Transportation Industry Analyst (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)
Department of Transportation
Summary
This position serves as a Transportation Industry Analyst in the Office of Railroad Development (RRD). This position will serve as Project Manager to oversee the significant FRA investments at Washington Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Duties
- As a Transportation Industry Analyst, you will: Assess the performance of passenger rail, Amtrak and freight rail service, including important, extensive, novel, and controversial issues.
- Promote the stewardship of passenger and freight rail assets that are critical to
- Amtrak and other rail operations through the management of the
- Department's, including FRA, various financial assistance programs, and participation in planning activities for rail infrastructure improvement.
- Develop, analyze, and prepare internal and external communications regarding rail policy, and legislative and budget proposals which may be vague, complex or uncommon.
- Provide technical assistance and support to high level officials at the federal, state, and local level, railroads, and other stakeholders in advancing high-performance passenger and freight rail policy objectives and plans.
- The ideal candidate for this position is a highly motivated mid-level transportation professional who can function independently and demonstrate leadership in team environments with a history of involvement in major project development and delivery.
- Candidates must have the skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences; organizational and management skills; and the ability to handle multiple competing priorities, issues, and projects simultaneously.
- Applicants must have strong analytical and communication skills with experience preparing briefing materials and with the ability to analyze data, draw conclusions, and develop recommendations to present to a variety of audiences and knowledge in the areas of transportation, policy, operations, and stakeholder negotiations.
- The candidate should also possess an in-depth understanding of project development, management, and delivery, including the roles of planning, environmental clearance, and grants management.
- The candidate should have experience managing high-level high-profile stakeholder relationships and require little to no training in complex transportation policies and programs.
Requirements
- CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
- In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the
- Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the
- Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
- SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
- GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.
- A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
- BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals.
- Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
- TIME-IN-GRADE: 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.
- DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
Required Documents
- RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application.
- These should be legible and in a readable font size.
- A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages.
- Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is
- Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles.
- If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level.
- The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.
- PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application.
- To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive
- Award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).
- VETERANS: Your last DD214 (member 4 copy), Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility.
- If applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214 (member-4 copy).
- If claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of
- Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability.
- An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
- If applying to a vacancy opened Status and you are requesting consideration under Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/#veoa), you need to provide a copy of your last DD214 (member-4 copy), which verifies your military service dates, reason
- For separation, OR certification of separation that shows a discharge date within 120 days of the closing of this announcement, and eligibility for consideration under the
- Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.
- FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant.
- DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility.
- For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing.
- We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50.
- Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks' time-in-grade requirements. https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/service/sf-50 NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS: If requesting concurrent consideration for
- Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from
- Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc.
- For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.
- DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the
- Program (CTAP) or
- Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 80) and provide all of the following documents: your most recent performance appraisal, the proof of eligibility letter from the
- Agency, and your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
- Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration.
- For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
- Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
- Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents.
- Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system.
- You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
About this role
The Transportation Industry Analyst (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees) position and is based in Washington, District of Columbia. This position serves as a Transportation Industry Analyst in the Office of Railroad Development (RRD).
Day to day, the work involves as a Transportation Industry Analyst, you will: Assess the performance of passenger rail, Amtrak and freight rail service, including important, extensive, novel, and controversial issues. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
This role calls for United States citizenship, the ability to obtain and hold a security clearance, and the relevant certifications named in the posting. Be prepared for some required travel as part of the hiring process. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Transportation Industry Analyst (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees) position in Washington, District of Columbia, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
Competitiveness for this Transportation Industry Analyst (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees) role depends mainly on how closely applicants match the stated qualifications. The security clearance requirement means a longer hiring timeline, so patience and an early application help. Based in Washington, District of Columbia, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.
