About This Position
The Program Analyst supports the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) team by conducting analysis and research on critical program and policy matters. The role involves making strategic recommendations for communications activities, crafting public announcements, and developing high-quality online content.
This position also manages internal and external communications, fosters public engagement, and produces essential speeches and comprehensive briefing materials for senior leadership.
Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade that include: Developing and executing strategies for digital storytelling using platforms like Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. Providing executive communications support for public outreach and stakeholder engagements; assisting in the development of presentation and briefing materials for senior leadership.
Monitoring the success of digital and traditional storytelling efforts. To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D.
OR
equivalent doctoral degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of higher-level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.
To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 grade that include: Developing and executing strategies for digital storytelling using platforms like Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. Providing executive communications support for public outreach and stakeholder engagements, assisting in the development of presentation and briefing materials for senior leadership. Monitoring the success of digital and traditional storytelling efforts, making recommendations to senior leadership on future outreach strategies.
You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience. To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 grade that include: Leading the development of and managing the execution of strategies for digital storytelling using platforms like Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. Identifying needs and independently fulfilling executive communications support for public outreach and stakeholder engagements, assisting in the development of presentation and briefing materials for senior leadership.
Monitoring and evaluating the success of digital and traditional storytelling efforts, making recommendations to senior leadership on future outreach strategies. 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: Communications and Media- Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. Stakeholder Management- Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and techniques used to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a work effort; including those actively involved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who have a vested interest in the outcome.
External Awareness- Identifies and understand economic, political, and social trends that affect the organization. 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.
Major Duties
As a Program Analyst, you will: Based on research, staff collaboration and program analysis, drafts and presents briefing materials to senior leadership, including transit-related industry conferences, meetings, public events and special projects where FTA officials are participating. Supports lead event planner in event planning of program implementation. Communicates with colleagues, executive management team members, and other contacts outside the agencies.
Supports senior staff in representing OST with stakeholders including trade associations, professional organizations, grantees, and Congressional staff. The ideal candidate will have experience translating complex government programs or issues into plain language for effective storytelling across a broad range of audiences, including but not limited to traditional and online media; Congress; internal and external stakeholders; other government agencies.
Conditions of Employment
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 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)..
How You Will Be Evaluated
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.
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Additional Information
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
How to Apply
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/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: [email protected]
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 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 TRANSCRIPTS are REQUIRED 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. 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 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.
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