Transportation Program Specialist (SME) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Transportation Program Specialist (SME) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California, Chicago, Illinois, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Kansas City, Missouri

Salary Range: $90968 - $172980 Per Year

Job Summary: This position provides critical program planning, grant development and oversight functions which are the core functions of the Regional Office. This position is tasked with evaluating and managing the program planning and oversight needs of the region, including making recommendations concerning necessary staff or contractor-reviews, and prioritizing staff resources to effectively manage and oversee the assigned grantees.

Major Duties:

• As a Transportation Program Specialist, you will: This position is geographically located in a single Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Office but may be responsible for carrying out job responsibilities for multiple regions, as stated below: Provide consultation to headquarters in program evaluation, systems planning and data analysis, and provide management assistance and policy guidance to grantees to ensure they comply with Federal laws. Participate in the review, analysis, development and recommendation of FTA policies and serves on task forces as necessary to develop new policies and procedures where needed or to improve existing procedures when changes occur. Advise grantees in developing creative solutions for operations, budgeting and planning problems. Use judgment and specialized knowledge to detect and subsequently resolve unique problems by developing the appropriate regional office response. Represent FTA through oral and written communications in meetings at Regional and Headquarters levels and in the field with state and local officials, representatives of private and publicly owned operators, and various public and private groups concerned with transit matters. The ideal candidate for this position is a professional who functions independently and demonstrates leadership in a team environment. The candidate will have strong analytical, strategic planning, and communication skills. Experience in the oversight and analysis of transportation policy, programs or procedures is desirable.

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 12, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include: Experience analyzing and evaluating transportation related programs and developing innovative solutions and strategies for solving problems identified in such analyses. Experience utilizing methods and techniques to conduct analytical studies and/or projects relating to transit safety-oriented programs. 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 analyzing and evaluating transportation related programs and developing innovative solutions and strategies for solving problems identified in such analyses. Experience utilizing methods and techniques to conduct analytical studies and/or projects relating to transit safety-oriented programs. Experience in managing projects/programs to implement strategies that advance transportation programs or policies. 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: Planning and Evaluating - Knowledge of methods for researching and analyzing external products to determine their potential for meeting organizational standards and business needs. Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including costs, work, and contractor performance. Problem Solving - Identify problems; determine accuracy and relevance of information; use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations. Oral and Written Communication - Write in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. 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 to Apply: You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require an accommodation or other assistance to apply online, please notify the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the interview process, please notify the Office of Human Resources, Staffing and Classification Division, via email at FTAStaffing@dot.gov. If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov

Application Deadline: 2026-04-01