Motor Carrier Safety Specialist - Florida Division

The positions are located in FMCSA's Division offices. You will be assigned ongoing responsibility for personally administering the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Program on a State-wide basis. This encompasses motor carriers and shippers of all types and sizes. In promoting and enforcing compliance with the applicable laws and regulations, you will act independently within general program objectives and a largely self-developed and self adjusted area work plan. 

As a Motor Carrier Safety Specialist (Commercial Programs/HazMat/Safety/Border Investigator), you will:

• Provide oversight and analysis of Financial Institutions issuing trust fund agreements and Insurance Companies issuing surety bonds. This includes the suitability and effectiveness of regulatory provisions governing the operations of savings and loan or similar institutions.
• Provide oversight and management of surety bond and trust fund agreements. Monitor both instruments and issuing notices to cure to trust providers with underfunded trusts.  Execute suspension procedures on brokers/freight forwarders operating authority registration if available financial security fails below the required limit.
• Assist with program oversight and management of the Designation of Process Agents (Form BOC-3) process. This includes developing and implementing a Designation of Process Agents (Form BOC-3) program that meets regulatory guidelines, that is operationally effective and efficient, and that supports the FMCSA mission.
• Assist with the investigation of stakeholder complaints on trusts that are not in compliance with regulation, unpaid claims by trust providers, brokers/freight forwarders who fail to pay, and entities issuing trusts (financial institutions) and surety bonds (insurance companies).
• At the direction of the Division Chief and Deputy Division Chief develop procedures and processes for providers of surety bonds and trust fund agreements to notify FMCSA of any financial failure or insolvency of a broker or freight forwarder and initiate cancellation of the respective financial responsibility. Execute surety suspension/civil penalty procedures to suspend a surety/trust fund provider’s authority.

This is an ideal position for a person who wants to do meaningful work to make travel on our nation’s highways safer by promoting and enforcing compliance of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Programs. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to relate to all types of personalities in challenging and sometimes contentious, circumstances. This is an ideal position for a person who wants to be challenged and advance within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Location/Salary Clarification: This announcement establishes an open continuous (2 month) Standing Register. This Register will be used to fill positions as they become vacant. Duty locations will vary. Your consideration will be based on your top 3 location choices.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: Varies by position.  If applicable, you must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position to which appointed.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: Travel will vary by position. If the position requires travel, a government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Varies by position.  If applicable, the applicant selected is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Varies by position and is determined by the hiring agency.  If selected, a one-year or two-year probationary period may be required.
• FOR DIRECT HIRE CANDIDATES: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• FOR GOVERNMENT CANDIDATES:  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.
• REMOTE WORK: This position may be eligible for Remote Work.  Remote work is an arrangement in which an employee works at an alternative worksite (e.g., from home) and is not expected to report to the office to work. Remote work location will be determined upon/after selection and may affect locality pay. If selected as a remote work position, must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency standards from the approved work location within the Contiguous United State and sign a remote work agreement.  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/2022/general-schedule/
• This position is subject to random drug testing as provided in the DOT Drug-Free Department Workplace Plan, DOT Order 3910.1
• Relocation is NOT authorized.

Key Requirements:

•   You must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for consideration.
•   Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
•   Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

Education Requirements:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, or other fields related to the position.

or

Experience

General Experience (for GS-5 positions): Experience that provided a general knowledge of business, commerce, data processing, transportation, or other related fields.

Evaluations:

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. 

DIRECT HIRE: All applications will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran's Preference does NOT apply. All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.  Applications received under direct hire public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection. Management has the prerogative to select at any grade level.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of two categories: Qualified and Well Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, the top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review. Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position, must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

Applicants who apply for Merit Promotion (Federal Government) consideration will also receive consideration under Direct Hire.

ALL APPLICANTS:

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 on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.

Qualifications:

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-07 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-05 it must include:

• Experience applying Federal and/or State safety regulations; AND
• Experience collecting and reviewing data.

To qualify for the GS-07 on Education alone, you must have at least 1 year of graduate-level education OR superior academic achievement.

• **Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.
• 1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
• 2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate level education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 it must include:

• Experience applying safety regulations concerning trucks and buses; AND
• Experience collecting, reviewing and analyzing data to prepare written summaries and reports.

It also requires practical knowledge of the economic side of the motor carrier industry including: business and operating practices; corporate structures; subterfuges; and illegal business practices.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have:

• 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

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 of motor carrier programs with emphasis on motor carrier enforcement programs and applicable regulations.
• Skill and ability in using program management principles and practices (e.g. strategic planning, setting and communicating goals, adjusting to changing priorities, implementing/ evaluating programs, assessing the impact of new legislation on programs, etc.) to administer transportation safety programs and related technologies.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including demonstrated ability to develop and present briefings and training, as well as prepare highly technical reports and standards.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, which promote leadership, negotiations, cooperation and teamwork, including the ability to identify and foster new and innovative partnerships and avenues for marketing FMCSA expertise.

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

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

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

Note: This trainee position may be located in a FMCSA Division office or as a remote worker position, depending on the location assigned. If selected for a remote position (approved to work from home) you must reside within 49 miles of the city or county selected for and your home address becomes your duty station for pay setting purposes.

The difference in the salary at the GS-07 and 09 levels 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/2023/general-schedule

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY:  Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.  If approved for occasional telework, you will be required to report to the office on a regular basis. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor, and if applicable, approval of additional officials.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR FMCSA INVESTIGATORS:

• Successful completion of the FMCSA Safety Investigator Academy, including any pre- and/or post-Academy training requirements; and,
• Successful completion of a minimum of 6 compliance reviews or onsite investigations under the direction of a person certified to conduct compliance reviews and onsite investigations: and,
• Successful completion of a minimum of 32 Level I and/or V roadside inspections, under the direction of a person certified to conduct Level I and/or V roadside inspections. (May include specialized passenger vehicle Level I, and/or V roadside inspections and/or specialized HM and/or specialized cargo tank and/or other bulk packaging.)

FMCSA Basic Investigative Enforcement Training Academy Requirements:

· Attendance/Curriculum: The Academy training curriculum focuses on the policies, regulations, and procedures for carrying out compliance and enforcement responsibilities for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Courses specifically include information on how to interpret regulations, how to investigate possible violations of regulations in accordance with the field operations training manual, how to conduct and document a Level I roadside inspection and how to write and document a basic enforcement investigation report.

• All new FMCSA Academy hires are required to attend and successfully complete this training program. Since expertise and knowledge of FMCSA programs, policies, and procedures is critically important to the agency and difficult to obtain through alternate sources, the following policies are in effect.

Test/Remediation Requirements:

• (A) A student may not fail more than one, Written Examination in an Academy Training Program. Immediately upon failing a second, regularly scheduled, written Examination, the student will be dismissed from the Academy Training Program.
• (B) Individuals hired under the Delegating Examining Unit (DEU) procedures, who fail their Academy Training Program, will be dismissed from employment with FMCSA immediately.

Selective Placement Factor: If selected for a Border Investigator position - You must be able to speak and write fluently in English and Spanish. 

This announcement may be used to fill additional Merit Promotion positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.