Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Special Assistant

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources
This job announcement has closed

Resumes limited to two pages

Starting on September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length. Sign in to your profile and update your resume now.

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), Office of Grants, located in Washington, District of Columbia.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/19/2024 to 12/03/2024
Salary
$99,200 to - $153,354 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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
13
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
No
Announcement number
HHS-ASFR-MP-25-12608114
Control number
819636100

Duties

Help

The Special Assistant performs the following duties:

  • Utilizes knowledge of HHS and ASFR correspondence procedures including the system of electronic logging and tracking of incoming requests for information and other related correspondence to perform daily actions.
  • Communicates with the White House, members of Congress and top-level officials in the Agency on behalf of ASFR leadership.
  • Serves as the primary administrative point of contact and liaison with other offices, individuals and institutions on operational and programmatic matters concerning the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources.
  • Provides support to ASFR leadership and ensures ASFR administrative practices and procedures are consistent, efficient, and supportive of organizational objectives.
  • Coordinates and manages calendars and serves as the primary scheduler for ASFR leadership.
  • Works independently with a high degree of tact and diplomacy to carry out special assignments.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  1. Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  2. E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the 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. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify participant.
  3. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
  4. All qualification requirements must be met by the date the announcement closes.
  5. Financial disclosure statement may be required: No
  6. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses may be paid: No
  7. Bargaining Unit Position: No
  8. Drug Screening Required: No
  9. Recruitment incentives may be authorized: No
  10. Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized: No
  11. Annual leave for non-federal service may be authorized: No
  12. One year probationary period may be required.
  13. U.S. Citizenship Required: Yes
  14. Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service - http://www.sss.gov

Qualifications

Your resume must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from receiving further consideration.

Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

To qualify for the GS-12 position, the incumbent must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level performing duties such as:

  • Preparing a variety of documents such as memos, reports, briefing materials, etc. in final form, including drafting, editing, proofreading, and formatting.
  • Planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks to meet multiple workload goals.
  • Coordinating administrative activities, meetings and schedules and ensures deadlines are met.
  • Utilizing an extensive use of office automation software, spreadsheets, and databases to track and manage data.
To qualify for the GS-13 position, the incumbent must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level performing duties such as:
  • Preparing a variety of documents such as memos, reports, briefing materials, etc. in final form, including drafting, editing, proofreading, and formatting.
  • Planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks to meet multiple workload goals.
  • Coordinating administrative activities, meetings and schedules and ensures deadlines are met.
  • Utilizing an extensive use of office automation software, spreadsheets, and databases to track and manage data.
  • Preparing leadership for attendance at meetings and conferences by preparing fact sheets, status reports and briefing books.

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service. Provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" to indicate your current federal status. You must also submit additional SF-50(s) to clearly demonstrate one year time-in-grade as required in the announcement. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time-in-grade. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.

Documenting experience: 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.

Education


Additional information

Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx

People With Disabilities (Schedule A) - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/

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

Reasonable Accommodation: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please see Agency Contact Information for whom to contact for more info. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. You must email the agency contact on the vacancy announcement at least three business days before the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.
For more information on disability employment, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/

Career Transition Program (CTAP): Applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service.
Interagency Career Transition Program (ICTAP): Applies to displaced Federal service employees per 5 CFR Part 330, Subpart G, and this Instruction. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

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.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 15, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the 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. Applicants selected for this position will be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. To demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.

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 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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, most recent performance appraisal), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position, as applicable. If you are found tentatively eligible after a HR review, you may be further evaluated based on a subject matter review of your resume, a job knowledge test, a writing sample, or interview. Failure to comply with any of the additional assessment requirements will result in removal from further consideration.

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

    • Customer Service
    • Information Management
    • Oral Communication
    • Organizational Awareness
    • Self-Management
    • Writing
To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12608114

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.