Program Analyst (Positive Train Control) - INTERNAL TO FRA

Federal Railroad Administration•Washington, DC

23d

About The Position

This position is in the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Railroad Safety, Signal and Train Control Division. The Program Analyst provides analytical and evaluative expertise, methods, and practices to support critical studies and work related to railroad operations and Positive Train Control (PTC) performance. The role supports compliance audits, analyzes data and trends, monitors PTC performance and reliability metrics, and prepares technical reports, briefings, and responses to congressional inquiries related to PTC rail accidents and incidents. The analyst works with technical and non-technical staff and interacts with leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

For Grade 12: At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 performing quantitative and qualitative analysis of technical or operational data to evaluate program performance.
For Grade 12: At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 utilizing automated data management systems to track and monitor performance metrics.
For Grade 12: At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 writing technical reports to present data-driven findings for leadership review.
For Grade 13: At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-12 utilizing data mining or data-cleansing techniques on databases to identify operational risks, trends, or performance anomalies.
For Grade 13: At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-12 supporting compliance audits to evaluate adherence to federal safety rules, laws, or industry standards.
For Grade 13: At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-12 communicating with stakeholders to mitigate or resolve potential issues that could adversely affect programs and program delivery.
Knowledge of data management principles, procedures, and tools, including data modeling, backup and recovery, data dictionaries, warehousing, mining, archiving, disposal, and standardization.
Ability to identify and analyze problems, assess information, evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations.
Ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively for the intended audience.
Ability to communicate orally effectively, make clear presentations, listen, and respond appropriately.
Submit an application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date, and submit required documents by the closing date.
Complete a one-year probationary period unless already completed; continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Retain and use a government contractor-issued travel card for official business only.
Successfully complete a required background security investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
Federal applicants must satisfy time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at the next lower grade where applicable.
Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
FRA employees, their spouses, and minor children are prohibited from holding railroad stock and must divest prohibited holdings within 90 days of appointment.

Responsibilities

Perform analytical and evaluative duties to support compliance audits.
Conduct data and trend analyses related to railroad operations and Signal and Train Control.
Perform critical studies to identify trends in railroad operations related to PTC performance.
Prepare technical reports and information identifying trends in railroad operations and PTC systems.
Use data mining and analysis to provide reports to the Supervisory Safety Specialist (Signal and Train Control).
Use programs to monitor and maintain databases tracking PTC performance and reliability metrics submitted by applicable host railroads for themselves and their applicable tenant railroads.
Provide briefings, reports, and responses to congressional inquiries related to PTC rail accidents and incidents.