Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, National Cemetery Administration, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Prepares grant award packages and associated documents, coordinating all aspects, internally and externally, related to federally assisted projects. Reviews pre-applications to meet program objectives within established policies.
• Assists grantees in resolving problems and coming into compliance with grant program requirements and legislative mandates. Monitors outstanding grant packages to ensure satisfactory progress, to assure compliance with the terms and conditions, and to identify problems that threaten contractor performance.
• Reviews grant packages for adequacy and completeness and resolves any problems prior to initiation of contractual action and provides grant monitoring oversight and utilizes multiple data base applications. Provides advice and guidance to State, Tribes, and local Government on the application process, policy and procedures.
• Identifies problem areas, trends, significant accomplishments, merit and deficiency situations and areas of imbalance. Initiates and recommends procedural changes for the approval of the Program Director. Recommends actions when the conditions are not in compliance with the provisions. Investigates circumstances to determine alternative courses of action, such as extension of delivery schedule.
• Renders routine determinations and interpretations on such matters as payments, claims, and changes, to insure requirements are met. Reviews completed grant file, to ensure routine administrative matters are resolved or completed prior to briefing the Director.
• Coordinates with other staff members in the design and development of new, innovative grant programs in conformance with Federal Regulations and Policies. Works with other specialist in providing oversight and implementation of existing grant development and grant award processes. Prepares program criteria and guidelines in collaboration with other specialist and works on the development of databases for grant programs to ensure effective oversight of programs.
• Prepares information papers and reports documenting the planning and implementation of new initiative's and projects. Participates in the design and development of new, innovative grant programs in conformance with Federal Regulations and Policies.
• Makes recommendations concerning current policies and assists other staff members in devising effective approaches to improve current policies and procedures.
• Reports on operating procedures, such as applications not received, awards delayed in process, fluctuations in workload levels and noncompliance with suspense's.
• Establishes and maintains liaison with other offices, officials in other government agencies, organizations and institutions regarding pending proposals, reviews, project administration, project reports, and requests.

Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: May be available per agency guidelines
Telework: May be available per agency guidelines
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist/1065186
The full performance level of this position is GS-09. At the GS-07 level, you will perform similar duties but under closer supervision.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Relocation Expenses: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
9

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/16/2019..

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. This is a two graded position. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If your most recent non-award SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience, as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of grant processes and procedures to develop and implement pre-award systems to facilitate the issuance, receipt and review of large numbers of applications. Knowledge of grant making processes necessary to administer and close out grant programs and ability to provide assistance in analyzing program effectiveness and evaluate organizational processes. Knowledge of and skill in the use of computer programs such as Excel for spreadsheets, databases and internet applications to monitor and track grant applications and customer complaint log. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing to present information to others.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Customer Service
• Grants Management

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• OF-306
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Reasonable Accommodation Documentation
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .