Duties

Summary

The Travel Program Specialist position is located within the Travel Section of the System and Services Branch (SSB) of the Division of Administrative Services (DAS), Office of Information and Resource Management (OIRM), National Science Foundation (NSF). The Travel Management Section manages the NSF travel programs; provides special consultation on the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and related policies; plans and executes NSF travel activities and services.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Travel Program Specialist will perform the following duties:

• Provides policy oversight, travel expense management, travel agency services support for the NSB, merit panel reviewers, advisory committees, committee of visitors, and internal NSF staff and invitees to ensure compliance with the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and other applicable federal guidance;
• Resolves complex problems in Travel operations and policy including ConcurGov, Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Panelist Travel agency services, Passport and Visa Oversight, Transit Subsidy, and NSF Employee Relocation. Oversees project management through sound data analysis and acts to ensure customer service delivery levels are consistent with Division plans and priorities. The incumbent interprets federal law and communicates it in plain language to customers and vendors;
• Provides guidance and advice for complex systems interface issues, including consulting related to developing, testing and modifying the financial system interfaces between NSF's financial system (Oracle Federal Financials) the NSF's travel systems; ConcurGov and internal Guest business system;
• Performs complex analysis of existing and/or future financial and travel business processes, uses expertise in the field to independently interpret the FTR, federal financial systems/policy, associated agency travel and commercial travel policies and practices to determine how the needs of travelers can be met within the framework of existing Federal and agency guidelines. Develops studies on travel and financial system policies, and how evolving travel needs can be met within the framework of existing guidelines. Analysis and reports shall be documented using the standard MS Office suite of tools;
• Designs, writes and disseminates a variety of technical reports that require the retrieval of highly complex raw data and analysis, and its inclusion into appropriate report formats;
• Conducts data collection to resolve audit findings requiring administrative policy changes resulting from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audits and provides recommendations to Section Head on implementation;
• Interprets guidance from GSA, the FTR and Appropriations Law to make recommendations that have the potential to significantly change travel policies at NSF; prepares and presents analysis in such a manner as to provide decision support addressing technical and financial cost/benefits and provide as a deliverable. Provides guidance and advice for routine to complex system enhancements between NSF's financial system, iTRAK and the NSF's travel systems; ConcurGov and GUEST;
• Uses learned knowledge to develop, build and execute custom and standard Financial and Travel Reports utilizing Cognos and Excel. Performs needs assessments, cost benefit analysis, risk identification and monitoring, business requirements analysis, business process modeling, and develop requirements specification and other highly technical documentation for software modifications to ConcurGov, GUEST or iTRAK;
• Reviews NSF travel policies and memorandums for accuracy and will recommend which polices are outdated or overcome by events based on newer policies. Reviews the NSF's current procedures and advises changes based on Government-wide precedence. Identifies and evaluates customer needs. Provides recommendations to Section Head to improve customer service provided to NSF staff and panelists;
• Tracks and reports the status and dependencies to successfully meet the requirements in support of data calls. Manages logistics for travel training program to include providing desk side, small team and classroom training. Provides as needed as well as aiding NSF staff on both Financial and Travel systems with supported documentation. Provides technical guidance and training for more junior travel staff members. Reviews and responds to travel policy inquiries from internal and external NSF Customers;
• Acts as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for various travel program contracts;
• Facilities the Official Government Passport program and Visa process;
• Prepares recommended replies to NSF leadership on travel program inquiries;
• Develops NSF-wide communications to be disseminated via multiple media outlets;
• Inputs Oracle iTRAK Purchase Orders and Requisitions associated to Travel Programs;
• Facilities processing Transit subsidy transactions;
• Facilities Employee Relocation requests for NSF Employees;
• Acts as the Agency Representative at various interagency working groups and travel forums ensuring that the latest updates and modifications are known and disseminated throughout the NSF;
• Serves as Travel Voucher Auditor; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

• Accountability
• Change Management
• Customer Service
• Information Technology Program Management
• Product Evaluation
• Project Management
• Systems Integration

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US citizenship.
• Background investigation.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

It is NSF policy that NSF personnel employed at or IPAs detailed to NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions

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.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent.

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date.

You must answer all job-related questions in the NSF eRecruit questionnaire.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

Qualifications

To qualify at the GS-12 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: researching, extracting, and analyzing travel data; contributing to the development of travel program plans and policies; conducting analysis to identify travel or relocation issues and preparing reports; contributing to the development of agency travel policies or procedures.

To qualify at the GS-13 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12 in the Federal service. Examples of this experience include: applying travel program knowledge to plan and conduct travel studies; analyzing travel data to determine attainment of program or organizational goals and objectives; implementing travel regulations and policies for an agency as they are issued from GSA and other sources; devising plans for the development of a travel program.

Education

Education may enhance skills required for this position; however, no substitution of education for specialized experience may be made at this level.

Additional information

Relocation Expenses will not be paid.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
ICTAP and CTAP provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least "Very Good" on the questionnaire. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.
Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources

Veteran's Preference:
If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the required documentation as specified on the SF-15.

NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.

For additional information on the NSF eRecruit system, please visit our NSF eRecruit Applicant Guide .

This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation.

The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Ratings will be assigned based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire. In some cases, additional assessment processes may be used.

Review your resume and responses carefully. Responses that are not fully supported by the information in your application package may result in adjustments to your score. A Human Resources Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants eligible for selection preference under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) must meet the agency definition of "well qualified." At NSF, this means a score of 90.0 or higher.

In the merit promotion selection process, formal performance appraisals may be considered if voluntarily submitted by the applicant.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

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

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

If you are an NSF employee on or eligible for a permanent, competitive service position or you are an NSF employee who is reinstatement eligible based on prior Federal permanent, competitive service, you need not submit documents to confirm status. All applicants are required to provide a resume, in any format they choose. Cover letters are optional.

If you are not an NSF employee as described above, but you are eligible under merit promotion , under an Interchange Agreements , under a non-competitive authority , or under a similar authority , you will be required to submit supporting documentation. This will typically require the submission of one or more of the following documents:

1. Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50s) or comparable federal agency forms to verify your eligibility for reinstatement and/or grade/step/salary if you are a current or former permanent federal civil service employee.
• SF-50 must indicate that appointment is/was to a competitive service position with permanent tenure or conditional tenure within the last three years; OR, to a similar position in the excepted service at an agency that has an Interchange Agreement.
• An example of a comparable agency form is a personnel action from a DOD Non-appropriated Fund organization or from the US Postal Service for a current and continuing appointment without a break in service.
• Documents that are NOT comparable and NOT acceptable substitutes for a SF-50 include a SF-52, a Performance Appraisal form, a Personnel Action Request (PAR), or a Request for Personnel Action (RPA).

2. Performance appraisals and awards may be considered during the evaluation process if voluntarily submitted.

3. DD-214 (Member-4 copy); and if applicable, the Department of Veterans Affairs Notice of Compensable Disability Rating from applicants requesting consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), Veteran Recruitment Act (VRA), or the disabled veterans appointing authority.

4. Schedule A Certification - from applicants requesting consideration under the Schedule A appointing authority for disabled applicants.

5. Other - Documentation which verifies you are eligible to be appointed to a permanent position in the federal competitive civil service.

If you are requesting consideration under a Special Hiring Authority listed below, you must submit the required documentation as outlined in the regulation or Executive Order. Please also annotate your application to reflect that you are applying under a special hiring authority. If you are requesting consideration under a Special Hiring Authority not listed below, please email eRecruit@nsf.gov or reach out to the point of contact listed on the vacancy announcement.

• Returned Peace Corp Volunteers
• Certain Military Spouses (Executive Order 13473)
• Former Overseas Employees
• Foreign Service Employees
• Career Service Employees
• Postal Rate Commission Employees
• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employees
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employees

If you are requesting special employment consideration under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or CTAP, you must submit documentation provided by your current or former employing agency verifying your eligibility for that program. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.

We also ask that you complete and submit the Applicant Survey . This will help NSF to ensure that our recruiting efforts are attracting a diverse candidate pool; it will be used for statistical purposes only.

All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.

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.