Program Specialist

Job Title and Duties

The incumbent reports to the Cemetery Director and has oversight of the administrative responsibilities including budget, correspondence, and work direction of lower grade General Schedule employees. Incumbent analyzes current and proposed program and budget operating programs to evaluate their actual or potential effectiveness in establishing and achieving goals and objectives set by the agency. The incumbent performs budget and program analysis duties and serves as the principal assistant to the Cemetery Director. Assures the coordination of the cemetery's Organization Assessment and National Shrine Standards as well as assists the Cemetery Director in accomplishing a variety of administrative functions. Incumbent compiles and analyzes data, identifies trends, prepares reports, and recommends solutions for resolving problems and to ensure compliance with operational standards and measures. Assignments involve special studies and investigations to promptly detect problem conditions in connect with operations through the cemetery. Resulting recommendations and advice may have impact on more than one interrelated activity and have strong impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of future cemetery program operations. Studies relate to the full scope of interment operations, grounds maintenance operations, headstone/marker/niche cover operations, and equipment maintenance operations, as well as to other topics such as facilities, personnel and security. Objective is to assess the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of the programs of the cemetery operations and to recommend resolution of problems in a full range of administrative and field activities. Evaluates the overall effectiveness of the primary mission of the cemetery. Scope of work encompasses the evaluation of the effectiveness of the organizational mission and its component activities. Evaluates and monitors the eligibility process to assure that requests are handled timely and compassionately while meeting regulatory requirements. Administers the allocated budget for the Jacksonville VA National Cemetery, including monitoring and tracking of all expenditures in assigned fund control points, including contract maintenance operations. Ensures cemetery compliance with budget performance measures to avoid over-expenditures. Incumbent will assist with development of budget justifications for increases or new requirements. Budgetary procedures require planning for control of resources to support the National Cemetery Resource Management Tool and the local budget activities, both administrative and maintenance operations. The work contributes to complete resource control of funding for personnel, equipment, supplies and materials. Performs office administration manpower reviews to ensure FTEE levels are utilized and to meet allocation allotment from the Southeast District Memorial Service Network (MSN). Incumbent advises and assists on issues that are sensitive and serious in dealing with the public in operation of Jacksonville VA National Cemetery. Problems involve issues such as determining interment eligibility and timely scheduling of committal services of a high-profile nature that may positively or negatively impact the cemetery, NCA or DVA. Prepares necessary correspondence and documentation, including after action reports for significant events. May also be responsible for the collection and manipulation of data obtain through daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual and annual checklists in support of the NCA Organizational Assessment and Improvement (OAI) program. Incumbent may also act as an alternate Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) as needed to provide oversight of numerous contractors and to ensure the completion of those contracted tasks. Incumbent may be temporarily assigned as acting director during director's absence, may perform outreach activities or represent the cemetery at station events, and will perform other duties as assigned.

Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available. Telework: Not Available. Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist/PD137650. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.