Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible.

The Administrative Officer (SSD Chief) directs a broad and multifaceted program of services and management programs in the Regional Office. The SSD Chief plans, manages and evaluates the administrative and finance sections. The Chief is responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling and evaluating the activities of these sections and informing key officials on all phases of administration and finance functions of the Regional Office. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Keeps the Division Chiefs and Director informed on matters that affect the station or require attention.
• Give advice and recommendations on the administrative feasibility of operating plans, suggestions, and proposals.
• Reviews existing support service programs and recommends modification for improvement as needed.
• In partnership with the Director, develops, recommends, and implements a variety of programs, the failure of which would have extreme adverse impact on the overall operating capacity of the office services.
• Presents regular briefings to the Division Chiefs and Director, providing workload status, progress on projects, and making upper management aware of all issues or problems with which he/she should be acquainted or must become involved.
• Conducts detailed studies and analysis of organizational functions and work processes during all phases of RO activities and provides appropriate recommendations.
• Oversees the financial and budgetary operations through the subordinate supervisor and is responsible for coordinating and managing the exchange of information between the Finance staff, and operating divisions.
• Acts in an advisory capacity to the Director relative to the availability of funds for personnel additions, procurement of equipment and significant expenditures for contractual services.
• Serves as Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Official who manages the PIV issuance process at the Regional Office and is responsible for the total scope of the chain trust of the process.

Promotion Potential: This position is being advertised at the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Standard 5 day, 8 hours, full time (40 hours a week) schedule; Hours may vary to effectively carry out the mission.
Telework: Available per station policy
Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position
Position Description/PD#: Administrative Officer/ #37527-0
Financial Disclosure Report: Required-Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, under 5 CFR 2634.904(a) prior to entering on duty and annually thereafter
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation expenses and services (Permanent Change of Station - PCS) are authorized for this recruitment. PCS is the relocation of a household due to government convenience in connection with the transfer between duty stations or facilities. In consideration of the payment of expenses for travel and transportation, the selectee agrees to remain in federal service for twelve (12) months following the date of transfer. Failure to complete all conditions of the obligated service may result in repayment of travel/transportation expenses. Click here for more information.

Conditions of employment

• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.

Qualifications

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

• If you are a current VBA employee seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-13 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-13.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience is experience in a multifaceted program of services, management programs, and budget/fiscal and administrative operations for a federal office. The experience must demonstrate the following:

• Preparing administrative study findings, recommendations, plans, and reports;
• Providing advice on programs and procedures pertaining to facilities, budgets, security, safety, and other administrative program functions;
• Presenting position papers and technical presentations to top management or the public involving administrative program issues;
• Conducting independent evaluations of administrative functions; and
• Preparing and monitoring complex budgets and resolving financial management issues.

Candidates must also have demonstrated in their work experience or training that they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities to successfully supervise subordinates and to operate and manage a successful program operation to include making and/or approving selections and promotions; preparing performance ratings and awards; making decisions on non-routine training needs, training requests, extensive overtime and employee travel.

SUPERVISORY/MANAGERIAL ABILITIES: Candidates must also demonstrate experience or training they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities of successful supervision as follows:

1) Assign to and review work of subordinates, train and work effectively with subordinates from a variety of backgrounds and with different levels/areas of training;
2) Accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time;
3) Plan own work and carry out assignments effectively;
4) Communicate with others effectively both orally and in writing in working out solutions to problems or questions relating to the work;
5) Understand and further management goals as these affect day-to-day work operations; and
6) Develop improvements in, or design new work methods and procedures.

Volunteer Experience: 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; religions; 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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements:This work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. This position is primarily sedentary with some walking, standing, bending, stooping and carrying of lightweight items (i.e. folders, claims files).

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

1. TECHNICAL COMPETENCE: Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to VBA financial and administrative programs and other Federal (or similar) programs.
2. LEADERSHIP: Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishment; coaches, mentors, and challenges subordinates; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations; models high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for the individual by applying these values to daily behaviors.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listens effectively and clarifies information as needed; facilitates an open exchange of ideas and fosters atmosphere of open communication.
4. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing, and organized manner.
5. PROBLEM SOLVING: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions; provides solutions to individual and organizational problems.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.