Senior Compliance Investigator

Summary

Serving within PHMSA/OHMS Field Operations (DOT), this position acts as the regional focal point for operational plans, policies, training, and program management. Reporting to the Regional Director, the incumbent aligns regional enforcement with national priorities, standardizes field activities, and ensures operational readiness. They direct Multiagency Strike Force Operations (MASFO) and provide expert guidance to protect the public from hazardous materials transportation risks.

Duties

The Senior Compliance Investigator: Serves as the Regional Coordinator for operational planning and execution. Exercises oversight and direction over regional compliance programs, ensuring the effective implementation of national policies and standardization initiatives. Develops and directs Multiagency Strike Force Operations (MASFO) within the regional area of responsibility. Coordinates with Federal, state, and local partners to identify, plan, and execute high-impact enforcement operations, maximizing the utilization of assets and cross-functional cooperation. Plans and executes comprehensive training programs for regional investigators to ensure technical proficiency and operational consistency. Serves as a liaison and provides direct training support to the National Training and Qualification Branch (NTQB) in Oklahoma City, ensuring field-level needs are integrated into national curriculum development. Facilitates internal, and external meetings, ensuring clear communication of regional priorities, trends, and operational goals. Assists with report processing, quality control, and the dissemination of lessons learned to ensure regional and national alignment. Plans and executes System Integrity Safety endeavors, leveraging data-driven approaches to identify and mitigate high-risk transportation trends. Utilizes Hazardous Materials Safety data systems to perform trend analysis and develops systematic approaches to address emerging safety challenges. Participates in the development of national program policy and initiatives. Advises the Region Director on the operational impact of policies, identifies performance gaps, and recommends modifications to regional or national procedures. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with alliance partners, including other Federal, State, and local agencies and industry trade associations. Serves as a primary point of contact for complex compliance issues, advising management on priorities and resource allocation. The ideal candidate for this position will have a mastery of broad and complex transportation principles and PHMSA's compliance and enforcement programs. Extensive technical knowledge in all regulated areas, including scientific principles, test and measurement techniques, and the potential risks involved in transporting hazardous materials. Expert knowledge of transportation concepts, principles, and methodologies to serve as a primary advisor to the Director and management team. Demonstrated mastery in leading and managing complex operational activities, including the ability to plan, organize, and conduct inspections and training. Exceptional skill in communicating effectively, orally and in writing, with high-level audiences.

Requirements

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. TRAINING: You must successfully complete a residential 12-week formal training course including any pre- and/or post-course training requirements. Travel to and from this residential training will be paid as allowed by government travel regulations. Individuals who do not successfully complete the training academy may be separated from employment with the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration. DRUG TEST: If selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing. 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. Please see Other information for additional instructions.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirements. To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include: Experience providing technical expertise, advice, and guidance on national and multi-region enforcement activities. Experienced in field investigations and conducting operational monitoring and managerial integration of enforcement functions to ensure transportation enforcement is executed. Experience with technical knowledge in hazardous materials specialties, including scientific principles, test and measurement techniques and effects of conditions normally incident to transportation of hazardous materials. Experience in OHMS, PHMSA and DOT activities, policies, and regulations. 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: Compliance Inspection: Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with compliance inquiries, including application of compliance rules and criteria and ability to make appropriate decisions and issue citations, fines, or orders. Risk Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used for risk assessment and mitigation, including assessment of failures and their consequences. Oral Communication (*): Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. 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.

How you will be evaluated

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: Please be clear and specific when describing your experience, as HR evaluates applications strictly on the facts provided and will not make assumptions. To receive full credit, your narrative responses must be written in paragraph format and explicitly match your resume. Begin each response by listing the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full- or part-time status, average weekly hours, and federal series/grade (if applicable). Within the body of the paragraph, clearly describe your specific duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes. HR will cross-check these details against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every claim and timeframe, the experience will not be considered for credit, which may result in an ineligible determination." Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position, must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position. All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You may preview questions for this vacancy.

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 is 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 (e.g., Program Analyst, GS-343-11 | January 2009–Present | 40 Hours/Week). 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. TRANSCRIPTS: Transcripts are REQUIRED if there is a stated education requirement for the series OR if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. ENGINEERS: If you are applying to an engineering position and are qualifying based on possessing a current Professional Engineer (PE) license, or passing the Engineer in Training (EIT) exam, please provide a copy of PE license or written documented proof of passing the EIT. CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL APPLICANTS: Submit SF-50 documentation proving your highest competitive grade, federal eligibility, and 52-week time-in-grade requirement. To pass HR validation, it's recommended to combine and upload these into a single PDF: Start Date: The SF-50 showing when you were originally appointed or promoted to the qualifying grade. End Date: An SF-50 dated at least 52 weeks later (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase, promotion, or subsequent action) to prove a sequential 52-week period. Warning on Incomplete Documentation: Do not submit an award or current-year annual pay adjustment SF-50 by itself. These do not prove your original entry date or grade. If your documents fail to conclusively prove a full 52-week history, you will be rated Ineligible. https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/service/sf-50 PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS / INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, you may submit recent performance appraisals and incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months. To receive due consideration during the evaluation process, your performance appraisal must show the official rating of record and be signed by a supervisor. If an appraisal is unavailable, you must submit a statement explaining why (do not submit a performance plan). Qualifying incentive documentation includes superior performance, special act or achievement awards, and quality step increases. All submitted documentation will be forwarded to the selecting official to support your application. If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): your most recent performance appraisal, the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade. YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL 3 documents and meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 80) to be considered under CTAP. Displaced employees may be eligible for CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition. IMPORTANT: Submit all required resume details and documents by the closing date. Verify that all files have successfully transferred before submitting. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified.

How to apply

To be considered, you must submit all required resume details and applicable documents no later than 11:59 (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. Note: Uploading documents to USAJobs does not automatically attach them to this application. You must review and verify that all files are successfully transferred to our system before final submission. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified. To begin, click the Apply Online button on the job announcement. 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/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: [email protected].

Other information

Positions are available in the following locations: Central Region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Southwest Region: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Due to the remote work nature of this position, you must have access to high speed internet meeting current Agency standards from chosen work location and sign a remote work agreement. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's 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, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions is similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate(s).

What to expect next

You may check your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account. Within two weeks of the closing date, your application will be reviewed and rated. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring manager will contact you directly. Once a hiring decision is made, we will notify all applicants of their final status.