This position is in the Railroad Investigations Division, Office of Railroad Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Investigations (RPH). The Railroad Investigations Division investigates accidents and incidents involving passenger and freight railroads, commuter rail transit systems, and other fixed guideway systems. The incumbent will serve as the supervisor of the Railroad Division and is responsible for providing staff supervision and resource management.

Duties

As a Supervisory Railroad Accident Investigator (Division Chief), GS-2121-15, you will perform the following major duties: Directs, oversees, and leads a team of branch chiefs and investigators in the accomplishment of complex investigations of railroad accidents. Provides authoritative advice to the office director and deputy director on launch decisions and is responsible for the overall direction and technical accuracy of investigations and reporting processes for railroad investigators. Manages personnel, providing authoritative advice and guidance; assigns tasks to investigative staff; identifies and assesses the significant aspects of each investigation; participates in the identification and selection of safety issues; and plans, develops, and initiates the investigative procedures, and the evidence to be preserved and its public dissemination. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Evaluates work performance of subordinates and appraises staff performance. Assures that major emphasis of railroad investigations is of timeliness and quality, and that the investigation results achieve tangible safety improvements. Oversees all planning meetings related to the investigation and the final report product and reviews drafts of the final report for technical accuracy, ensuring necessary changes are made and that all applicable safety issues are identified and addressed. Initiates, maintains, and exchanges information with other federal agencies and international organizations, industry, labor, trade, and other interested officials through meetings, conferences, seminars, letters, reports, studies, briefings, and other similar methods.

Requirements

• 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 probationary period may be required.
• Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level) by the closing date of this announcement. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
• You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.
• THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Supervisory Railroad Accident Investigator, GS-2121-15, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal service. Specialized Experience is experience in NTSB rail accident investigation protocols, procedures, and methodology as they relate to railroad design, human performance factors, railroad operational factors, survival factors, as well as equipment and structural factors; experience in successfully developing safety issues and safety recommendations as well as experience with the review of NTSB reports.; and experience organizing, managing, and coordinating the investigation of major railroad transportation accidents. Specialized experience should also show that you possess the following: 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; and Skill in written and oral communication. In addition to the above, you must have the Knowledges in the following specialty areas shown below: 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. For more information see link: Railroad Safety Series 2121 (opm.gov) 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 education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Railroad Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Inv 490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW Washington, DC 20594 US
• Name: Human Resources Division
• Email: [email protected]