications, and railroad employee testing. Motive Power and Equipment: Knowledge of the design, maintenance, or inspection of various types of locomotive and freight cars currently in use and their capabilities and limitations; Knowledge of the installation, maintenance, or testing of railroad safety appliances and power brakes, their capabilities and limitations; and Knowledge of the applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to inspection and testing of locomotives, freight cars, safety appliances, and power brakes. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance. Accident Investigation- Knowledge of guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with an Accident investigation including preservation of accident scene, root cause analysis, and evidence detection and handling. Organizational Performance Analysis - Knowledge of the methods, techniques, and tools used to analyze program, organizational, and mission performance; includes methods that deliver key performance information (for example, comparative, trend, diagnostic, root cause, predictive) used to inform decisions, actions, communications, and accountability systems. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Self-Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior. For all types of consideration, 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 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
The Railroad Safety Specialist: Serves as an agency expert and/or senior consultant and provides expert advice and assistance to senior management in Safety Standards in one of the six technical disciplines or other railroad safety programs. Provides railroad safety and stakeholder training (including State safety inspectors). Investigates and reports on accidents and employee fatalities. Develops partnerships between labor, management, and the agency that address systemic initiatives. Reviews and implements safety rules and standards. Provides technical guidance concerning the implementation of agency instructions to be applied by field employees nationwide in conducting accident investigations. Ensure all accident investigations are being performed in compliance with the policies and procedures in Chapter 4 of the General Manual. Reviews findings and conclusions of accident reports resulting from investigations. Reviews final accident investigation reports for quality assurance and consistency prior to approval for publication. The ideal candidate for this position is a mission-focused senior-level professional with excellent communication skills that has experience providing guidance, interpretation, and enforcement of Federal Railroad Administration regulations and procedures concerning railroads located within their program area. Professional experience should also include serving as a technical expert in the areas of safety regulation development, waiver investigations, violation analysis, safety data analysis, technical training, and in the preparation of reports for public issuance. REMOTE/MOBILE WORK: This position may be eligible for Remote Work OR Mobile Work. Remote Work means the residence is the full-time official duty location. Mobile Work means the selectee must work/reside within the geographic area of the duty location that is negotiated between management. The difference in salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (3 month) vacancy announcement. Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications on an as needed basis. Duty locations will vary. The difference in salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. If selected for a remote or mobile work position, you must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency standards from the approved work location within the contiguous United States and sign a remote or mobile work agreement.