Clarification from the agency

Recent College Graduates - Applicants who can be appointed to a job within 2 years of receiving their college degree or certificate. Veterans, precluded from applying due to military service, must be appointed within 6 years of receiving their degree or certificate.

The Office of Inspector General is seeking a highly motivated person to serve as an Inspector in the Office of Audits and Inspections conducting reviews of management issues and administrative allegations. A management inspection typically focuses on the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of a specified program activity and requires comprehensive data gathering and analysis. An allegation-based inspection is a highly focused, fact-finding review typically initiated in response to an allegation of waste, mismanagement, or abuse.

Conditions of employment

• Meet Recent Graduate Eligibility Requirements (see Qualifications section)
• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Successful completion of a background and security investigation required.
• This is a drug testing designated position.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. 

Appointment to this position may be subject to successful completion of a 1-year probationary period.

Upon reporting, and on an annual basis thereafter, you will be required to file a financial disclosure statement and/or a procurement integrity certification.  These certifications may be subject to public disclosure.

This position requires a security clearance and is subject to drug testing.  The selectee must test negative prior to being appointed to this position and will be subject to random testing thereafter.  Failure to pass subsequent tests could result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the Federal service.

Qualifications

Recent Graduate Program Eligibility:

To meet these requirements, you must have obtained a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctoral, or technical/vocational degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years.

Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty.  Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree (or certification) was completed. 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS - A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is paid or unpaid experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled.

In addition to the basic eligibility requirements, applicants must have the following specialized experience:

At the GS-7 applicants must have one (1) year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement or one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level.  Specialized experience includes but is not limited to collecting and evaluating data, and conducting internet searches.

At the GS-9 applicants must have two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree or one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level.  Specialized experience includes but is not limited to conducting reviews of management issues and administrative allegations and making recommendations for corrective action. 

The successful applicant for this position will possess the following KSAs/competencies: 
(Applicants need not prepare written responses to these KSAs, unless asked in the online application.)

1. Knowledge to evaluate programs, policies, and operations.
2. Skill in preparing reports.
3. Skill in effective oral communication.
4. Skill in data gathering.
5. Ability to research, analyze, and evaluate programs and data.
6. Ability to use computer programs.

For further information on qualification requirements for this position, please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure you have been placed into the appropriate quality category.

Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (when applicable), and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position at the grade level(s) being advertised.

The quality categories are usually defined as "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified", although they may differ slightly based on individual agency policy.

If you are a Veteran Preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
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