GAO supports the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities to legislate, appropriate, and oversee the Federal government for the benefit of the American people. GAO, commonly referred to as the investigative arm of Congress, or the congressional watchdog, is independent and nonpartisan. GAO assists Congress in making informed decisions by providing information on policy and program issues, as well as by providing recommendations to make government more effective and responsive.
Summary
GAO supports the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities to legislate, appropriate, and oversee the Federal government for the benefit of the American people. GAO, commonly referred to as the investigative arm of Congress, or the congressional watchdog, is independent and nonpartisan. GAO assists Congress in making informed decisions by providing information on policy and program issues, as well as by providing recommendations to make government more effective and responsive.
This opportunity is ONLY OPEN to qualified full-time or part-time GAO employees on permanent appointments. This procedure will be conducted under the processes outlined in GAO Order 2335.8.
At the Band III, the incumbent will serve as an Assistant Director providing leadership and methodological consulting services on the most complex engagements and issues. Duties include but are not limited to the following:
Advises teams and assists them to select appropriate methodology and to implement an engagement in accordance with GAO and professional social science standards;
Provides consultation on highly complex and/or sensitive engagements based on requests from congressional committees and mandates written into legislation, resolutions, and committee reports;
Ensures the identification of all key issues related to significant savings, improvements, or benefits. Works to achieve results in support of key efforts identified in GAO's strategic plan;
Anticipates information needs of external parties and facilitates making this information readily available. Utilizes negotiation skills to work with agency officials to obtain access to the information needed to conduct thorough, timely audits;
Provides others with advice on methods and procedures and serves as a quality assurance point for final products. Maintains accountability by advising higher-level management of progress or problems;
May serve as a Designated Performance Manager (DPM) responsible for supervising, evaluating and documenting work performance of assigned staff. Identifies training and developmental needs and makes provisions for training as required by performance expectations. Coaches staff in skills development, oversees individual development activities, and provides opportunities to develop increased capabilities through a variety of projects and assignments. Hears and resolves employee complaints, recommends disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands, and recommends other action in more serious cases;
As required, may be assigned off line duties such as Professional Development Program (PDP) Advisor, staffing manager, recruiter, and others.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the effective date of promotion.
You may be required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period.
You must meet both the education and experience requirements for this position by 5/18/2025 (effective date of promotion). Transcripts to verify your education should also be submitted with your application.
Job locations are based on agency needs. Generally, you will remain in your current official duty station (ODS) if selected. However, based on agency needs, you may be offered a position in a different location and if you accept, your ODS will change.
Qualifications
Band III
In addition to the basic requirement as stated in the education section, you must have one year (52 weeks) of GAO experience equivalent to the next lower band level (PE-IIB, PA-II, PT-III, or MS-I) overseeing or leading the development of quantitative and qualitative social science research design approaches and methods, and experience guiding others to use these approaches to effectively perform evaluations or other applied research.
Your experience must also demonstrate substantive knowledge of GAO's programs and activities, its mission, policies, objectives, management principles and processes; and the ability to manage staff and independently analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of technical services and staff resources.
The 52 weeks of specialized experience described above must be completed by May 18, 2025, the effective date of promotion.
Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position;
OR Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field;
OR Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Most foreign education is not accredited by an accrediting body that is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)
Additional information
For information on the number promotion opportunities by team, please see the GAO-wide Notice published and distributed (via email) earlier this month.
Note: There are four (4) positions in ARM that may be filled from any of the advertised Band III vacancy announcements.
If you have an approved Flexible Work Agreement (FWA) and you are selected for promotion, you must complete and submit a new flexible work application for approval. Your new flexible work arrangement will be reviewed and decided based on Agency policy governing these arrangements. Additionally, you may have a 90-day waiting period to submit an arrangement changing your ODS to a different locality area.
BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: This position is not included in the bargaining unit.
If you would like to apply for Specialist and/or National Security promotion opportunities (ARM, DCM, HSJ, IAT, NRE, IT Analyst, Financial Auditor, etc.), you must submit a separate application directly to the appropriate announcement for each Specialist and/or National Security position for which you wish to be considered.
This position is a moderate risk public trust position with possible upgrade to a Secret or Top Secret or SCI clearance depending on the type of engagement the employee will be assigned to within the mission teams.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
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.
If you meet the qualification requirements stated above, a panel of team managers will assess your qualifications along with those of other candidates who are deemed eligible for the position. The rating panel (BQ panel) will establish a ranked list of candidates from which the panel chair, in consultation with the panel, identifies those candidates who are best-qualified. Complete the online questionnaire and follow all instructions carefully, as incomplete answers, errors, or omissions may affect your consideration. Your application will be invalid if you fail to include a narrative reply to any vacancy question(s) that requires further explanation, or your reply is see resume. You must provide narrative answers in the space provided.
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.
Band III
You must submit your resume and application (completed vacancy questions) online through USAJOBS. HCO will provide all performance appraisal ratings data at the Band IIB or equivalent level to the panel for the period between 10/15/22 to 10/14/24.
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 online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact Michelle Furukawa at furukawam@gao.gov or 404-679-1980 by 4 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.
For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
3/26/25: BQ results to applicants. Employees who are deemed best qualified may apply for promotion opportunities in other teams during Phase 2. The Phase 2 announcements will be posted on GAO's intranet through the "Annual Promotion Opportunities" link.
3/27/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews on BQ applicants resulting from Phase 1 (if desired).
4/11/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews of Phase 2 BQ applicants (if desired).
5/05/25 - 5/06/25: Managing Directors make promotion offers.
5/18/25: Effective date of promotions.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Band III
You must submit your resume and application (completed vacancy questions) online through USAJOBS. HCO will provide all performance appraisal ratings data at the Band IIB or equivalent level to the panel for the period between 10/15/22 to 10/14/24.
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 online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact Michelle Furukawa at furukawam@gao.gov or 404-679-1980 by 4 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.
For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
3/26/25: BQ results to applicants. Employees who are deemed best qualified may apply for promotion opportunities in other teams during Phase 2. The Phase 2 announcements will be posted on GAO's intranet through the "Annual Promotion Opportunities" link.
3/27/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews on BQ applicants resulting from Phase 1 (if desired).
4/11/25 - 4/17/25: Managing Directors may conduct interviews of Phase 2 BQ applicants (if desired).
5/05/25 - 5/06/25: Managing Directors make promotion offers.
5/18/25: Effective date of promotions.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
