Highway Accident Investigator (Human Performance) Direct-Hire

About the role

This position is in the Investigations Division of the Office of Highway Safety (HS).

The incumbent will serve as a Human Performance Investigator and will be responsible for organizing, managing, and coordinating the human performance investigation of highway crashes and securing, documenting, and analyzing evidence necessary to develop, write, and present factual and analytical reports.

What you will do

• Leads and manages the human performance group during the on-scene phase of highway crashes or highway-related investigations under the direction of the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) to investigate, collect, and document factual crash-related data and physical evidence, interview operators and witnesses, review driving-related histories, arrange for testing and examination of physical evidence.
• Writes complete factual reports and assures adequate coverage and documentation of all pertinent evidence related to human performance, participates in all planning and strategy meetings related to the investigation, reviews data and other investigative reports provided by others for adequacy, validity, substance, and technical accuracy.
• Correlates and analyzes evidence and data collected to provide an accurate time history of the human performance before, during, and after the crash by applying the principles of scientific methodology, logic, human performance, and other fields related to interactions of humans, materials and machines, and the environment.
• Identifies and assesses the significance of human performance aspects of the investigation; participates in the identification and selection of safety issues and writes complete and authoritative analysis reports addressing pertinent findings and recommendations to ensure all applicable safety issues are addressed.
• Reviews highway transportation regulations, standards, guidelines, or specifications established or proposed by government agencies and technical societies/associations pertaining to highway safety and human performance factors.
• Orally presents technical views, facts and analysis supporting safety issues and recommendations before the full Board.
• Develops formal presentations and represents the NTSB to national, state, and local level at conferences, symposiums, and meetings, including with public and private organizations and industry associations.

Education

No education substitution at this grade level.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., two-page resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Applicants meeting basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on additional assessments. One of these assessment is USA Hire.

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.

You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).Your USA Hire assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Veteran preference does not apply to direct-hire appointments in the federal government.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application.

If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration. Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: ***

Documents you must provide

• You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire.
• You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package.
• Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager.
• Cover letter is optional.
• The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE: A complete resume is required.
• Resumes are restricted to no more than 2 pages.
• Illegible/unreadable resumes will not be considered.
• Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments.
• Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications.
• The following information should be provided in your resume: employer's name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week, and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience.
• TIP: A good way to ensure you include all essential information is to use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS to create your resume and/or review OPM's video on Resume Writing Tips: Please check the Conditions of Employment section above to see if any are required.
• If you claim membership, license, certification, or credentials, you must submit a copy of said document in your application package.
• Please check the Education section above to see what is allowed and what is required.
• Any claims you make in your resume or assessment questionnaire regarding education or degrees MUST be supported by submitting with your application official or unofficial transcripts or a list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned issued from your school.
• While unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial application, an official transcript will ultimately be required if you are selected for the position.
• You may submit a copy your degree(s) if specific coursework does not have to be verified.
• Are you a veteran claiming 5-point veterans' preference or claiming sole survivorship preference?
• You must submit a copy of your latest DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (any copy that shows all dates of service, as well as character of service [Honorable, General, etc.] is acceptable) OR a VA letter that shows dates of service or service-connected disability AND character of service.
• If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active-duty service, submit a copy for each period of service.
• If you were issued a DD-215 to amend aforementioned information on the DD-214 you must submit that too.
• If you are not sure of your preference eligibility, visit the Department of Labor's website: Veterans' Preference Advisor.
• Are you a disabled veteran or claiming 10-point veterans' preference?
• If you are eligible to claim 10 point veterans preference you must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty as described above for 5-point preference.You must also provide the applicable supporting documentation of your disability (e.g. disability letter from the VA) as described on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). ***
• Are you an active-duty service member?
• Active-Duty Service Members are required to submit a statement of service printed on command letterhead and signed by the command.
• The statement of service must provide the branch of service, rate/rank, all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service dated within 120 days (Honorable, General, etc.).
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit FedsHireVets.gov.
• Are you claiming eligibility under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must submit the following documentation: Proof of ICTAP eligibility.
• Your most recent performance appraisal showing a rating of at least Fully Successful (Level 3) or equivalent.
• Your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), or equivalent personnel action, showing your tenure, position occupied, and duty station.
• Failure to provide all required documentation may result in a determination that you are not eligible for ICTAP consideration.For more information visit: *** Application documents, including supplemental ones, may be shared outside the Human Resources Office.
• Supplemental documents may contain your SSN, DOB, or personal information of others (e.g., on military orders, marriage certificates).
• You may redact this information before submitting; however, if selected, you must provide unredacted originals.
• Failure to submit required documents will result in you being considered as "ineligible" for this position.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

Additional information

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and various benefits as well as work life amenities such as alternate work schedules, telework, flextime, fitness and transit benefits.

If you left Federal Employment and received a buy out and you are selected for this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the payment.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed.

To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) meet the basic qualification standards (including minimum educational and experience requirements; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 and above on the rating criteria for this position; and, (4) submit the appropriate documentation ( to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

For more information visit: *** Note: ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C.

8337(h) or 8456. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.

OPM's web site at *** NTSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit ***

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 ***