Supervisory Transportation Specialist (Regional Director) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

This position serves as Pipeline Regional Director, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety, US Department of Transportation. You will exercise management direction over the activities of the region to effectively promote, implement, and administer the pipeline safety program of PHMSA. You will report directly to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety and represent the agency with both internal staff and external organizations.

As a Supervisory Transportation Specialist (Regional Director), you will: Direct the planning, implementation, and execution of the regional pipeline safety program under federal statutes (Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act, Transportation Safety Act, and Oil Pollution Act) to protect life and property; set risk-based priorities and collaborates with national leadership to establish agency-wide policies and initiatives. Direct the regional inspection program, accident/incident investigations, and formal enforcement operations; determine probable violations, assess preliminary civil penalties, issue proposed compliance and corrective action orders, preside as the senior official at enforcement hearings, and monitor state pipeline safety program performance. Supervise a geographically dispersed professional and technical workforce, manage workforce planning, and allocate regional operating budgets; serve as the primary regional authority representing PHMSA with governors, state commissioners, other federal/state agencies, technical associations, and corporate executives to negotiate sensitive safety issues. The ideal candidate is an accomplished executive leader with extensive expertise in pipeline safety, hazardous materials transportation, and regulatory compliance, capable of directing a large-scale regional program to safeguard life, property, and the environment. You will demonstrate proven mastery in leading a geographically dispersed technical workforce, administering multi-million-dollar regional operating budgets, and driving organizational health and inclusion. A decisive regulatory authority, you will possesses substantial experience executing risk-based inspection strategies, overseeing accident and incident investigations, and adjudicating high-stakes enforcement actions such as compliance orders, corrective action orders, and civil penalties. Furthermore, you are skilled communicators and negotiator adept at representing the agency before governors, state utility commissioners, federal counterparts, and corporate C-suite executives, seamlessly translating regional insights into national policy and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) and 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, planning, and executing a regional or comprehensive transportation, pipeline, or hazardous materials safety compliance program, including establishing risk-based inspection priorities, directing incident/accident investigations, and executing regulatory enforcement actions (e.g., assessing violations, proposed civil penalties, and compliance or corrective action orders). Experience supervising a multidisciplinary, professional, or geographically dispersed technical workforce, including setting performance standards, addressing employee relations/grievances, championing EEO and inclusive workplace initiatives, and managing regional budget formulation, staffing allocation, and resource planning. Experience serving as an authoritative agency representative or liaison negotiating sensitive, controversial safety and regulatory matters with senior stakeholders (such as state/federal agency leaders, elected officials, and industry executives), while advising executive leadership on the development and implementation of national safety policies, statutory updates, or operating standards. 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: Developing Others / Conflict Management / Team Building): Mastery of leadership and supervisory principles to oversee, guide, and engage a large, geographically dispersed technical workforce through subordinate supervisors. Skill in setting performance standards, resolving employee grievances and disciplinary actions, managing regional workforce and succession planning, and leading an inclusive, high-morale work environment. Compliance Inspection / Risk Management / Technical Credibility): Mastery of advanced transportation, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety statutes, engineering/scientific principles, and administrative laws. Skill in directing regional risk-based inspection programs, incident investigations, and formal enforcement operations (including issuing compliance orders, corrective action orders, and preliminary civil penalties). Partnering / Influencing/Negotiating / External Awareness): Ability to represent the agency as an authoritative spokesperson in negotiations with high-level external stakeholder including governors, state utility commissioners, federal/state partner agencies, and corporate C-suite executives on sensitive or controversial regulatory matters, while collaborating with senior agency leadership to formulate national policies and strategic initiatives. 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.