Lead Program Specialist (Student Transportation)

Summary About the Position: This position is located in Brussels, Belgium within Europe West DSO Transportation. Federal employees in Brussels, Belgium are currently entitled to receive a 50% Post Allowance (COLA) in addition to the base salary. This rate is subject to change. The initial length of this overseas tour is 36 months. This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. Learn more about this agency Duties Coordinating and adjusting transportation routes, stops, and schedules to support changing operational requirements in a K-12 educational or comparable passenger transportation environment. Applying transportation policies, regulations, and safety standards to ensure compliance with federal, state, local, or host-nation requirements. Forecasting transportation requirements and assisting in the preparation, justification, or monitoring of transportation budgets to ensure efficient use of appropriated funds. Monitoring contractor or service provider performance, verifying invoicing accuracy, and ensuring services comply with contractual terms (e.g., COR/ACOR-related responsibilities). Coordinating with school officials, installation leadership, community representatives, and parents to resolve transportation issues and ensure safe student movement. Developing or implementing special transportation arrangements to meet the needs of individuals requiring accommodations. Leading or providing technical guidance to team members in the execution of transportation program functions, ensuring adherence to applicable regulations and procedural standards. Requirements Conditions of employment Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Requirement. Proof of U.S. Citizenship required. Direct deposit of pay is required. One year trial or probationary period may be required. Appointment subject to a suitability/fitness determination, as determined by a background investigation. This position requires a Tier 3 (T3) Non Critical-Sensitive investigation with Childcare Checks since its duties require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age. This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. You may be required to sign a transportation agreement. Must be able to satisfy the requirements of the 26JUL12 DODI 1400.25 V1230, DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Employment in Foreign Areas and Employee Return Rights. Visit https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/. Individuals hired from the Continental United States (CONUS) and their family members (who are US citizens) are required to obtain Official Passports prior to departure to the overseas area. Requires a valid Driver's License Qualifications Who May Apply: U.S. Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Specialized Experience for GS-11:One year of specialized experience which includes coordinating transportation routes, stops, and schedules in a K-12 or comparable passenger transportation environment; applying transportation regulations and safety standards to ensure compliance with federal, state, local, or host-nation requirements; forecasting transportation needs and assisting with budget planning or monitoring to ensure efficient use of funds; overseeing transportation service providers or contractors to ensure compliance with contractual requirements and billing accuracy; coordinating with agency officials, installation leadership, community representatives, and stakeholders to resolve transportation issues and ensure safe student movement; developing transportation solutions for individuals requiring accommodations; and providing technical guidance to staff in the execution of transportation program functions. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire Family member appointments will expire based on the sponsor's rotation date. Family member appointments may not exceed two months after an employee is no longer considered a family member within the local commuting area due to PCS or divorce of sponsor or, in the case of a child, the age of 23. Family members are defined according to the DODI 1400.25, Vol.1232 as: For a military member whose duty station is in a foreign area, the member's spouse or unmarried dependent child. For a civilian US employee as defined by section 2105 of Title 5, United States Code, the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or unmarried dependent child, or unmarried child of the employee's spouse or domestic partner. A family member must physically reside with his or her sponsor to receive family member preference. Be advised that effective Jan. 1 2018, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, most civilian employee relocation allowances became taxable. The Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) reimburses eligible employees for the additional Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred as a result of receiving taxable travel income. RITA does not apply to new government employees or employees returning from an overseas assignment for the purpose of separation from Government service. For more information, visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction.html. Selectees initially recruited from the United States may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc. (Subject to approval). Overseas allowances may be authorized in accordance with Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR) and DoDI 1400.25 volume 1250. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/1400.25-V1250.pdf Additional information Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in the DoD Instruction 1315.19. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are not considered Ordinarily Resident under the applicable Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). An ordinarily resident is anyone who has lived in the host country longer than the allowed number of days without being a member of the forces assigned, civilian component or a family member of either the aforementioned or who has obtained a work permit for any duration. Ordinarily Resident restrictions apply and vary depending on the host nation. Applicants who have family members with special medical needs should ensure that prior to accepting a position overseas their family members' medical needs can be met. Access to care in a military treatment facility may not be available to civilian employees except on a space available basis. Consequently, host nation medical facilities may be the only care available. The availability and level of care at host nation medical facilities will vary by location. Employees (and family members) who require medical or dental care in the overseas location will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care. Access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only. Medical and dental care may be provided by host nation providers. The availability and level of care at host nation medical and dental facilities will vary by location. Status candidates subject to the 5 year overseas rotation, who are currently overseas, must have enough time to meet the initial tour stated in the job announcement. Waivers may not be granted to meet the 5 year limitation requirement. Status applicants in their fourth year of an overseas assignment cannot be selected unless a waiver of the 5 year overseas service limitation requirement is approved. Selectees recruited outside the U.S. will have their eligibility for foreign area benefits determined at the time of hire. For positions in a foreign country, that country's laws or international agreements may have a direct impact on the ability of an employee's same sex domestic partner or spouse to accompany the employee and receive certain benefits. If you believe you may be affected by these laws and agreements, you should familiarize yourself with relevant information before applying for or accepting this position. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. I've added the blurb to the announcement templates and attached the information sheet link Applicants with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should notify [email protected] You can find more information about this vacancy in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. Expand Hide  additional information 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 Review our benefits