Duties

Summary

This vacancy is for a Program Analyst position in the Associate Director for Field Operations located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Program Analyst, GS-0343-15 , FPL 15 positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction on interdisciplinary matters including developing strategic plans, legislative proposals, setting policies, and addressing program issues for the Field Directorate.
• Plans innovative approaches to program initiatives, e.g., training of Census Bureau program managers on the principles of business planning and the application of specific tools.
• Leads a variety of cross-organizational planning, advisory, project, and evaluation teams.
• Applies expertise to the resolution of complex problems, makes recommendations to appropriate senior agency officials, assures proper corrective action where necessary.
• Communicates information necessary for informed decision-making. Oversees analytical studies.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel is required.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizen.
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
• Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the announcement closing date

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

A probationary period may be required.

This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and individual states being in different phases of reopening, once the selectee becomes an employee, the report date to the official duty station/facility may be delayed until such time that management notifies the employee of their requirement to report. Until it is safe to relocate, the employee may be approved to telework to the maximum extent possible, up to and including full-time.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: For the Grade 15, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the Grade 14 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes:

Experience supervising staff, overseeing and proving guidance and technical direction to staff who work on various data collection and support programs. Experience working on issues across organizational lines and/or geographic areas requiring close coordination and interdependence with other administrative, technical, and program management staffs. Experience working on issues across organizational lines and/or geographic areas requiring close coordination and interdependence with other administrative, technical, and program management staffs. Experience analyzing and evaluating program effectiveness and identifying additional resources. Experience advising management on program alternatives, solutions and implementation of the solution. Experience communicating with stakeholders, staff member and other representative regarding the objectives, plans, risks, issues, and status of a large scale project. Experience facilitating meetings using wide range of skills and tools such as problem solving, decision making, team management, and communication to ensure objectives are met.

Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.

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.

Education

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

• CTAP
• ICTAP

The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3).

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

• Ability to supervise, assign work, set priorities, coordinate, plan and oversee staff.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with all levels of management within an organization to present goals, strategies, and plans for the organization.
• Skill in researching technical capabilities and development of implementation plan to meet organizational goals and objectives.
• Knowledge in facilitating meetings, applying skills and tools such as problem solving, decision making, team management and communications.

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.

Do NOT include the following types of information in your application:

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Date of Birth (DOB)
• Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position)
• Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

A complete application consists of the following:

• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume must list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position(s). Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
• Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html . You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

CTAP and ICTAP candidates:

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority 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 CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf .

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; 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 of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

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

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

Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit 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 declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related 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 position, grade/band 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.

NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.

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.