Duties

The AmeriCorps VISTA program provides opportunities for individuals 18 years or older from a diverse range of backgrounds to dedicate a year (term) of full-time service with an organization or public agency. VISTA members develop or expand community-driven programs designed to empower individuals to address poverty and create positive change that lasts long after their service. AmeriCorps VISTA seeks team members with experience working with diverse constituencies and who are committed to advancing racial equity and alleviating poverty.

The Program Impact Specialist serves in the Program Impact and Operations Unit of AmeriCorps VISTA and is responsible for formulating and executing strategies related to the ongoing development and implementation of performance management, research and evaluation, and the use of evidence to support the VISTA program and individual VISTA projects. The incumbent supports the implementation of an ambitious research and evaluation agenda capable of comprehensively addressing the program's purpose, accommodating agency-wide evidence priorities, and illuminating the most effective policies, programming, and practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the VISTA leadership team in developing and refining program goals, theory of change, logic model, and program metrics at the level of the national program as well as at the project award level.
• Leads VISTA program efforts to formulate and execute strategies and plans related to the ongoing development, implementation, and evaluation of performance measurement data and the use of evidence for the VISTA program.
• Develops, coordinates and manages a portfolio of projects and activities as part of ongoing program analysis, research and evaluation activities that are conducted by third party vendors, university partners, or by Research and Evaluation staff that address policy, programmatic and operational questions.
• Oversees key partnerships with internal and external entities working with the agency and serves as a senior representative of VISTA with the responsibility of determining program goals, objectives, strategy, and messaging to stakeholders.
• Expertly, researches, evaluates, and develops solutions to pressing topics, concerns, or issues impacting the deliverability of VISTA program objectives for stakeholders and participating entities.
• Develops messaging strategies that are disseminated to various partners utilizing VISTA programs and services; and coordinates briefings, meetings, and focus groups with the Office of Regional Operations and other partners to identify, review, and broadly disseminate AmeriCorps VISTA research and evaluation activities and findings.
• Establishes preliminary goals and objectives that if accomplished could serve as catalyst for change and a quality improvement for key stakeholder and benefactors of VISTA program services.
• Conducts in-depth analysis of AmeriCorps data and systems; partners with teams and colleagues to analyze the data and identify objectives; develops formal action plan and approach to results of data analysis; and monitors work efforts to determine if pre-determined objectives are being accomplished.
• Reviews the accuracy of all data aggregation and reporting; designs a targeted and impactful service model; aligns service model with data reporting.
• Designs and implements a variety of technical materials including, but not limited to program development resources and guidelines, desk reference chapters, templates, and webinars with Regional Offices and sponsors as the primary audience.
• Develops high quality overviews, highlights, descriptive summaries, data dashboards and analysis, briefing documents, policy documents, reports, and other materials related to the impact of VISTA programs and strategic priorities.
• Actively stays informed of trends, resources, and best practices in the fields of poverty alleviation and capacity building. Takes the lead in developing and deploying communications, training and technical assistance vehicles, and strategies for VISTA, Office of Regional Operations colleagues and sponsors, when appropriate.
• Establishes and maintains liaison with a variety of organizations and constituency groups at public and private sector levels to develop broad program support. Identifies potential areas for collaboration and programming initiatives.
• Serves as an advisor and program impact strategist representing VISTA publicly regarding special initiatives, program design, services delivered, and achievements.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a United States Citizen
• A 2-year probationary period is required for new Federal employees and supervisors.
• Merit Promotion and internal applicants must submit a SF-50 to verify Status and grade
• Satisfactory completion of a background investigation.
• Must be telework ready. See the ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for more details regarding the agency's current full-time telework status.
• A financial disclosure may be required for this position.
• Dates of employment, including beginning and end dates in the following format: month/day/year, must be included on resume.

Qualifications

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to at least the mid range of the NY-02 pay band, which would be at or equivalent to, the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes experience in formulating and executing strategies related to the ongoing development and implementation of performance management, research and evaluation.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Such experience must be clearly documented in the applicant's resume.

Education

You may also qualify based on a combination of education and experience, if applicable.

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 a combination of education and experience.

If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. 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: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html . All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

Additional Selections: Additional selections may be made from this announcement or for similar positions across AmeriCorps. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at AmeriCorps.

COVID-19: Vaccination against COVID-19 is not currently required for employment at AmeriCorps, but is encouraged to promote workplace health and safety. If you receive an official job offer and onboard, you will be contacted after onboarding regarding any requests for information related to your COVID-19 vaccination status.

Expanded Telework Status Due to COVID-19: Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you will have the option to temporarily telework on a full-time basis, even if your home is located within the local commuting area of the duty station of your position. Once the agency implements its re-entry plan, you may be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement in the manner and frequency the agency deems appropriate. At this time, the agency is unable to confirm if an expanded telework policy or future remote work policy will be implemented. In line with OPM guidance and if positions are designated as remote, the agency will ensure that all employees' duty stations are accurately documented and that the locality pay for each employee aligns with the official duty station of their position.

Military Selective Service Act: If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

Veteran's Preference: If you are claiming 5-point or 10-point veteran's preference, you must submit documentation described below in "Required Documents."

Special Employment Consideration: Persons with disabilities, disabled veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the Armed Forces, VISTA volunteers, some Peace Corps employees and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for noncompetitive appointment. If you are eligible and would like to be considered for one of these noncompetitive appointments, applicable documentation that supports your eligibility must be submitted with your application package.

Ethics Requirement: Our Agency is committed to the highest ethical standards and, as an employee you will be covered by the criminal conflict of interest statutes (18 U.S.C. 201-209) and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 C.F.R. part 2635). Additionally, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) or Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e) within 30 days of your appointment date and on an annual basis thereafter.