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Head Start Program Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Administration for Children and Families / Office of Head Start (OHS)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health And Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/16/2023 to 02/27/2023
Salary
$68,299 to - $105,579 per year

Salary range listed does not include locality pay. Locality pay will be added according to the selectee's location area.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
25% or less - Expected travel for this position is up to 25% of the time.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
HHS-ACF-MP-23-11733264
Control number
706752500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Federal career or career conditional employees in the competitive service; displaced Federal employees with CTAP or ICTAP eligibility; Military Spouses; individuals eligible for VEOA or VRA appointments; 30% disabled veterans; foreign service employees; national service (Peace Corps/VISTA); USPHS officers and officer candidates; certain former overseas employees; former employees with reinstatement eligibility; and individuals with disabilities.

Duties

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WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING DAY TO DAY:

As a Head Start Program Specialist, you will use your knowledge of and experience with Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) to optimize business results and customer experience.

Your major responsibilities are, but not limited to the following tasks:

  • Provide oversight for Disaster Recovery funds awarded, including improper and erroneous payment rate determinations, funds utilization and project progress relative to budget and timeline.
  • Engage with Regional Office RPMs and designated disaster recovery points of contact to provide disaster recovery information and updates to support grant recipients impacted by natural disasters, not subject to a specific appropriation.
  • Coordinate existing training and technical assistance resources and works with programs to access funds needed to implement trainings/strategies to support disaster recovery needs.
  • Promote accomplishment of OHS/ACF/DHHS mission and priorities through teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and professionalism.
  • Conduct studies and program analysis to coordinate and synthesize Head Start data to determine if achievements are being met in comparison with ACF/OHS goals and objectives.
  • Advise the Supervisor and program units on the feasibility and consistency of program plans and proposals as they affect Head Start data and data systems.
  • Provide day-to-day leadership and support for program operational process development, as assigned.
  • Participate in the establishment of short- and long-range program information plans and objectives as it relates to Disaster Recovery.
  • Develop and conducts analysis to identify and understand the needs of OHS and Regional Office teams as they pertain to program data, program support needs, and grantee oversight functions.
  • Use appropriate statistical techniques to identify ways to improve procedures and training.
  • Conduct and apply analysis of the quality and performance of operational implementation of procedures and processes.
  • Utilize program and oversight data to conduct analysis of the quality and performance of programs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered or exempt from Selective Service - http://www.sss.gov.
  • Suitable for federal employment.
  • Meet time in grade restrictions by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
  • Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date.
  • Probationary or trial period may be required.

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Basic Requirements:

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.

Specialized Experience:

GS-12 Minimum Qualifications: You must have one-year specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing at ALL of the following:
  1. Compile, analyze, evaluate, and summarize data, to identify problems, analyze alternatives, draw conclusions, and/or recommend solutions on issues concerning grantee agencies on their program plans, applications, and/or administration.
  2. Ensure that grant recipient plans, operations, and grant requests are in compliance with Federal laws and regulations.
  3. Gather, assemble, analyze facts, and devise solutions/recommendations to support budget or program decisions.
GS-13 Minimum Qualifications: You must have one-year specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service performing at ALL of the following:
  1. Coordinating and synthesizing data to determine if agency requirements and goals are being met.
  2. Developing strategies for monitoring early childhood development programs.
  3. Analyzing data to provide feedback and recommend solutions on Information systems that support Head Start grants, program oversight, ongoing monitoring, risk assessment, and information dissemination.
  4. Gather, assemble, and analyze facts to make budget or program decisions.
Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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; religious; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

OPM Qualification General Policies Website

Education

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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: http://www.ed.gov.

Note: Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application. Education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed.

Additional information

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon multiple factors, including funds availability. If authorized, certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Incentives may include the following: moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service, etc.

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes

Research position: No

Drug Screening Required: No

Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/

Special Hiring Authorities for Military Spouses - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/

People With Disabilities (Schedule A) - https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Individuals_with_Disabilities

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an CTAP/ICTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

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

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public.

Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers: PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps may apply online to this announcement. Candidates will be referred as CC personnel and not as candidates for conversion to a permanent career or career-conditional appointment.

For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

For Noncompetitive Applicants: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

    • Manages and Organizes Information
    • Planning and Evaluating
    • Problem Solving
    • Technical Competence
To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11733264

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