Duties

Summary

The Office of Library Services (OLS) provides grants through the Discretionary Library Grants and discretionary grant programs to enhance the quality of library services in all types of libraries and grants to support education and training in library, digital library development, online digital library services and development, archival, and information science.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

If selected for the Grants Management Specialist (Sr. Program Officer) position, the incumbent will serve as the Senior Grants Management Specialist (Senior Program Officer) with responsibility for contributing to and assisting with the management of the national digital initiatives and infrastructures portfolio within the Office of Library Services (OLS). Typical work assignments will include:

• Manages complete cycles of large discretionary grant programs from the development of application guidelines through accepting applications, organizing peer reviewing, making awards, monitoring grant-funded projects, and closing out grants.
• Educates potential applicants about the availability and requirements of grant programs through one-on-one counseling and group presentations.
• Builds and maintains a substantial network of professional contacts in various organizations (e.g. library and archival communities) for information sharing and peer reviewer recruitment.
• Serves various organizations within the library and/or archival communities as an expert and a source of information about the agency's grant programs and the ways in which IMLS can assists various organization (e.g. libraries, archives, service organizations, etc.) with serving their communities.
• Use the agency grants management systems to process applications, peer reviews, awards, performance reports, and correspondence.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position for training, conferences, and site inspections.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
• Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Resume and supporting documents (See Required Documents).

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
GS-13: To be eligible at the GS-13 grade level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as (1) knowledge and/or experience with operational and administrative policies, processes, and procedures of grantmaking in federal, state, or local government(s) or non-government organizations; (2) knowledge and/or experience with reviewing, awarding grants, or administering awards for grants and cooperative agreements; (3) knowledge and/or experience working with activities/programs (e.g., digital library development, management and/or research, and digital collections stewardship) in order to assess grant proposals and grants panelists; (4) experience and skill in leveraging the expertise of and building cooperative relationships with external stakeholders in various organizations/fields (e.g., large-scale cooperatives or collaborative digital initiatives, programs, or organizations); (5) skill in written communications to create policies, reports, and responding to internal/external inquiries.

NOTE: Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

NOTE: 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

Education is not a substitute for specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Programs :
These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

Selective Service Registration:
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx ).

Veterans Preference :
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans .

HIRING INCENTIVES:

• Eligible for Student Loan Repayment Program
• Eligible for Tuition Assistance Program
• This position is telework eligible

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated and rated under IMLSs Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories:

- Best Qualified
- Highly Qualified
- Qualified

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles. All applicants' qualifications will be evaluated on the below-listed competencies, which are required for this position. Please outline experience/ education for these competencies in your resume. The required competencies for this
position are as follows:

Attention to Detail : Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. External Awareness : Identifies and keeps up-to-date on key agency policies/priorities and economic, political, and social trends which affect the organization; understands where the organization is headed and how to make a contribution. Grants Management : Knowledge of requirements, practices, and procedures for soliciting, receiving, reviewing, and processing proposals, and awarding and administering grants and agreements. Oral Communication : Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Partnering : Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. Planning and Evaluating : Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10949946

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
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. (Required): Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
2. (Required): Your resume showing relevant experience and dates (month/year) of employment and work schedule for each (e.g., part-time XX hours per week or full-time) (cover letter optional). Please limit your resume to 5 pages and include only information that demonstrates you meet the eligibility for this position.
3. (Required, if applicable): Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Inter-agency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? If so, submit:

• A copy of your Reduction In-Force (RIF) separation notice OR; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate OR; notice of disability annuity termination or certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related (OWCP) compensable injury OR; certification that you are eligible for Special Disability Retirement as a Former Military Reserve/National Guard Technician.
• A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action'', documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification letter of inability to place you through the Reemployed Priority Listing (RPL), etc.
• A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
• Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

4. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:

• Beginning and ending dates of appointment
• Agency; and
• Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
• Position title

5. (Required, if applicable): DD-214 or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans branch of service, or letter referencing service-connected disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Standard Form (SF) 15.

NOTE: Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application.