Quality Assurance Specialist

Summary The position is located within the Office of Finance and Management (AFN), Office of Acquisition and Business Services (ACQ), Acquisition Policy and Oversight Directorate (AAP). AAP Develops agency-wide acquisition policy, guidance, and tools to manage the agency's Acquisition Management System (AMS). Responsibilities The incumbent performs a combination of routine, multiple and varying assignments under the general direction of a manager or more experienced professional. Acts as a contributor or member of a team for projects within a defined area of responsibility. Applies experience and detailed knowledge applicable to quality assurance (QA) programs, policies, processes, procedures and projects to plan and accomplish assignments. Assignments are in support of experienced professionals and include(s): collecting and analyzing data/information; identifying problems; working with management, experienced professional and others in the day-to-day operations; compiling and analyzing both Software and Hardware quality data; researching quality assurance requirements during procurement, production, and supply of material; supporting in the development of and assisting with the coordination of required changes to existing programs; assist in monitoring and evaluating the operation and effectiveness of the contractor quality assurance system during FAA procurement; collecting data to aid in the preparation of procedural guides and instructions to enhance the assessment of quality performance. Demonstrates some independence in planning time and using assigned resources to accomplish task or projects. Analyzes the impact and effectiveness of supporting Software and Hardware QA programs and provides updates to management. Reviews and analyzes QA policies, procedures and regulations pertaining to QA systems operations. Assist a manager or experienced professional in the planning, implementation and maintenance of QA systems. Contacts are primarily internal to the Quality Assurance group and Lines of Business within the FAA. However, the incumbent may have some contact with external customers on routine matters such as gathering information, explaining QA rules and regulations and discussing customers' situations. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignment, but some discretion is allowed to select the most appropriate approach(es). Receives guidance on selecting the best option from a manager or more experienced professional. Refers problems and work issues to a manager or more experienced employee when guidelines are not available or applicable. Work is reviewed frequently during assignments and at completion to ensure timeliness, policy compliance, and alignment with the requirements of the projects and/or work activities. Work activities support the Acquisition Management System of the organizational unit, which affects project/program objective for the major subdivision and the LOB/SO. The work affects internal and external customers. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications To view the complete OPM qualification standard, please refer to: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-F, FG/GS-5/7/9 in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: Experience with collecting and identifying problems within a QA system. Experience assisting with the coordination of changes to an existing QA program. Experience assisting management in planning, implementation and maintenance of a QA system. -OR- Ph. D or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree: Major study -- quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields related to the position. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Education Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA's in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the KSA listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration. If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed. If the selection list is shortened to a best qualified list through a comparative process, then the best qualified list shall be considered to be the selection list. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA