The Research and Innovative Technology Administration seeks several Community Planners to join the  Transportation Policy and Planning Technical Center (RVT-20) of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center).  Located in 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. These positions are based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

We seek several talented Community Planners interested in joining our consulting teams to develop, plan, and implement guidance, tools, strategies, and programs related to transportation planning, environmental stewardship, realty, and transportation research. As part of our teams, you will help increase the level of expertise of transportation professionals within our clients’ organizations; support better-prepared transportation plans that serve state and local government needs; and advance professional capacity building initiatives across Federal and state agencies. You will work with several teams contributing to major projects, and lead other smaller projects.

These are great opportunities for professionals with varying levels of experience in transportation planning, professional capacity building, and strategic and community and stakeholder involvement. You must have superb analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, and be able to excel in an entrepreneurial, fast -paced environment.Transcripts are required (see details in “How to Apply” tab in the official announcement). You will be required to submit writing samples if you are invited to interview.

Given our ongoing needs, we will review applications and refer top candidates for interviews multiple times during the open period of the announcement. The first application review will be January 23, 2012. Thereafter, we will do monthly reviews with the final one occurring after the application deadline, Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

The Community Planner GS-0020-11-12 (Term Appointments) announcement is posted to the Public on www.usajobs.opm.gov: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/306978700.

(Source: FAA)

This nice infograph shows the economic impact of aviation.. What a great way to tell the story!

Image Courtesy: USDOT FAA - Click image to learn more

(Source:  Young Prof. in Transportation)

 

Who May Apply:

U.S. Citizens
We are not accepting applications from non-U.S. citizens.

How We Will Evaluate You:

Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s).All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated.

Key Requirements:

U.S. Citizen

The Next Generation of Flight is Underway – and you can be part of it! We need you and your fresh ideas to shape the air transportation system of tomorrow, and the way America flies. Come be a part of the new generation in aviation, an industry that is absolutely critical to this nation’s economy and security.The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is a fundamental transformation of our nation’s airspace system. It uses 21st century technologies to meet future demands, avoid gridlock in the sky and on the runways, further improve safety, and protect the environment. For more information on NextGen, watch this brief introduction: Giving the World New Ways to Fly

Job Duties:
The incumbent will perform a wide variety of national level funds oversight and analytical duties associated with all aspects of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) budget process. This includes providing guidance, oversight, and tracking of funds obligations, to ensure compliance with AIP statutory requirements, program authorizations and appropriation. The AIP annual budget generally exceeds $3 billion annually. The incumbent will perform financial planning; reviews and necessary calculations of annual legislative authorization and appropriation proposals. Incumbent will serve as a national subject matter expert in developing and maintaining guidance on financial management and funds control responsibilities for the AIP. Provides budget and legislative related advice and guidance to management, staff, regional office personnel along with the general public. Prepares written responses to public and Congressional inquiries on the implementation of the AIP.

Minimum Qualifications:

All applicants must demonstrate one-year of SPECIALIZED experience equivalent to the next lower grade. For the FV-I level, applicants must have one year at the FV-H or FG/GS-12 level in the federal service. SPECIALIZED experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform duties of the position and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. (eg. performs wide variety to determine and analyze airport captital improvement) For the FV-J level, applicants must have one year at the FV-I or FG/GS-13 level in the federal service. SPECIALIZED experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform duties of the position and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organzation (eg. subject matter expert and provides leadership analyzing airport capital improvement plan).

Other Job Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA)

1. Ability to analyze and convey financial and technical information to a variety of audiences in meetings, presentations, or briefings.
2. Skill in the application of fiscal management techniques and processes.
3. Knowledge of applicable statutes, regulations, and directives controlling the AIP and familiarity with other related programs, e.g., Passenger Facility Charge, National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, Facilities & Equipment, etc.
4. Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (including MS Excel and MS Word) and reporting system (including the Systems of Airports (SOAR), DELPHI (financial management system), or a standard database system (eg. MS. Access or Oracle Discoverer).

IMPORTANT: Ensure that your work experience supports your Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) answers. Your answers and associated work experience will be evaluated further to validate whether the answers that you selected are appropriate. Answers may be adjusted as appropriate.

Benefits:

FAA offers an excellent comprehensive benefits programs. To learn more about the federal government benefits, please click here.

More Information About This Job:

• We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
• Travel may be required.
• Position may be subject to a background investigation.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.

As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Direct deposit of pay is required.

1. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all external announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this external announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include work history that describes how you meet the answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate.
2. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements will be further evaluated on the KSA listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Failure to meet minimum qualification requirements automatically disqualifies an applicant.
3. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation Plan. Additional information about core compensation is available at www.faa.gov.
4. FAA organizations may offer service credit towards the accrual of annual leave to certain newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants’ prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting service credit is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee.
5. Applicants must apply on-line (https://jobs.faa.gov). Applicants must have a status of “Submitted” by 11:59 PM CST on the closing date for it to be accepted. Applications submitted via email or fax WILL NOT be considered.
6. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies.
7. This position is also being announced as Vacancy Announcement No. AWA-APP-12-MT19408-23539 as Current or Former Federal Employees & EVHO. Please review both vacancy announcements to determine if you are eligible to apply.

This is a bargaining unit position.

Required Documents:

You must submit proof of veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, SF-15 plus proof required by that form) as requested by the Human Resource Office. Veterans Preference will only be considered based on what is supported. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, the Human Resource office may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

Forms:

• SF-15 : Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference

For more information on this job:Call the Human Resource Services Division at 202-267-8012 or email to 9-AWA-AHR-200-VACANCYINQUIRY@FAA.GOV.

Servicing HR office:
Federal Aviation Administration
Human Resource Services Division
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 523
Washington, DC 20591
Phone: 202 267-8012
Fax Number: 202 267-7032

The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), Research and Innovative Technology Administration will be hosting a free public webinar on December 9, 2011 to discuss plans for a certificate management entity (CME) to support a trusted and secure connected vehicle environment.  During the webinar U.S. DOT will be seeking input on a set of high-level, alternative organizational structures for the CME.

Webinar Details:

The webinar will take place December 9, 2011 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. During the call the U.S. DOT will present results from an early analysis of organizational models. This analysis will describe the functions that need to be performed by a CME; identify key constraints as well as institutional and policy requirements; model how those functions may be organized; and present a high level assessment of these organizational models against a set of evaluation criteria.

Draft documentation of the analysis will be posted for comment at the following location on or before December 9, 2011 at www.its.dot.gov. Interested stakeholders are asked to submit comments about the analysis by the end of the day on December 14, 2011. Written comments may be submitted to:  itscme@dot.gov. This is not an official docket. Stakeholders will have additional opportunities to provide input in to this project at later stages, including via a public meeting planned for March 2012.

Background:

Through 2014, the primary focus of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Joint Program Office is a research initiative focused on developing rapid and secure wireless communications and trusted data exchanges among vehicles, roadside infrastructure, and passengers’ personal communications devices.  This innovative use of wireless communications provides the  foundation for a connected environment for transportation that is intended to enable a multitude of applications to enhance surface transportation safety, mobility, and environmental performance.

In the end state, users need to have assurance that the system offers trusted and secure communications. That is the fundamental purpose of the Certificate Management System (or Certificate Management Entities): to ensure that participants and their vehicles receive digital certificates that allow them to be trusted actors within the system and to access meaningful and trusted data that is generated by others. If trust in the communications breaks down, then trust in the overall connected environment erodes and users become reluctant to use it or rely on it. Trust can be violated in several ways:

• Security of communications: If communications are not considered secure, users will be less likely to trust the data that is generated by or accessible through the system.
• Private data is compromised: If technical and policy solutions are not in place to protect private data or users perceive that their private data could be made available to unauthorized third parties without their awareness and consent, they will not participate.
• Corrupt or inaccurate data: If the data  can be altered or corrupted through malicious misbehavior by hackers, it may cause more safety problems than fixes.

The current study aims to analyze alternative operational models that describe potential organizational designs, institutional capabilities, and policies of a Certificate Management System. It also assesses the needs for operation, maintenance, and system enhancements over time. (This study is an institutional analysis only, not a technical analysis, and it is not intended to develop a system design.)

Persons planning to attend the webinar should use the following link:  http://www.itsa.org/policywebinarregistration  by December 5, 2011.  For additional questions, please contact Adam Hopps at (202) 680-0091.

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) seeks a Strategic Advisor to join our team.  RITA coordinates the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) research programs and is charged with advancing rigorous analysis and the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our Nation’s transportation system.

This position is located in the Office of Administration, Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) in Washington, DC, where you will serve as a confidential strategic advisor to RITA’s Administrator and assists on a wide range of national transportation strategic and institutional issues as well as carry out special assignments which cover a wide range of program issues.

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

The vacancy announcements can be found on:

Merit Promotion Announcement: http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=102501799

Public Announcement: http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=102501668

Update via ITS America

House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., will introduce the committee’s multi-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal tomorrow — Thursday, July 7, at 11 a.m. Eastern time. According to Chairman Mica, the bill will not only reauthorize and reform the nation’s federal highway, transit and highway safety programs, but will also make significant improvements to passenger and freight rail programs and maritime transportation policy. “This fiscally responsible, multi-modal initiative would streamline federal programs, cut red tape, better leverage our federal resources, make wise investments in our infrastructure and create needed jobs for Americans,” according to the Chairman. The rollout event is scheduled to last approximately 90 minutes.  Live video of the event will also be available at www.transportation.house.gov by clicking the “Live Webcasts” link.

Streetsblog Capitol Hill reports that Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, wants transportation reauthorization bill passed soon in order to avoid the loss of 600,000 jobs in the construction and transit industries. She issued a call to action this morning, pushing for a new bill before the current extension of SAFETEA-LU expires on September 30.   Though she had initially pushed for a six-year bill, Boxer made it official that the EPW proposal is for a two-year bill that will only cover current funding levels plus inflation—about $109 billion over the two years.

At today’s press conference, Boxer focused mostly on the urgency of saving 500,000 construction sector jobs and 100,000 transit jobs, citing new Federal Highway Administration stats about the ramifications if Congress passes Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget, with its 30 percent cuts to transportation. Boxer’s aides pulled out charts detailing just how many jobs would be lost in each state (See Chart here), and Boxer pointed to the over 43,000 that her home state of California would shed. Click here to read the rest on Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Note: And I found this interesting nugget on infrastructure spending on the EPW Press Release. It shows we have a long way to go to match the Chinese: According to a report by the Department of the Treasury and the Council of Economic Advisors, the United States currently spends 2 percent of GDP on infrastructure, a 50 percent decline from 1960. Meanwhile, China is spending close to 9 percent of their GDP on infrastructure.

Update Courtesy: ITS America

As the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee continues to work on finalizing its six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill in anticipation of an early July introduction, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has announced plans to introduce the Senate version of the bill during the week of July 11, hold hearings the week of July 18, and is expected to proceed with a Committee mark-up on July 27.  The Senate bill, which is rumored to be a two-year bill instead of six, is expected to face a $12 billion funding shortfall which would require the Senate Finance Committee to come up with additional revenues before the legislation could be passed.  Committee staff continues to craft the bill in a bipartisan fashion with their most recent work focusing on a freight section.  ITS America is working closely with Senate staff to include provisions that would promote greater deployment of ITS.

On the House side, T&I Committee majority staff continues to work on their bill but have provided limited details as to what specific policies and programs will be included.  Speculation continues about the time frame for moving a surface transportation bill through the House, with Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA/7) taking heat for not including the reauthorization bill in a June 10 memo to House Republicans outlining key pieces of legislation that will be debated on the House floor this summer.  The American Road & Transportation Builders Association obtained the memo and has posted the document on its website here.

Meanwhile Congressman Richard Hanna (R-NY/24), Vice-Chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, joined ITS America’s Congressional Roundtable members for breakfast to discuss ITS and the transportation reauthorization bill.  As a businessman who spent nearly three decades in the construction industry before being elected to Congress, Rep. Hanna stressed the need for technology solutions that can help public agencies do ‘more with less’.  The Congressman made note of Portland, Oregon as an example of a city that is investing in ITS to help create a more efficient, user-friendly transportation network, while acknowledging the pressure many agencies face to roll out more visible ‘bricks and mortar’ projects.  He also said the “argument is building daily” for investing in transportation as a means to create jobs and bring down the nation’s high unemployment rate.  Read more about the Congressional Roundtable in the AASHTO Journal.

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) seeks two Transit Safety and Security Specialist’s (Instructor) to join the Transit Safety and Security Division at the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI).  RITA coordinates the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) research programs and is charged with advancing rigorous analysis and the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our Nation’s transportation system.  The Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) provides premier worldwide training, products and/or services for people in the public and private sectors through innovative, state-of-the-art methods and technologies that contribute to the protection of life, property, and the environment.  The Transportation Safety Institute training center is located in Oklahoma City, OK at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC), a Federal Aviation Administration training and materials facility.  Visit www.tsi.dot.gov to learn more.  The position is located in Oklahoma City, OK.

As a Transit Safety and Security Specialist (Instructor), you will develop training programs, instruct, manage and facilitate classes, perform evaluations, and conduct seminars and symposiums.  Programs include all facets of safety and security work with complex bus and light rail transit systems.

To succeed in this position you must have experience developing, implementing, and/or performing complex assignments in support of transit safety and security projects, programs, and plans, and ensuring compliance with safety oversight regulations.  You must have experience in developing, modifying, and instructing training course content and materials.  You must also have superb organizational, communication and presentation skills.  Payment of relocation expenses may be authorized.  Ability to obtain and retain a travel credit card is required.

This announcement is open to the general public and under merit promotion for current or former Federal employees and people eligible under special hiring authorities. Please note that merit promotion announcements are the vehicle through which Federal employees generally apply for Federal positions.

Click here for the Merit Promotion Announcement

Click here for the Public Announcement