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Program Analyst

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Annapolis Junction, Maryland
Closing date
Aug 5, 2021
Duties

Summary

Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. For additional information about our agency please: Click Here

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This Program Analyst position is located in the Enrollment Services & Vetting Program (ESVP), Operations Support (OS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This position plays a critical role analyzing, evaluating, and reporting on all operational aspects of TSA's key vetting programs, including TSA PreCheck®, Secure Flight, and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC®). Duties include but are not limited to:
  • Analyzes and evaluates program areas to determine areas in which progress is unsatisfactory and to determine courses of action to remedy deficiencies. This includes continuous review of periodic progress reports, special reports, correspondence, etc., from other government agencies and activities, and functional elements. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates the systems and processes in terms of objectives, progress to date, managerial and other critical and/or potential or anticipated problems encountered, lack of resources, adequacy and validity of factors and standards, and need for revision of schedules. Investigates variances from established system standards and schedules revealed by analysis and
    evaluation.
  • Selects and applies program management techniques in coordinating, establishing and reporting accomplishments of assigned programs. Evaluates policies, procedures and regulations for applicability and compliance. Establishes and maintains schedules and milestones consistent with program objectives. In close coordination with management, participates in the formulation of project plans to establish realistic time schedules, resource requirements, milestones and accomplishments. Prepares analyses with recommended actions, designs and prepares reports and spreadsheets, and presents briefings to managers on study
    findings and recommendations.
  • Applies a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment of the programs, and identifies areas needing special emphasis or improvement. Develops and provides effective methods to task, review, and assess support work, solves managerial and financial problems, answers a wide range of formal and informal questions and data calls from all levels of operations, management, customers, and performers, evaluates support work (taking corrective action as required) and assures that management objectives are understood and met, within the scope of delegated authority and available resources.
  • Manages planning, budgeting, execution, control, and evaluation activities for a variety of programs in terms of major funding. Establishes methodology and procedures for compiling, consolidating, reviewing, analyzing, tracking and editing the program work requirements, budgets, and related documentation necessary to develop plans covering TSA requirements. Develops improved budget methods, procedures, formats and justification used in controlling program authority and funding. Review analysis of estimates and resolution of differences with operating personnel; consolidation of estimates; preparation of program budget narrative justification, preparation of reclaims including impact statements; and performance of continuous reprogramming.
  • Formulate projects and recommend assessment criteria for the evaluation of TSA operational programs and contributes to the performance of meeting mission requirements. Develops and recommends project deadlines and required resources to execute projects. Reviews and analyzes accomplishment of TSA programs by analysis of reports, projects, and other resourceful information. Identifies existing or potential problem areas and recommends corrective action or preventive measures.
    Organizes, manages, and presents information to include both formal and informal recommendations via oral and written communication.

The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (H Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

This position is also being announced through Government-Wide procedures under Announcement #HQ-OS-ESVP-21-004130-G. Candidates who wish to be considered under both Public (US Citizens) and Government-Wide procedures must apply to both announcements.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
I

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Selective Service registration is required.
  • You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
  • You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI).
  • You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
  • See additional "Conditions of Employment" and "Other Information" section
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.


Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-G or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:
  • Applying analytical and evaluative methods, techniques, and procedures to design and conduct analytical studies and surveys to identify, analyze, and
    recommend solutions to problems and/or for improvement in program efficiency and effectiveness;
  • Drafting written communications to develop presentations, create policy guidance and SOPs, and write materials for online resources to document
    program procedures in a clear manner.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:
  • Administering management and organizational principles and practices along with planning, programming, and budgeting regulations, guidelines and
    processes;
  • Applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues and studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations and
    to develop and recommend solutions to alleviate adverse impact on program resources in the future;
  • Coordinating oral and written communications to enable presentation of sensitive and sometimes controversial material; making recommendations of
    sound proposals based on findings to higher authority on the results of studies or problems.

Note: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. 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.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Resumes must include the following:
  • Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
  • State the number of hours worked in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time). If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week.
  • Performance level (i.e. band or grade)

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Education

None.

Additional information

Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: http://www.opm.gov .

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position.

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence.

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. For more information, click here .

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement.

TSA policy requires verification of Selective Service registration for male applicants born after 12/31/59. For more information click here .

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Veterans and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the documentation that is required, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.

Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.

Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference .

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

In addition to a resume and the assessment questions, you must submit copies of any of the following documents if you are applying based on Veterans' Preference or eligible Veterans' Service (a veteran who was honorably discharged from the armed forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active duty service), or education or a combination of education and experience:

DD-214 - If you are claiming Veterans' Preference or eligible Veterans' Service, provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other appropriate documentation to prove your entitlement and to provide verification of an Honorable Discharge.

SF-15 and VA Letter - If you are claiming Veterans' Preference based upon a Compensable Disability, Widow or Spouse Entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, you must submit your DD-214 or other proof of entitlement; an SF-15, and the required proof of disability, i.e., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later.

Individuals with Disabilities (IWD) Letter - In order to be eligible for employment through TSA's Individuals With Disabilities Appointing Authority, documentation of the disability is required. Such documentation is used to verify that the individual being hired is indeed a person with an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. This documentation must be provided with your application before an individual can be hired. Documentation of eligibility for employment under this hiring authority can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.

If you do not submit required documentation described in this job opportunity announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

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.

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