Duties

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Program Specialist, GS-0301-13, you will be responsible for:

Evaluate proposals for operational policy changes; critical program operations issues and initiatives; and improvements prepared by FSA components; and provide advice and recommendations to the Director of PID and other stakeholders on the most advantageous and effective course of action.
Liaison with other business units within FSA on project activities related to process development and integration activities, project planning activities, working with subject matter experts developing requirements, sequencing plans, and processing flow documentation.
Support major long-range operational, regulatory, and policy initiatives designed to attain significant improvements in the level of service delivered to FSA customers and partners and advise management in developing new approaches and concepts in planning and evaluating Title IV policy initiatives.
Represent the office at conferences with state and local educational institutions, and other stakeholders with authority to speak to them on Title IV policy and implementation initiatives.
Contribute to organizational and programmatic changes in response to changes in levels of appropriations or other legislative actions.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must be a US Citizen
Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
Relocation will not be paid.
You may be subject to serve a 1-year probationary period.
Background investigation is required.

Condition Of Employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial 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 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 OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13, if you possess the specialized experience.

Specialized Experience for the GS-13

Duties

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

Experience in interpreting and communicating to leadership, system operations, and external stakeholders' on complex policies, requirements, and processes for subjects within the jurisdiction of law.
Experience working independently on policies, subjects, and projects with outcomes that are high stakes, high level, fast pace, and highly visible to executive leadership.
Experience with managing high level projects simultaneously, and successful collaborate as a subject matter expert across business units/teams that range from operational systems to language for external communications.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

Knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for assessing policies and improving program effectiveness and complex processes and systems.
Ability to independently carry out all phases of work assignments to include planning and organizing evaluations and coordinating with management and/or staff members.
Ability to use judgment and discretion in determining the intent, and in interpreting and revising existing policy, and regulatory guidance for use by others within or outside FSA.
Ability to develop effective and efficient written recommendations, present written agreements and policy guidance, brief recommendations and program concepts, and coordinate with points of contact at all grade levels.
Ability to provide analytical and advisory support to projects requiring the review and analysis of a variety of interrelated evaluation issues involving substantive agency programs.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.

Additional information

Veterans’ Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email sro_recruiting@ed.gov to schedule a session with a career counselor (“Veterans Counseling Session” should be placed in the subject line of the email).

Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment.

Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

Essential/Non-Essential: This position is considered non-essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.

Financial Disclosure: This position does not require financial disclosure.

Bargaining Unit: This position is included in the bargaining unit (American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252).

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.

Referral and Selection

If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the interview process or written assessment or exercise, please inform the selecting official at the time of scheduling.

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days.

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.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

As an ED employee, you will also benefit from our family-friendly work environment. As part of our commitment to maintain a work life balance, we offer excused leave for Parent/Teacher Conferences (3 hours); excused leave for annual health screenings (4 hours); and matching leave for community volunteer service. Other flexibilities that may be available to you include alternative work schedules. You may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to receive a relocation incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program as a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive student loan repayments, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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