International Transportation Specialist (Open to U.S. Citizens)

Summary

This position is in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of International Transportation and Trade and serves as a senior policy advisor formulating U.S. international transportation and trade policies for assigned global regions, anticipated to focus on the Western Hemisphere. You will direct policy research, craft agency positions, analyze foreign transport policies, and advise senior leadership.

Duties

The International Transportation Specialist: Serves as a senior policy advisor to Department leadership—including preparing high-level briefing materials, reports, and meeting agendas for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Assistant Secretary. Formulates broad-based U.S. positions on international transportation and trade policy, providing staff-level leadership in planning, coordinating teams, and implementing complex project portfolios within assigned geographic regions. Represents the Department in meetings and negotiations regarding international transportation programs, maintaining contacts with foreign governments, international organizations, industry executives, and foreign embassies. Leads research and monitors foreign transport systems, trade trends, regulatory policies, and infrastructure developments to evaluate their impact on U.S. transportation and trade interests. Participates in classified interagency policy coordination meetings and clears classified materials related to national security and international trade policy. The ideal candidate: The Office of International Transportation and Trade seeks a visionary policy expert and strategic negotiator to shape U.S. international transportation and trade policy, with an anticipated focus on the Western Hemisphere (including Canada). Operating at the intersection of diplomacy, national security, and global commerce, the ideal candidate is an analytical powerhouse who excels at leading high-stakes bilateral negotiations, advising senior officials, and has demonstrated ability to represent the Department at international meetings. Requirements

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; and whether 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. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). DRUG TESTING: Tentatively selected candidates are required to undergo urinalysis in accordance with 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. Qualifications

Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicant must meet the IOR requirements along with the specialized experience for this announcement. Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the transportation function(s) of the position to be filled. To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications. 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 analytical and evaluative methods to assess international transportation policy. Experience developing input for or implementing portions of international bilateral or multilateral transportation or trade policies or agreements. Experience preparing policy advice, briefing materials, or analytical reports on international transportation matters for senior officials. 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 in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques such as empirical economic and policy analyses to assess international transportation policy and programs related to at least two of the following areas: economic growth, innovation and technology transfer, infrastructure, transportation safety, security, international trade and supply chains, or investment. Experience shaping transportation, trade, or other public policies in bilateral or multilateral relationships internationally or developing and implementing projects or programs internationally. Experience providing policy advice and recommendations related to transportation including briefing materials and reports. 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: 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. Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance. 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. 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. To receive full credit during evaluation, your assessment responses must explicitly point back to your resume, as HR cannot make assumptions about your experience. You must write your narrative answers in full paragraph format, beginning each response with the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full-time/part-time, average hours worked per week, and federal series/grade (if applicable) as listed on your resume. Within the paragraph, clearly describe your specific individual duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes to prove your level of expertise. HR will cross-check your narrative against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every detail and timeframe claimed in your written response, the claimed experience will be disallowed, which may result in an ineligible determination. You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application or supporting documentation is incomplete. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or adverse action after hiring. All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You may preview questions for this vacancy. Other Information

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 80) 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. Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition. 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, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.