This position will support the Federal Government's response efforts to COVID-19
These positions are located in the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA). ETA provides Federal grants and technical assistance to State and local levels that provide workforce development services to various populations.
These positions are inside of the bargaining unit.
Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.
Summary
This position will support the Federal Government's response efforts to COVID-19
These positions are located in the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA). ETA provides Federal grants and technical assistance to State and local levels that provide workforce development services to various populations.
These positions are inside of the bargaining unit.
Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.
This is an Excepted Service temporary position NTE 1 year which may be extended for an additional year for a maximum of 2 years in support of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Coordinates unemployment insurance programs within the agency. Researches, compiles, and analyzes information and data to use in program administration planning; makes recommendations.
Manages a grant portfolio within assigned program area(s) and conducts the day-to-day grant management for the grants within his/her grant portfolio. Performs analyses of grant- related data, policy and program issues, and applies problem-solving techniques to address issues.
Engages in on-going communication with grantees in order to establish a good communication protocol.
Works collaboratively with senior specialists, administrative, program, and performance offices that play a role in the administration of ETA.
May carryout activities in the pre-award phase, such as review grant funding applications or state plans, negotiate performance goals, and make funding recommendations to the Grant Officer.
Prepares and delivers presentations to various internal and external audiences on unemployment insurance programs.
Participates in the development of policy guidance and technical assistance resources for ETA grantees and workforce system stakeholders.
Participates in the development of internal standard operating procedures.
Provides Compliance Assistance
Communicates Federal and grant award requirements to grantees collaboratively with senior specialists to ensure understanding of grant requirements. Provides advice and consultation to grantees on unemployment insurance issues and concerns.
Ensures that grantees deliver agreed upon products and services, achieve negotiated performance outcomes, and operate in accordance with programmatic, administrative, and budgetary requirements.
Interprets Federal requirements and procedures to grantees to assist them to comply with Federal requirements.
Works with grantees to identify potential issues and conducts research on policy guidance and legislation. Reviews policy and guidance for application. Provides guidance to grantee(s).
Reviews the administration and operation of Federal and State unemployment insurance programs and systems, with a primary focus on agency internal operations including the planning and development of automated benefit and tax systems.
Coordinates systems for the assessment of unemployment insurance program accuracy and quality (i.e, BAM peer review, TPS peer review, BTQ peer review, appeals peer review).
Conducts Oversight
Conducts risks assessments of assigned grants.
Conducts quarterly desk reviews of assigned grants (i.e., performance analysis of grantee quarterly progress and fiscal reports).
As necessary, designates grantees at risk, including notification to grantee, remediation, and documentation.
Develops and carries out monitoring plan, in accordance with annual work plan instructions.
Participates in on-site compliance monitoring reviews and Enhanced Desk Monitoring Reviews (EDMRs) of grantees to: evaluate the grantee’s progress towards meeting the goals specified in the grant agreement with DOL ETA; assess the quality of the program and services; ensure that grant activities are being conducted in compliance with the grant agreement and applicable Federal regulations.
Prepares highly complex monitoring reports upon the completion of a monitoring.
Provides Technical Assistance
Participates in development of major technical assistance events and development and delivery of training for grantees and other stakeholders.
Provides technical assistance to grantees to assist them in accomplishing the goals and objectives of the grant by applying problem solving techniques to address deficiencies.
Participates in on-site technical assistance (TA) visits to grantee sites.
Participates in the development of policy guidance and technical assistance resources for ETA grantees and workforce system stakeholders.
Provides technical assistance to grantees on a full-range of grant management areas, including but not limited to: the development and submission of grant modification requests; the development of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs); grant close-out, evaluations or audits.
Maintains Grant Records
Effectively utilizes electronic grant management systems in accordance with established guidelines and protocols.
Maintains grant files and adheres to grant management documentation requirements established in Employment and Training Orders (ETOs).
Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
U.S. Citizenship.
Must be at least 16 years of age.
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.
Qualifications
The Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist Series, GS-0106, has specific basic requirements described in an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). Applicants must meet the below basic education requirement as well as the specialized experience requirement from the IOR.
Education
Undergraduate Education: Major study -- economics, industrial relations, law, sociology, political science, public administration, or other related fields. Courses in statistics or mathematics applicable to the social sciences are creditable up to a maximum of 12 semester hours.
Graduate Education: Major study -- one or a combination of the social sciences that included social science research methodology and techniques, and provided a knowledge of the history, concepts, methods, and techniques of social insurance and/or the social and economic conditions under which social insurance programs operate.
or
Experience
General Experience (for GS-5 positions): Experience in social science or related fields such as economics, sociology, political science, public administration, or industrial relations, or in the application of statistics or mathematics in these fields.
Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience related to social insurance. This includes experience applying statistics or mathematics to the social insurance field. Specialized experience must have demonstrated:
A knowledge of current social and economic conditions under which social insurance programs operate, and the principles of Federal/State/local relationships;
The ability to extend and modify existing techniques and methods or to develop new ones to identify, isolate, and resolve special problems; and
The ability to develop effective collaborative relationships with personnel in other fields and with groups having conflicting objectives.
Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained through work in the following or similar types of programs: unemployment insurance; old-age and survivors' insurance; workers' compensation; disability compensation; or other public or private programs covering common social insurance risks.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal Service possessing:
Specialized experience is experience:
Using knowledge of Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs, including legislation, policies, programs, and regulations;
Assessing UI program accuracy and quality;
Supporting reviews and evaluations of UI benefit, tax systems, functions, and activities designed to enhance UI program integrity, performance, or quality to improve services to claimants and employers;
Providing advice on UI program requirements;
Reviewing state legislation for conformity with Federal requirements;
Using researching and analysis to provide recommendations and conduct briefings for ETA officials and other stakeholders on unemployment insurance guidance and policy;
Assisting with setting goals, managing projects, tracking progress, and evaluating outcomes; and
Working collaboratively and maintaining cooperative relationships with officials in federal, state, or local government agencies or public entities.
Education
There is no substitution of education at the GS-12 grade level.
Additional information
DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
These positions will be filled in one or more locations: Little Rock, AR; Phoenix, AZ; San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO; Boise, ID; Baton Rouge, LA; Helena, MT; Carson City, NV; Santa Fe, NM; Bismarck, ND; Oklahoma City, OK; Salem, OR; Pierre, SD; Dallas, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; Olympia, WA; Cheyenne, WY.
*There are 3 positions available. The location is negotiable in one of the advertised areas at the time of selection. Please apply for the location(s) that you are able and available to report to. Once your application is submitted, you will only be considered for the location(s) that are selected. Final determination of work location is made by the agency.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
Unemployment Insurance Program Knowledge: Development, promotion and evaluation of unemployment insurance programs administered under the Federal-State joint arrangement; knowledge of the history, concepts, methods, and techniques of social insurance and of the social and economic conditions under which the program operates. Knowledge of program and requirements to develop, adapt, and apply new techniques and methods to solve problems, improve effectiveness, and provide technical assistance to customers.
Oversight and Technical Assistance: Conducts risk assessments of assigned grants; participates in development of major technical assistance events and development and delivery of training for stakeholders; prepares highly complex monitoring reports upon the completion of a monitoring review.
Problem Solving: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization functions, and the democratic political process. Develops unemployment insurance policy and guidance for state officials’ use in establishing and operating state UI programs. Interprets Federal legislation for unemployment insurance.
Written Communication: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). Your evaluation may also include a review by an HR Specialist or panel and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
– Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - submit if using education as a basis for qualifying for this position. If so, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, PHD, etc). If specific course work is required to qualify, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.
You may upload your transcript(s) as one document (3 MB size limit). If over 3 MB, please submit via fax feature.
OFFICIAL Transcripts MUST BE RECEIVED prior to selection and report date. Reference the “Education Section” for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents. -
Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. For more information, go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx
- Displaced Employee Placement Documents – Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses in the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on www.usajobs.gov that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the Apply button . For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL) On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY”. Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application” The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then “Update Application”.
Labor, Employment and Training Administration
OHR-Dallas Service Center
Dallas, Texas 75202
United States
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
– Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - submit if using education as a basis for qualifying for this position. If so, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, PHD, etc). If specific course work is required to qualify, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.
You may upload your transcript(s) as one document (3 MB size limit). If over 3 MB, please submit via fax feature.
OFFICIAL Transcripts MUST BE RECEIVED prior to selection and report date. Reference the “Education Section” for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents. -
Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. For more information, go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx
- Displaced Employee Placement Documents – Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses in the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on www.usajobs.gov that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the Apply button . For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL) On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY”. Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application” The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then “Update Application”.
Labor, Employment and Training Administration
OHR-Dallas Service Center
Dallas, Texas 75202
United States
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
