Railroad Safety Inspector – GS – 2121-12 (Open to U.S. Citizens) AW

As a Railroad Safety Inspector Grade Crossing Inspector (GXI), you will be required to conduct independent inspections of all types of highway-rail grade crossings, proceeds and programs for the purpose of determining compliance with Federal rules and regulations, to write reports of these inspections, and to recommend institution of enforcement/compliance actions when violations are found. Additionally, the GXI is responsible to investigate trespassing incidents on railroad property in order to drive programs to prevent trespassing on railroad property to which leads to accidents and injuries. The GXI is further responsible to develop and execute regional programs that will reduce railroad grade crossing and trespassing incidents and accidents.

This position is perfect for a mid-level professional with strong technical background in applying current Federal railroad safety standards pertaining to grade crossing, accident investigation techniques in determining the best method of obtaining compliance, as well as strong analytical and communication skills; and experience with conducting inspections pertaining to grade crossing and with mitigating trespassing and their capabilities and limitations; mission focused, and is looking for great health benefits and a stable work-life environment.

This position is eligible for full-time telework, and the selectee must reside (or be willing to move at his/her own expense) within the geographic area of the duty location stated above. The duty location for a full-time teleworker is usually the residence or other approved telework site. The actual duty location is subject to approval by the Regional Administrator. Salary will be adjusted based on the duty location.

PLEASE NOTE: There is only one position,
which can be filled in any one of the following duty locations advertised. The difference in the 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/2017/general-schedule/

NOTE:
A writing sample will be requested from applicants who are determined as qualified and referred to the selecting official.

Responsibilities
As a Grade Crossing Safety Inspector (GXI),
you will be concerned with highway-rail crossing safety regulations within an assigned territory. In this capacity, the GXI inspector:

• Performs inspections of railroad Emergency Notification Systems (ENS). Performs inspections of railroad records U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Reporting (49 CFR Part 234, Subpart F). Reviews and evaluates applications for waiver of requirements of Federal regulations and standards applicable to highway-rail crossing safety regulations pertaining to 49 CFR Part 222 and 49 CFR Part 234, Subparts E and F. Makes recommendations to approve or reject applications.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on 49 CFR: Part 222, Train Horn Rule and coordinates Regional assistance to local public authorities regarding implementation of quiet zones. Investigates complaints from railroad employees, union officials, and the general public regarding unsafe highway-rail crossing conditions (e.g., vegetation, preemption, ENS systems, quiet zones issues) and other topics involving grade crossing and railroad trespassing issues.
• Serves as a subject-matter expert for the Operation Lifesaver program. Functions as a liaison through which Operation Lifesaver information, procedures and programmatic data are passed to appropriate FRA individuals. Maintains partnership with Operation Lifesaver State Coordinators. Assists in the planning and execution of Operation Lifesaver programming, activities, workshops and presentations.
• Represents the FRA and Region while participating in initiatives, studies, surveys, reviews, promotions, etc., regarding highway-rail crossing and trespasser programs with local communities, states, the railroad industry and FRA’s safety partners. Represents FRA before state and local legislatures and planning bodies, as assigned, providing information and accurately communicating Departmental policy regarding crossing and trespasser strategies.

Travel Required
50% or less – This position requires extensive travel (at least 70%). The travel is a condition of employment.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Who May Apply
This job is open to…
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen.

Questions? This job is open to 1 group.

• Must meet specialized experience.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM ET on the closing date.
• Position is eligible for Full-time Telework, see Benefits & Other Info Tab.
• YOU MUST MEET THE SELECTIVE FACTORS TO QUALIFY.
• Announcement also advertised Status & VEOA Applicants: FRA.R8-2017-0002.
• Job announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 60 days.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE:
  Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• INTERVIEW:
  Applicants may be required to demonstrate in a pre-employment interview that they possess the personal characteristics necessary for Railroad Safety work.
• DECLARATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT:
  The selectees for railroad safety positions will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
• DRUG TEST:
  This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1D entitled “Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace.” Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.
• DRIVER’S LICENSE:
  Railroad Safety Inspectors travel frequently, which requires being away from the official duty station for several consecutive nights. All Railroad Safety Inspectors are required to possess a valid state drivers license at all times while employed by the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) in order to perform the duties of their positions.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD REQUIREMENT:
  This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• RELOCATION EXPENSES:
  Expenses related to relocation (e.g. travel and transportation) will not be paid.
• DEU REQUIREMENTS:
  Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications
To be qualified for a Railroad Safety Inspector, the Qualifications Standard state you
MUST
have demonstrated knowledge in the following areas:

• Railroad industry, including economic and operating considerations and equipment.
• General safety and health principles and practices applicable to the railroad industry.
• Railroad accident investigation techniques.
• Skill in written and oral communication.

In addition for the GS-12, you must meet the following Selective Factors:

• Experience in the railroad industry that has provided you with knowledge of general railroad safety health principles and practices; as well railroad investigation and inspection techniques.
  
• Experience applying Federal laws and regulations pertaining to highway-rail grade crossing safety.
  

To quality for the GS-12,
your experience should include all of the above plus at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the following:

• Experience with managing programs to improve Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention.
  
• Experience with investigative techniques used in a grade crossing collision.
  
• Experience writing and presenting information pertaining grade crossing programs.
  

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.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Additional information
This vacancy is also announced under a FRA Only internal vacancy announcement. If an FRA Railroad Safety Inspector qualifies; a selection from this vacancy announcement will not be made.

EEO STATEMENT:
The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

SENIORITY RIGHTS – LEAVES OF ABSENCE – RE-EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS:
The FRA has determined that seniority rights, leaves of absence, and reemployment rights from prior railroad employment 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. If new employees are permitted to retain such rights, which is generally the case for Railroad Safety positions, the rights must be divested at the end of the one year probationary period which begins with the date of appointment. Divestiture is a requisite to continued employment with the Federal Railroad Administration. No waivers will be granted of the divestiture requirement. Pursuant to 5 C.F.R. Parts 2635.403 and 6001.104, all FRA employees (or spouses or minor children of FRA employees) are specifically prohibited from holding railroad stock (including shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. which owns 100% of BNSF), whether held outright, in an IRA, or in a 401(k) or other plan. (Employees may hold a mutual fund which invests in railroad stocks, so long as the mutual fund does not invest more than 30% of its assets in such prohibited investments.) Employees having a prohibited financial interest must divest themselves of railroad stock within 90 days after their appointment to their positions. Neither the rule against holding railroad stock, nor the divestiture period, is in any way affected by the existence of re-employment rights which employees might have with railroad companies. Nor is there any monetary threshold for applicability of the rule against ownership of railroad stock; all dollar amounts are prohibited. If selected, you will be subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct applicable to all executive branch employees. Selectees will be required to complete a new entrant confidential financial disclosure report (Office of Government Ethics Form 450) within 30 days of hire (except if hired between Nov.15 and Dec. 31). Thereafter, selectees will be required to annually file a confidential financial disclosure report by Feb. 15 of each year, pursuant to instructions issued in early January.

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE
. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level.

If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran’s preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package. If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.

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Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance
Public Trust – Background Investigation

The following is a list of documents that are only required based on the type of position and consideration for which you are applying. Please review each of the following sections to determine which, if any, additional documents you need to provide with your application.

VETERANS:
Your last DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility. it need not be official.

• If you are applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214.
• If you are claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
• If you are applying to a vacancy opened Status and you are requesting consideration under Veteran’s Employment Opportunity Act(VEOA) (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/#veoa), you need to provide a copy of your last DD214,which verifies your military service dates, reason for separation, and eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.

STATUS APPLICANTS:
If seeking eligibility consideration as status/agency/DOT employee, you must provide proof of eligibility in the form of an SF-50. Your SF-50 must verify the highest grade held competitively, full performance level of position, and eligibility as a status applicant. Please do not submit an Award SF-50, as these are often incomplete and do not verify grade or status eligibility.

NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS:
If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES:
If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85 or falling in the Gold Category) and provide all of the following documents:

• your most recent performance appraisal,
• the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
• your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.

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.

• Benefits for federal employees
• Healthcare insurance
• Pay and leave

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review
the OPM Employee’s Guide to Career Transition
.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.