Duties

As a GRANTS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST, you will perform the following duties at the full performance level:

• Review requested changes and approves those that are consistent with Department of Commerce and MBDA policy and procedures.
• Resolves complex and controversial problems, working with program and administrative personnel and with similar staff of grantee organizations.
• Provide advice, interpretation, and guidance on statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures as they relate to the award program in general and individual applications and proposals.
• Consult with grants management staff, program officials, and the grantee for joint consideration of precedent-setting actions.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other GRANTS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST GS-1109-7/9/11/12 FPL 12 positions within the Minority Business Development Agency in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

This position is also advertised under MBDA-ADOBD-MP-23-12134211, which is open to Merit Promotion eligible applicants. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
• A probationary period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Drug Test Required: No
• License required: No
• Pre-employment physical required: No
• Bargaining Unit Position: Yes
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): GS-7/9/11: None
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): GS-12: Yes
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid
• The incumbent may be required to obtain and maintain Grants Management certification from an approved organization. The incumbent may be appointed as a Grants Officer with the authority to sign awards, modifications, terminations, and other actions associated with Financial Assistance instruments within the prescribed limits of their appointment documentation.

Qualifications

Applicants found eligible may receive consideration at any point during the open period of the announcement, as requested by the organization.

The initial cut-off date is 11/3/2023

December 5, 2023
January 4, 2023
February 5, 2024
March 6, 2024
April 3, 2024

Cutoff dates and the closing date of this announcement may be adjusted as needed, and any updates will be reflected on this announcement.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify at the GS-7 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes:

• Assisting with grants administration work including pre-award, award, post-award, and close-out support functions of various financial assistance programs involving both discretionary and mandatory funding with various legal authorities, statutory requirements, and various recipients.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTE EDUCATION:One (1) academic year of graduate education in a course of study that directly relates to the position OR A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A) based on (1) class standing in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, (2) grade-point average, 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum or (3) honor society membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

-OR-

A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and experience qualifying at this level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Preparing award documents for execution and ensuring necessary approvals are made; and
• Administering, modifying, and terminating financial assistance actions, and performing budget analysis functions; and
• Identifying proposal deficiencies and making recommendations to the approving officials.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTE EDUCATION:Amaster's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and experience qualifying at this level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Preparing award documents for execution and ensuring necessary approvals as required by the organization's regulations; and
• Reviewing recipient requests for modifications to the agreement; coordinating and facilitating requested revisions, and processing applicable documentation for executing agreement modifications; and
• Developing and posting notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to applicable systems.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTE EDUCATION: APh.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-

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience qualifying at this level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify at the GS-12 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Managing grant renewal applications; and
• Ensuring compliance with terms and conditions of grants/agreements, negotiating with grantees to resolve problems of fund obligations, and determining what action should be taken; and
• Reviewing proposed policies, determining their impact on assigned grants management operations, and suggesting modifications or clarification as appropriate.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA)

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

30% or more disabled veterans

Persons with disabilities

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.