(via NTOC)

This position will be open from Thursday, May 31, 2012 to Friday, June 29, 2012. For complete information and to apply, click on the link below.

Job Title: Director, Office of Freight Management and Operations
Department: Department Of Transportation
Agency: Federal Highway Administration
Job Announcement Number: FHWA.SES-2012-0015
http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/317947800

JOB SUMMARY:
Come on board with us and take a journey that will challenge your mind and develop your career. The quality of our lives, the shape of our communities and the productivity of our Nation’s economy depend on our transportation systems. We recognize and value the importance of our workforce and the diversity of backgrounds and ideas that each employee brings. The U.S. Department of Transportation: Careers in Motion.

The Director, Office of Freight Management and Operations, is responsible for developing and administering nationwide surface transportation programs, policies, and regulations designed to enhance the safety, efficiency, productivity and security of freight operations.

DUTIES:
The SES Office Director provides executive leadership and direction on issues relating to the highway freight industry.  Leads the development of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) intermodal goods movement vision, mission, strategies and policy direction.  Represents the FHWA in national and international freight industry forums, facilitates and supports the development of coalitions among shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, and public agencies to improve freight operations.  In collaboration with transportation stakeholders, leads the development of partnerships, networks, associations, and agreements to develop efficient freight operations on high speed, multi-state trade/transportation corridors, and at key intermodal connectors.  Directs the development of metrics for freight productivity; directs a program of data collection in cooperation with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and other Federal agencies and leads analysis to assess goods movement trends and needs; leads the development of an intermodal freight research agenda, including the application of intelligent transportation system technologies; builds a professional capacity building program, and directs the review of state certification of compliance with truck size and weight regulations.

Application deadline: Monday, May 7, 2012

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) is seeking an Supervisory General Engineer, GS-0801-15 to serve as Chief of the Energy Analysis and Sustainability Division at the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center). Located in the Kendall Square area in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Volpe Center plays a unique role in looking across the transportation enterprise by applying its multi-disciplinary capabilities to anticipate future transportation issues and challenges across all modes of transportation. This position is based in Cambridge, MA.

Reporting to the Director of the Center for Environmental and Energy Systems, you will be responsible for developing, planning, and overseeing the performance of all the work within the Division’s portfolio of projects. The Division is responsible for providing analytical, regulatory and policy support related to transportation-related energy use and environmental sustainability in support of multiple agencies and organizations. The Division performs a broad range of analyses and evaluations pertaining to alternative energy sources and sustainability. This may include technical work in the environmental sciences, energy efficiency and renewable energy financing, mechanical engineering, electronics and chemical engineering, systems engineering, and economic, industry, and rulemaking analysis. The Division provides planning and management support for programs that promote improved energy-related technologies and practices in the transportation sector and improved transportation-related technologies and practices in the energy supply system. You will be responsible for managing the operation of the Division, including directing and supervising staff.

The ideal candidate will have experience developing, managing, and leading engineering research projects in order to develop transportation-related technologies, solutions, and policies in areas related to sustainability, alternative energy, and/or alternative fuels. To succeed in this position you must have an entrepreneurial outlook, with the ability to translate working relationships within your professional network into business and new program opportunities. Ability to travel 20% is required.

This announcement is posted to the Public and to Merit Promotion eligible applicants on www.usajobs.gov. Please know that Merit Promotion announcements are the vehicle through which Federal employees generally apply for Federal positions.

PUBLIC (RITA.VOLPE-2012-0064): http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/314705100

MERIT PROMOTION (RITA.VOLPE-2012-0063): http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/314704500

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) seeks a senior executive to serve as the Director for the Office of Transportation Analysis within the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). This is a permanent position and it is based in Washington, D.C.

BTS promotes coordinated collection, comparability, and quality standards of transportation data; and facilitates in the closing of important data gaps. Over the years of its existence, BTS established itself with a focus in three key areas, each mandated by legislation;

1) compiling, analyzing, and publishing a comprehensive set of transportation statistics;

2) making statistics readily accessible; and,

3) implementing a long term data collection program.

Under the leadership of the BTS Director, the successful candidate will direct the planning and initiation of a broad and significant range of programs to:

1) identify and address major issues in transportation;

2) identify data gaps and inconsistencies;

3) implement strategies to meet data gaps; and,

4) conduct cross-sectional and trend analyses that can be used to inform decision-making.

RITA is looking for an experienced manager who has experience in developing multi-faceted transportation statistics analysis programs and managing teams with diverse skill sets. The Office of Transportation Analysis has two principal programs — Freight Statistics Analysis and International Transportation Statistics. The Office compiles essential and continuing statistics and key indicators on the Nation’s transportation system to inform policy development and investment decision by DOT, Congress, federal, state, and local governments and the private sector. The Office conducts analysis and prepares special reports on strategic performance measures of all modes of transportation. The Office leads the preparation of several annual, monthly, and quarterly reports and data releases including those legislatively mandated for BTS.

If you know someone interested in this Washington, D.C., based position with relevant experience and a history of proven results please encourage them to apply under the attached vacancy announcement.  The U.S. DOT is  looking for a diverse pool of qualified candidates.

This announcement is posted to the Public and to Merit Promotion eligible applicants on www.usajobs.opm.gov. Please know that Merit Promotion announcements are the vehicle through which Federal employees generally apply for Federal positions.

PUBLIC: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/314490100

MERIT PROMOTION: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/314492900 

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration seeks a senior executive to serve as the Director of the Center for Safety Management Systems (RVT-30) of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center). Located in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Volpe Center plays a unique role in looking across the transportation enterprise by applying its multi-disciplinary capabilities to anticipate future transportation issues and challenges across all modes of transportation. This is a permanent position in the Senior Executive Service, and it is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reporting to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Research and Innovation, you will lead and oversee the Center for Safety Management Systems comprised of three technical divisions with a combined technical/scientific federal staff of 80 employees; a portfolio of 93 projects; and average annual obligations of $70 million. This Center maintains and applies internationally recognized capabilities in the acquisition, maintenance, distribution, and analysis of transportation safety data to assist transportation entities in taking effective actions to reduce the number and severity of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and property damage. The Director will also collaborate with other Technical Center Directors in overseeing Volpe’s support for safety programs for other DOT organizations in addition to safety management systems for FAA and FMCSA.
To succeed in this rewarding and challenging leadership position, candidates must have expertise leading applied research and technology projects in safety management systems in the transportation field. Candidates must also possess exceptional management, planning and communication skills, and be willing and able to contribute as part of a collaborative management team. Travel is required (30-50%).

The announcement is posted to the Public at http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/311508000

Application deadline: Extended to May 1, 2012

Note: This is an SES position. 

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) in the U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking a dynamic executive to serve as the Deputy Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The Deputy Director is responsible for guiding the Bureau’s programs, as described in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users of 2005, under the direction of the Secretary of the Department, and the RITA Administrator and Director of the Bureau.

As such, this executive will support the Director in leading the transportation data compilation, analysis and statistical programs of the Bureau, and its related research and development activities. The Deputy Director’s responsibilities will be to manage and direct the operations of the Bureau to ensure the quality of the programs in developing statistical guidelines, statistics and data systems that provide effective information on the status, performance, trends and impacts of transportation nationwide.

The individual filling this position needs to be a dynamic leader with fresh ideas and strong background in transportation and statistics. Furthermore, the individual we are seeking must have proven executive skills commensurate with a position at this level including, but not limited to, excellent interpersonal, communication, and planning skills; and extensive experience in managing resources (financial and human) in a large multi-disciplinary organization. While not required, executive experience in the Department/Federal government and an advanced technical degree are desirable.

If you know someone who has the qualities described above and who may be interested in learning more about this challenging position, please encourage them to apply for this vacancy. We want to attract a diverse pool of candidates from within and outside the government who can bring strong executive skills to the position. The vacancy announcement can be found at: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/305933100 

PLEASE NOTE: Closing date has been extended! ( March 5, 2012)

(Source: Flyersrights.org)

After what seemed like an eternity –  roughly five years and 23 extensions later – the 112^th United States Congress finally got through with the FAA Modernization and Safety Improvement Act of 2012, aka the FAA Re-authorization Bill. Apart from the usual aspects of the $63Billion four-year re-authorization bill, there are a lot of significant inclusions that will affect your travel in the days ahead… in a good way! Thanks to the tireless advocacy by FlyersRights.org, a non-profit that advocates for passenger rights, many of these demands from the passenger community has now found their way into books of law.  The table below shows what the organization was fighting to achieve and what they managed to get. Seriously, if you are an airline passenger this law makes sure you have to be treated like a human being who deserves dignity and respect.

Click here to read more. Thank you USDOT and Flyersrights.org for all your hard work to get this done.

The USDOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently published these two documents (Dec 2011) and I thought some of you might find it useful.

NHTSA – National Dist. Driving Telephone Survey – Tt407

NHTSA – Driver Electronic Device Use in 2010 – 811517

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), has published the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2012 – a quick reference guide to significant transportation data. The 15th annual Pocket Guide covers data on transportation safety, state of good repair, system use and performance, economic competitiveness, and environmental sustainability. To order a copy of the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2012, go to the BTS website publications page. This free guide can also be obtained by contacting BTS by phone at 800-853-1351, by e-mail at ritainfo@dot.gov or by mail sent to Product Orders, RITA/Bureau of Transportation Statistics, USDOT, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Room E36-109, Washington, D.C. 20590. Non-orders contact Dave Smallen: 202-366-5568.

BTS – Pocket Guide 2012