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Trainee Positions
Occasionally, the Federal Railroad Administration recruits for Transportation Specialists at the GS-5 or GS-7 grade levels. These positions are developmental and include formal classroom training and on-the-job training experience in order to provide the individual with the qualifications necessary to perform the duties of a Railroad Safety Inspector at the journeyman level of a GS-12. Individuals receive training and on-the-job exposure to all five of the Railroad Safety Inspector occupational disciplines (i.e., Hazardous Materials, Operating Practices, Motive Power and Equipment, Track, and Signals and Train Control). Upon reaching the GS-9 grade level, the individual is assigned to one of the Railroad Safety Inspector disciplines and the training from that point is specialized in relation to that particular discipline. Upon successful completion of the program, it is expected that an individual would be eligible for Railroad Safety Inspector positions at the GS-12 full performance level.
This is an on-going program and there are no specific hiring goals established. As Railroad Safety Inspector vacancies occur, the FRA may fill the position at the GS-12 grade level, or consider filling the position at the GS-5 or GS-7 level. Should the FRA decide to fill a Railroad Safety Inspector vacancy with a trainee, a vacancy announcement will be issued and posted on the USAJOBS and on FRA JOBS website.