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Program Specialist

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is the Federal Government's premier institution for training and historical transparency for the U.S. Government (USG) foreign affairs community. This position is in the Office of the Executive Director which is responsible for the full range of management, administrative, and program support for all FSI component organizations. The incumbent plans and carries out the full range of administrative services to support all students at FSI.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/02/2025 to 05/09/2025
Salary
$101,401 to - $131,826 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Arlington, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
FSI/CTAP-2025-0002
Control number
836386900

Duties

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  • Plans and submits annual strategic plans for student services, aligning with the institution's mission and goals, recommending enhancements to programs that address the evolving needs of a diverse student body and their families.
  • Manages student support services, including parking, timekeeping, childcare, work/life programs, badging, and payroll for a diverse population, including government-affiliated students and their families.
  • Oversees the Childcare Facility Enrollment and Access Management Program, managing the enrollment process and ensuring smooth communication and service delivery between students and the childcare facility's concessionaire.
  • Serves as COR/Technical Monitor, assessing resource needs, ensuring contractor compliance with terms and timelines, and evaluating performance. Resolves issues, facilitates communication, and maintains accurate contract records for oversight.
  • Develops internal controls to ensure compliance with laws, safeguard resources, and oversee financial and operational performance. Evaluates program effectiveness and recommends improvements or corrective actions as needed.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Annual Confidential Financial Disclosure required within first 30 days.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • U.S. Citizenship is required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

  • Experience serving as Contractor Officer Representative (COR)/Technical Monitor for contracts, ensuring compliance with specifications, deliverables, timelines, and quality standards. 
  • Experience developing strategic plans for student services that align with organizational goals. 
  • Experience planning and implementing student support services to a diverse population, including students from government agencies.
  • Experience managing services such as childcare, parking, and work-life programs.
  • Experience in developing and revising policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for student services programs, ensuring effective administration and compliance with regulations. 
  • Experience identifying performance risks, gaps, and deficiencies in service delivery, and developing innovative solutions for continuous improvement. 
  • Experience in assessing resource needs, managing financial resources, and coordinating with various offices to ensure timely provision of necessary resources.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

  • For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov.
  • If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.  If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in this Bureau for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance.  Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume will be conducted and compared against your responses to the assessment questions to determine if you are qualified for this job.  Note:  Responses to questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating. 

Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as described in the “Qualifications” section of this announcement, will be assigned a score between 70 and 100.  The assessment is used to measure the degree in which your background matches the competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities) required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Knowledge of project management processes, tools, and techniques.

  • Ability to think strategically.

  • Skill in making oral presentations.

  • Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
  • Ability to conduct acquisitions which are compliant with applicable Federal laws.

  • Ability to read, interpret and apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Agency Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be rated "Well Qualified" for the position and earn a score of at least 85 (when applicants are rated in a range of 70 to 100) to receive consideration for selection priority.  Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. 


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