Supervisory Transportation Program Specialist - DIRECT HIRE

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Supervisory Transportation Program Specialist - DIRECT HIRE

Department of Transportation

Federal Transit Administration

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• Summary
• This job is open to
• Duties
• Requirements
• How you will be evaluated
• Required documents
• How to apply

Summary

The Director of Planning and Program Development in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Region 1), provides leadership and expert technical guidance to carry out the region's core functions related to federal transportation grant development, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Metropolitan and State Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs/STIPs) and Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWPs).

Learn more about this agency

Summary

The Director of Planning and Program Development in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Region 1), provides leadership and expert technical guidance to carry out the region's core functions related to federal transportation grant development, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Metropolitan and State Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs/STIPs) and Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWPs).

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Posted today · Apply by 06/10/26

Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 10, 2026

This job will close when we have received 125 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

Location

Cambridge, MA

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible Yes-This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency's telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $167,560 - $197,200 per year Pay scale & grade

GS 15

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time - Full Time Travel Required 25% or less - Some travel will be required.

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 2101 Transportation Specialist

Supervisory status Yes Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No

Drug test No Security clearance Not Required Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required Yes - The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number FTA.R1-2026-0001 Control number 870895300

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The Rule of Many, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

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The Supervisory Transportation Program Specialist:

• Serves as the Director of Planning and Program Development within the regional office. Works under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Administrator and Regional Administrator supporting the region's core program and execution of grant management and project oversight requirements.
• Provides executive leadership and direction to a team of staff and Planning and Program Development consultants, who provide technical assistance, grants, project management, and oversight for capital and operating projects designed to improve mobility and support the delivery of public transportation throughout the region; routinely making recommendations across all of these areas to enhance operations within the Regional office and across FTA.
• Ensures that staff reserves and records commitments of and certifies funds in coordination with the appropriate Headquarters office.
• Mentors and coaches employees and assists in the creation of individual development plans and their implementation.  Creates a culture that encourages others to meet the organizations mission and leads staff successfully on projects, programs or task groups.
• Performs a full range of first-level supervisory responsibilities. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short- term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Develops performance standards and evaluates work performance of subordinates. Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. Interviews candidates for positions in the division and recommends selection. Hears and resolves complaints from employees, referring group grievances and more serious complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager. Effects minor disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, recommending other action in more serious cases. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees, providing or arranging for needed development and training. Finds ways to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the work directed.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority/SME will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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 Federal service.

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: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: New supervisors must complete a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirements.

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 and directing staff, to include tracking and evaluating their performance.
• Experience managing and implementing projects, policies, and procedures, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Metropolitan and State Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs/STIPs) and Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWPs), and Federal transportation grants.
• Experience reviewing and tracking data, preparing and delivering briefings and presentations, writing memos and other written materials to internal and external audiences.
• Experience planning work to be accomplished by subordinates and setting and adjusting short-term and long-term priorities for a team, mentoring employees and leadong staff on projects, programs or task groups.

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:

• Program Management - Provides strategic oversight and coordination of federal transportation planning and environmental Review processes. It involves the integrated management of NEPA compliance and statewide and metropolitan fiscal planning (STIPs/TIPs). •
• Grant Administration - Oversees the development and award of federal grants to eligible recipients. •
• Written and Oral Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
• Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicants criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For this announcement, applications will be reviewed to determine if the applicant meets the basic qualifications for this position. The applications of individuals who meet the basic qualifications will be assessed to validate that the applicant possesses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) at the level of proficiency needed to perform the job successfully. Applicants who are found to possess the necessary KSAs to perform the job may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required documents

Required Documents

Help

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 Full-time or 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. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the standards for this vacancy 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.

Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.

For more information, please review the OPM Employees 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 USA Jobs 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.

How to Apply

Help

You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (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.

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office

Phone 000-000-0000 Fax 000-000-0000 Email TRANSJOBS@dot.gov Address DOT, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

Submit Application and Documents Online

1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50

Washington, District of Columbia 20590

United States

Next steps

You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist may evaluate your application. If evaluated, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Required Documents

Help

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 Full-time or 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. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the standards for this vacancy 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.

Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.

For more information, please review the OPM Employees 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 USA Jobs 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.

How to Apply

Help

You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (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.

Expand Hide how to apply

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office

Phone 000-000-0000 Fax 000-000-0000 Email TRANSJOBS@dot.gov Address DOT, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

Submit Application and Documents Online

1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50

Washington, District of Columbia 20590

United States

Next steps

You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist may evaluate your application. If evaluated, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.

Expand Hide next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Federal Transit Administration

Dedicated to delivering results that matter to the American people, the FTA supports, improves, and promotes effective public transportation for the Nations communities. Through the administration, management, and oversight of a $20 billion annual grant program, FTA supports the development and construction of subway, light rail, and bus systems to help communities provide travel choices; improve access to jobs and health care; drive economic growth; and protect the environment.

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office

Phone 000-000-0000 Fax 000-000-0000 Email TRANSJOBS@dot.gov Address DOT, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

Submit Application and Documents Online

1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50

Washington, District of Columbia 20590

United States

Summary

The Director of Planning and Program Development in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Region 1), provides leadership and expert technical guidance to carry out the region's core functions related to federal transportation grant development, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Metropolitan and State Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs/STIPs) and Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWPs).

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Posted today · Apply by 06/10/26

Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 10, 2026

This job will close when we have received 125 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

Location

Cambridge, MA

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible Yes-This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency's telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $167,560 - $197,200 per year Pay scale & grade

GS 15

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time - Full Time Travel Required 25% or less - Some travel will be required.

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 2101 Transportation Specialist

Supervisory status Yes Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No

Drug test No Security clearance Not Required Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required Yes - The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number FTA.R1-2026-0001 Control number 870895300

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