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Indian Self Determination Specialist

Department of the Interior
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Alaska Region
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Region, Deputy Regional Director - Native Services, Branch of Self-Determination in Anchorage, Alaska.

This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see What are bargaining units?


NOTE: TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED. ANY RELOCATION EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REPORTING FOR DUTY WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELECTED EMPLOYEE.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/14/2023 to 09/28/2023
Salary
$46,696 to - $89,835 per year

Plus 2.01% COLA

Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anchorage, AK
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
STIMP-23-12130039-CAWY-MG
Control number
749248700

Duties

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As a SELF DETERMINATION SPECIALIST, your typical work assignments and/or responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Provides staff assistance in the implementation and administration of Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, as amended.
  • Serves as awarding official for the award, administration and management, modification and close-out of self-determination contracts and grants.
  • Responsible for resolution of Single Audit issues and preparation of Single Audit Resolutions Reports.
  • Reviews and evaluates tribal administrative capabilities in the requirements associated with the development and operations of effective management systems.
  • Provides training and technical assistance to Regional, Agency and Tribal staff in the administration and management of self-determination contracts and grants, processing payments request, vouchering documents and processing of contract and grant modifications.
  • Attends tribal council meetings and committee meetings to represent the Region and Agency.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Form BIA -4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference.
  • You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
  • You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
  • A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
  • Incidental Operator position. If you are required to operate a motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties, the 25 IAM 4 Motor Vehicle Safety Program Policy applies. A Link is provided in the Additional Information Section.
  • Will be required to file an OGE-450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report Form in accordance with 5 CFR Part 2634, Subpart I.
  • Must be certified or certifiable within a reasonable period of time and maintain continual certification for Awarding Official under the Bureau of Indian Affairs Awarding official Certification System Handbook.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, GS-1101).

GS-11: I have at least one year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-09 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include working with Indian Self-Determination activities and services; interpretation and application of related laws, regulations, policies, methods, and techniques; performing all functions and pre-award, contract administration, to contract close out; assist with evaluating and negotiating contract proposals; ensure contractors ensure compliance with standards, ensuring proper certification of annual inventories,
OR
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

GS-09: I have at least one year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-07 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include work interpreting policy and provides guidance and counseling as they apply to diverse and complex program content as they deal with contract and business management; facilitate and coordinate the program; working knowledge of Bureau program operations and the ability to identify tribal needs to describe and formulate them into comprehensive contract/grant documents that will assure delivery of services. Assist in preparation of corrective action plans of resolution of audits,
OR
Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.

GS-07: I have at least one year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). This experience must include work involving contract and business management activities and services, interpretation and application of related laws, regulations, policies, methods, and techniques. Preparation of correspondence, contracts, grants, and reports. Tracking and monitoring the flow of contract/grants activities start to close-out,
OR
Full year of graduate level education, OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.).

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) Class standing-applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses; or (2) Grade-Point Average-applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (3) Election to membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society - membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472).

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Additional information

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2023 Salary Tables here and select the duty station from the Anchorage, Alaska to choose the appropriate pay chart. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart.

COLA (COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE): Government employees in Alaska receive a cost of living allowance presently equivalent to 2.01% of the base salary. This allowance is tax free for federal income tax purposes. The COLA is subject to annual OPM Review. Survey results may determine that the COLA could possibly be reduced or eliminated at specified times.

The full performance level of this position is GS-11. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed.

TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of the position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

As a incidental motor vehicle operator position, you may be required to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle in the performance of duties; therefore, a valid driver's license is required and be able to meet the safe driving requirements of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (25 IAM 4 Motor Vehicle Safety Program).

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

Certain candidates may be eligible to apply under a special hiring authority including those for disabled individuals, Peace Corps employees, Foreign Service employees, veterans, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Information Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/; Vets Info Guide: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.

Former Federal Employees are required to indicate whether they received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) buyout in their previous employment with the Federal government, and are required to submit a copy of the applicable Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) regarding the VSIP. Most individuals who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application package will be evaluated against the minimum qualification requirements specified above. In order to qualify, your resume must specifically describe your work history and the duties you performed in each position. Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date of 09/28/2023 to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. Competencies measured include:

  • Administration and Management
  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Technical Competence

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If the information in your resume does not support your responses to the assessment questions, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your qualifications.

Qualified Indian preference candidates will be referred to the hiring manager in order of veterans' preference.

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and awards during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12130039.

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