Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Education/Office of Postsecondary Education, Office of Policy, Planning and Innovation. This position reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Policy, Planning and Innovation. The position requires the performance of a variety of program-related assignments.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 50th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Supervisory Program Specialist, GS-0301-15, you will be responsible for:

- Serving as an agency expert and authoritative consultant including technical assistance and resource management support for a key agency program or several complex program areas to ED officials and customers.

- Negotiating acceptable agreements to resolve conflicts and controversial disputes.

- Providing independent leadership, definitive guidance, and authoritative advice to customers in and outside the Department.

- Developing agency or national guideline material, policies, and/or strategic plans.

- Participating in drafting of, or managing complex studies of new and proposed legislation and regulations to determine impact on the program.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service
• Must be a US Citizen
• You may be subject to serve a one-year supervisory probation period.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications


Minimum Qualification Requirements

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position (see description below).

Specialized Experience for the GS-15

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 performing all three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience in administering the Title IV student aid programs.

2. Experience in developing and/or analyzing complex written materials related to Title IV statute and regulations.

3. Experience in communicating orally and in writing with individuals in leadership roles, including professionals in higher education institutions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

KSA (GS15)

1. Knowledge of the range of laws, regulations, principles and methods applicable to major agency program(s) to generate new program approaches, concepts and strategic objectives and provide authoritative advice to agency policy makers leading to solution of complex program and policy issues..

2. Knowledge of program objectives and requirements to facilitate resolution of controversial disputes, to address problems not susceptible to resolution by existing methods, and to develop alternative approaches.

3. Skill in oral and written communications to advise and consult with executive management and policy officials within and outside the agency, and all constituents/customers to present and sell findings and recommendations, negotiate complex agreements, and secure cooperation.

4. Knowledge of HEA, Title IV Student Financial Assistant law, regulations, policies and procedures.

5. Skill in working with staff to develop options papers on policy issues that arise in the budget process.

Education

Additional information

Veterans' Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email Iwork@ed.gov to schedule a session with a career counselor ("Veterans Counseling Session" should be placed in the subject line of the email).

Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment.

Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

Financial Disclosure: This position requires financial disclosure.

Telework: This position is telework eligible.

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications
Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you do not meet U.S. Citizenship requirements or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2. Rating and Ranking
If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position).

Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.

If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference eligibles will be ranked ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category for which they are qualified. Qualified veterans' preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the Best Qualified category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

3. Referral and Selection
If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

You must submit (REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS):
• A resume demonstrating your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiating your responses to the occupational questionnaire.

If you are qualifying based on education, you must submit:
• Transcripts showing course titles, number of credits, and dates of completion. You may submit unofficial transcripts as part of your application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to appointment.

If you are claiming Veterans' Preference, you must submit:
• A copy of your DD-214 that shows active service and character of discharge, member copy 4 (Separated Members only); OR
• A certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days from the date of application (Current Active Duty Members only); AND/OR
• The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) AND all documents indicated on the form as proof of type of preference; AND/OR
• Proof of Sole Survivorship Preference (e.g., certificate of death or 100% disability as a result of serving in the armed forces).

If you are claiming selection priority under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), please visit:

CTAP: http://www.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ctap.html

ICTAP: http://www.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ictap.html

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.