The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is accepting applications for Highway Safety Specialist positions in Washington, DC. The recruitment covers GS-11 through GS-13 and lists annual pay from $85,447 to $158,322. Multiple selections may be made from the announcement.
The jobs are in NHTSA’s Office of Research and Program Development. The work focuses on behavioral traffic-safety programs intended to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths, with responsibilities that combine program design, policy support, technical assistance and coordination with outside partners.
Traffic Safety Programs
Specialists work on issues such as impaired driving, distracted driving, drowsy driving, seat-belt use, child passenger safety, pediatric vehicle heatstroke and vulnerable road users.
The employee helps translate research and policy priorities into practical programs that can be used by NHTSA and its national, regional, state and local partners.
Main Responsibilities
- Develop and manage comprehensive traffic-safety programs.
- Provide technical assistance to national, regional and state partners.
- Draft and edit planning documents, initiative briefs and program materials.
- Serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative or technical advisor for research and demonstration work.
- Coordinate with government and safety partners on implementation.
- Monitor projects and contractor work against program objectives.
GS-11 Qualification Route
At GS-11, candidates can qualify with specialized experience, qualifying graduate education or an allowed combination. Relevant experience includes work in behavioral safety or public-health programs aimed at reducing injuries or fatalities, partner coordination and writing or editing connected to agency programs.
The education-only route requires three years of progressively higher graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
GS-12 and GS-13 Requirements
At GS-12, NHTSA expects specialized experience involving behavioral highway-safety programs, risky driving or vulnerable-road-user issues, partner liaison work and independent program writing or editing. Education does not replace the experience requirement at this level.
GS-13 requires a higher degree of responsibility, including developing and managing traffic-safety or public-health projects and policies, maintaining partnerships across levels of government and coordinating executive-level correspondence.
Two-Phase Federal Review
NHTSA uses a two-phase selection process. The first stage reviews the technical qualifications shown in the resume, and only the first two pages are considered. Candidates who pass can move to a subject-matter-expert assessment.
Your resume should show dates, hours worked and specific examples that prove the specialized experience for the grade you want. A title by itself is not enough.
How to Apply
Submit the application through USAJOBS before the closing date. Supporting documents depend on the hiring path and whether education is being used to qualify.
Applications Closed
The closing date for this opportunity was 22 August 2026.