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Program Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service
Western Regional Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Western Regional Office of the United States Department of Agriculture's Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS). Through the Agency's Federal nutrition assistance programs, FNCS provides children and needy families with access to nutrition and a more healthful lifestyle. The Regional Office is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operation of the Federal nutrition assistance programs administered by State agencies within each region.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/02/2024 to 08/15/2024
Salary
$59,966 to - $117,400 per year

Pay will be set based on the salary table of the duty location.

Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
many vacancies in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes - This position is eligible for remote work in the states within the Western Regional Office and its bordering states.
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
IMP-12493728-24-RA
Control number
802951500

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Duties

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  • Evaluates comprehensive documents submitted by agencies for appropriateness, adherence to specific program rules, and general financial requirements.
  • Serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for program regulations and administrative policies in assigned area.
  • Leads negotiation of acceptable and appropriate corrective action to address the findings and recommendations and independently performs follow-up of the review report to bring findings to closure within agreed upon timeframes.
  • Researches and analyzes information to apply and provide timely and reliable program information, technical assistance, guidance, and training to internal and external customers.
  • Researches appropriate sources and obtains needed information.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in grade:
Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package.

To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-07 grade level in the private and/or federal service. Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis:

  • Reviewing program operations for compliance with laws and/or regulations;
  • Analyzing policies and guidance; and
  • Communicating program information orally and in writing.
OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree or successful completion of two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or a LL.B. or J.D., if related;

OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

To qualify for the GS-11 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-09 level in private and/or federal service. Example of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis:
  • Providing oversight and technical assistance external entities regarding program operations;
  • Interpreting regulations and policies to ensure compliance with program requirements;
  • Providing recommendations for program improvement; and
  • Communicating program findings and recommendations orally and in writing.
OR a 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;

OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.)

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; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

See the Qualifications section for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Additional information

This position is eligible for remote work in the states within the Western Regional Office. States covered: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, or Arizona or a state immediately bordering the region (Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona).

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
This position is being concurrently announced under Delegated Examining Announcement DE-12493727-24-RA. This announcement is open to all qualified candidates. Applying to both announcements may expand the possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.

USDA is offering a variety of strategic workplace flexibilities which allow us to recruit and retain the best talent that reflects the diversity of our country, improve employee morale, and make USDA an employer of choice. In support of this commitment, telework-eligible positions may be eligible to telework up to eight days a pay period, based upon the duties of specific positions. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by Departmental policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by one of the following: AFGE Local 2735, NTEU Chapter 226, 227, 237, 240, 255, 265 or 268.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

  • Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
  • Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
  • Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
  • Research - Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, and other instructional methods.
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12493728

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