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Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist

Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The mission of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is to contribute to the more efficient functioning of the U.S. Labor market by providing high quality job training, employment, labor market information and income maintenance services primarily through state and local workforce development systems. 

This position is inside of the Bargaining Unit.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 05/12/2021
Closed date: 05/25/2021
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$71,987 - $93,588 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Promotion potential
12
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 25% or less
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
DE-21-DAL-ETA-098
Control number
601346700

Duties

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The incumbent serves in a developmental capacity as an Unemployment Insurance Specialist:

  • 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 grantrelated
    data, policy and program issues, and applies problem-solving techniques to address issues.
  • Works collaboratively with senior specialists, administrative, program, and performance
    offices that play a role in the administration of ETA grants.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • Aides senior level staff 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.
  • Effectively utilizes electronic grant management systems in accordance with established
    guidelines and protocols.
  • May provide 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.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
  • Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-9 in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience for the GS-11 level is (must meet all):

  • Assisting senior staff with interpretation of unemployment insurance legislation, policies, programs, and regulations;
  • Providing advice on unemployment insurance program requirements;
  • Reviewing documents for conformity with unemployment insurance Federal requirements;
  • Assessing unemployment insurance program accuracy and quality; and
  • Working collaboratively and maintaining cooperative relationships with officials in federal, state, or local government agencies or public entities.

Education

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR):

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.

For GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related

OR

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.

In addition to the experience above, you must also have below:

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.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Transcripts are needed if you're qualifying based on education.

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.

Refer to these links for more information:

GENERAL INFORMATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

How you will be evaluated

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

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.

Categories

Category A - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.

Category B - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies required by this position.

Category C - Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualifications requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLES ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles who are placed into Category B or higher will be considered "well-qualified".

Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

Technical Competence: - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues

Data Management - Ability to use data including financial and performance data to improve programs.

Written Communication - Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information.  Ability to use correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling to communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing. Ability to make oral presentations.

Interpersonal Skills - Ability to show understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others; relates well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.

Teamwork - Ability to work with other staff members toward the completion of a common goal.Effectively manage work relationships and assignments while working with staff from other disciplines. Experience leading teams towards the execution of goals.

A writing sample may be required as part of the interview process.


To preview questions please click here.

Employment and Training Administration

Agency contact information

P. Parks
Phone
202-693-2646
Fax
00-000-0000
Email
parks.patti.c@dol.gov
Address
Labor, Employment and Training Administration
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20210
United States

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https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/vacancy-information#marketing-statement

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