Special Assistant

Summary This position is in the Office of the Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The employee serves as the Special Assistant in the Office of the Administrator to the Administrator and the Deputy Administrator. Learn more about this agency Duties Help As a Special Assistant, you will:The employee will advises on program and policy issues which involve transportation program management matters.Assignments are non-recurring, sensitive and complex, and require a considerable depth of knowledge of FRA and its interrelationship with the Department of Transportation, State, and local transportation programs.Analyze and evaluate proposals, position papers, progress reports, and other action documents submitted by the program offices, to evaluate their validity, their internal consistency, their adherence to Departmental and FRA policy directives and their consistency with other program office's delegations of authority The ideal candidate for this position will provide leadership and knowledge of FRA's organization, culture, priorities, and programs. The candidate must be a self-starter who can handle a wide range of administrative activities at any given time and work independently or as part of a team in a fast-paced environment with extended hours. The candidate must be politically savvy and possess strong time management and organizational skills. The candidate will have strong written and oral communication skills and is able to convey information clearly, correctly, and in a diplomatic manner. The candidate will be able to handle a wide range of time-sensitive assignments, identify policy issues, and make recommendations for action. Requirements Help Conditions of employmentMust meet specialized experience stated in Qualifications section.Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:your performance and conduct;the needs and interests of the agency;whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; andwhether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include:Experience in identifying policy issues and making recommendations for action; ANDExperience serving as a policy expert and an advisor on complex policy issues. 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:Knowledge Management - Knowledge of the value of collected information and the methods of sharing that information throughout an organization.Written Communication - Write in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.Oral Communication - Make clear and convincing oral presentations. Listen effectively; clarify information as needed.Interpersonal Skills - Treat others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Consider and respond appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations. 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. Education No education required for this position. Additional information This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation PLEASE NOTE: RAILROAD STOCK: 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. Expand Hide additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. 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.