Duties

Summary

This position is located in U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development (OPEPD), Immediate Office in Washington, DC.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This is a term appointment not to exceed 1 year. This appointment may be extended not to exceed 4 years.

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 125 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 125th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Management and Program Analyst, GS-0343-13, you will be responsible for:

• Planning, developing, and coordinating the implementation of new Departmental policies and procedures, guidelines, and directives applicable to the policy direction of the Assistant Secretary. Work assignments would include research and analysis for issues and proposals, developing guidance, best practices, fact sheet, and informational type documents, and preparing and facilitating technical assistance supports and events

• Obtains and presents information. Provides supervisor with background, reference, program, and policy information, either as requested by her/him, or as known to be necessary from incumbent's knowledge of activities and plans. Performs research from a variety of sources such as regulations, memoranda, proposed legislation, orders, circulars, reports of special boards and committees and other reference materials maintained by incumbent. Research often requires interpretation and adaptation if there are no precise guidelines. Compiles other data obtained verbally since the Assistant Secretary questions may be specialized and not a matter of widespread knowledge. Conducts studies on confidential and controversial matters. Organizes material to present a clear and usable compilation.

• Provides analysis, preparation, and editing of interpretative responses to inquiries of substantial complexity requiring immediate action, and of interest to the highest level of government (including the White House and the Congress) and the educational community.

• Performs analyses and evaluations to identify methods and strategies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization and its programs, systems, procedures, and functions. Plans, conducts, and carries out evaluations and applies advanced quantitative and qualitative techniques to assess the effectiveness of programs and administrative operations, to determine compliance with applicable regulations and policies, and to ensure programs, operations, procedures, and systems support the achievement of organizational goals and objectives.

• Analyzes and evaluates efficiency and management of operations. Provides advice to management on organization design, methods, and procedures. Develops, analyzes, and evaluates new or modified program and management policies, regulations, goals, or objectives.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Some travel may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13 - Grade 13 - GS-13 - This position is at the full performance level.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a US Citizen.
• Background investigation is required.

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

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience for the GS-13

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience effectively and accurately researching, analyzing, and summarizing complex education issues including policies, laws, and regulations, utilizing a variety sources and types of information, and on short timelines.
2. Experience developing and drafting written, research-based education policy ideas, proposals, and documents.
3. Experience planning and project managing activities or initiatives, which involved multiple phases and coordination with project teams and stakeholders.

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 Federal and policies, laws, and regulations on early childhood, elementary and secondary, higher education and federal financial aid, including policies designed to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Knowledge, skills, and abilities in effectively and accurately researching, analyzing, and summarizing complex policies, laws, and regulations, utilizing a variety sources and types of information, and on short timelines.
3. Knowledge, skills, and abilities in developing and drafting written, research-based policy ideas, proposals, recommendations, and documents draft documents, of varying length, with clarity accuracy, and concision for multiple diverse audiences, including for consideration by senior leadership.
4. Skills in qualitative and quantitative techniques for researching and measuring effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of policies and programs and identifying, anticipating, proposing solutions and resolve issues or problems, early.
5. Knowledge and skills in planning and project managing high-profile activities or initiatives, which involved multiple phases and coordination with multi-disciplinary project teams and diverse stakeholders.

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 sro_recruiting@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: During the current period of mandatory telework required by the Agency's COVID-19 response, telework will be mandatory. When it is determined the Agency will be moving to the reopening phase, employees will be expected to physically return to the office of their official duty locations. Telework days and any required waiting period for eligibility will be determined at that time.

Bargaining Unit: This position is not 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 do not meet U.S. Citizenship requirements 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 placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.

If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference eligibles will be ranked ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category for which they are qualified. Qualified veterans' preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the Best Qualified category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

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

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

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 claiming Veterans' Preference, 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;

AND/OR

• Proof of Sole Survivorship Preference (e.g., certificate of death or 100% disability as a result of serving in the armed forces).

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

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.