Duties

Summary

This position is located in United States Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Office of Evidence Based Practices in Washington, DC. OESE promotes and implements the Secretary's critical agenda and functions that support the improvement of the nation's education system -- from early education to preparation for college and career.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As an Education Program Specialist, GS-1720-12, you will be responsible for the following duties:

Provide technical assistance to States, local education agencies and grantees; serve as a contact person for assigned programs; collaborate with other Department offices to develop and interpret U.S. Department of Education laws and regulations; write and develop official Departmental guidance; provide technical assistance, including making presentations, to stakeholders such as State and local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, and others on these matters; and assist in the development of publications and other resources related to education innovation as well as addressing other U.S. Department of Education programs, policies and initiatives that affect the K-12 education and evidence sector. Monitor discretionary grant activities that emphasize grantee progress in achieving results and compliance with agency guidelines, laws, and regulations. Apply laws, regulations, policies and legal ramification governing OESE Discretionary Grants. Provide technical assistance programs, which include contracts and grants. Research and develop new and revised applicable regulations, guidelines, and strategies for administration of Office programs. Advise management on important aspects of program operations and technical assistance investment management and administration. Interpret program and policy requirements related to assigned technical assistance investments. Provide authoritative leadership and guidance for assigned special projects that have a significant bearing on the direction and operation of the organizational unit. These projects may require a significant level of integration with the objectives and functions of other organizational units as well as high levels of demonstrated programmatic expertise.

Travel Required

25% or less - Occasional travel may be required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must complete a Background Investigation and fingerprint check.
• Relocation Expenses will not be paid.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• You must serve a 1 year probationary period.

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

If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents. To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week.

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).

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Basic Requirements:

A. Degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of coursework in a field related to the work of the position to be filled (as presented in the description of duties), of which at least 9 semester hours were in education courses. OR

B. Four (4) years of experience that demonstrated a thorough understanding of the principles and practices of the work in the education program specialist series. This experience must have been of such character and diversity to demonstrate that the applicant possesses an understanding of the field comparable to that acquired through completion of a degree from an accredited college or university. OR

C. Combination of education and experience - (including at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 hours must have been in education courses.) OR

D. At least one (1) full academic year of professional teaching experience. This experience is defined as full and primary responsibility, under general supervision, for instruction of assigned students in an accredited school or institution. This includes responsibility for preparing and presenting lessons and for evaluating students' progress, including a determination of the students' progress, including a determination of the students' success or failure according to established criteria. Serving in an assistant capacity to a professor without the authority to determine the students' success or failure to meet course requirements does not meet this criterion.

Specialized Experience for the GS-12

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 performing all three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience in developing policies, establishing priorities, and implementing procedures related to the management of grant programs that impact elementary and secondary education programs at the Federal, state, and/or local levels.

2. Experience in analyzing organizational performance reports to improve agency policies, operating procedures, and program objectives to make recommendations stakeholders.

3. Experience advising senior leaders in a school, district, or state educational agency setting on K-12 education theories, principles and practices and the roles of the federal, state, and local governments sufficient to plan, evaluate, and advise on funded educational programs, their requirements and problems.

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).

1. Knowledge of pertinent laws, policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to Evidence Based Practices, Effective Teaching and Social Emotional Learning programs and related resources.

2. Knowledge of Federal grants programs management, monitoring and implementation of policies, regulations and procedures associated with Effective Teaching and Social Emotional Learning.

3. Knowledge of best practices in providing technical assistance and K-12 learning.

4. Knowledge of implementation science and performance management.

5. Ability to lead and manage complex projects with competing deadlines and multiple stakeholders.

6. Skill in written and verbal communication.

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.

Essential/Non-Essential: This position is considered non-essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.

Financial Disclosure: This position does not require financial disclosure.

Telework: This position is telework eligible.

Bargaining Unit: This position is included in the bargaining unit.

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 are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) 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 assigned a numerical score (out of 100 possible). If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

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 also 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 a current or former federal employee (including current U.S. Department of Education employees), you must also submit:
• A Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), which demonstrates your competitive status eligibility. To verify your eligibility, we will review your SF-50 to determine your tenure (block 24) and position occupied (block 34). Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments, promotions, within-grade increases, and pay adjustments.

If you currently hold or previously held a federal position at or above the highest grade of this position or you have/had promotion potential at or above the highest grade of this position, you must also submit an SF-50 documenting your highest grade level held or promotion potential. Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments and promotions.

• A Copy of your Performance Appraisal and Awards, as applicable. Your performance appraisal and awards are requested to further assess the quality of your experience should your application be referred to the selecting official.

If you are claiming eligibility under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), 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.

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 claiming eligibility under any Special Hiring Authority, you must submit:
• Adequate proof of your eligibility (e.g., Documentation of noncompetitive eligibility as a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Documentation of noncompetitive eligibility for employment under Schedule A as a person with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities.)

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.