This position is in the Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response (S-60), Office of the Secretary (OST). S-60 manages the Department of Transportation's (DOT) preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery efforts to natural disasters or man-made events/incidents. The Transportation Operations Center (TOC) serves the mission critical role to monitor, assess, and report on real-time transportation events, disruptions, and security incidents across all transportation sectors.
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications. 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 leading teams in a complex, 24-Hour/7-day week/365-day, Operations Center environment. Experience overseeing an Operations Center staff and developing briefings products reflecting impacts to the status of the transportation infrastructure and sector. Experience providing verbal and written briefings to senior executive leadership on topics related to emergencies, threats, disasters, and other emerging situations that may require answering ad-hoc questions. 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: Manages and Organizes Information - Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of methods. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations. Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. 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.
The Associate Director (Transportation Operations Center): Leads a large, complex 24-hour Federal operations center that serves as the Department’s hub for emergency response efforts related to the Nation’s transportation system’s infrastructure. Directs highly complex technical and administrative program activities that involve managing and overseeing the information and assessments of the threats, attacks, and damages from emergencies and disasters related to the transportation system’s infrastructure. Overseeing all data and information coming into the TOC, including information provided by the Department’s Operating Administrations (OAs) reports from industry, information from other Federal departments and agencies, the media, and other sources. Responsible for the management of the TOC facility, readiness, maintenance, operability, communications, and capabilities to accomplish DOT’s roles and responsibilities. Oversee all data and information coming into the TOC including information provided by the DOT Operating Administrations, reports from industry, information from other Federal agencies, the media, and other sources. Supervise the TOC staff analysis of raw data received from these sources to validate and determine the impact incidents and events have on transportation, the economy, and DOT’s mission. This includes information at all classification levels. Make recommendations to the S-60 leadership about whom to notify, from the level of the Emergency Coordinator for the affected OAs, to the immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation. Oversees monthly testing of classified communications in accordance with federal requirement. Supervise performance management, welfare, morale, and professional development of the staff and contract support assigned to the TOC. TOC staff members receive training and education in operational processes and procedures, analytical techniques, writing skills, and oral communications. Coaches, reviews, and evaluates projects TOC staff members undertake in support of their service in the TOC. Oversee all information and documents disseminated by the TOC. This includes review of all situation reports and executive summaries concerning the status of transportation during various emergencies, threats, and disasters; and the development of special reports on emerging situations. Serve as Information System owner for the TOC at both normal and continuity of operations sites. Serve as lead spokesperson for DOT information reports with the Department of Homeland Security and other inter-governmental forums and organizations, providing an intermodal common operation picture on the “status of the transportation infrastructure.” The ideal candidate for this position is a motivated individual with experience leading in operation center environment who can manage and coordinate the departmental-level preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery efforts to natural disasters and/or man-made events/incidents and is adept at technical writing.