Program Specialist

Summary

The Program Specialist ensures that Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) animal health programs effectively carry out their responsibilities by providing VS-wide policy, alignment and operational direction encompassing all VS human capital efforts (Position Management, Recruitment, Performance Management, Workforce Utilization, Strategic Planning, Succession Planning, Career Development, Leadership Development, etc.).

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Duties

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• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Provides support for the administrative and operational functions of People Programs.
• Provide administrative or logistical assistance and helps ensure mission requirements are met in an efficient and timely manner.
• Assists in the development and dissemination of informational resources available to both external (public) and internal (within VS) customers.
• Edits and expedites HR leadership documents to ensure policy compliance, clarity, and professional standards.
• Attends meetings with, or on behalf of, People Programs staff, as assigned, taking detailed minutes/notes and disseminating those work products as directed.
• Gathers information and designs special reports relating to operational and/or administrative matters
• Develops information from studies, analyzes and drafts recommendations for action or decision on matters relating to process or programs under PO purview.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary and a trial period. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit

Qualifications

To qualify, you MUST meet all program and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements;

• Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years.
• Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met.

TRANSCRIPTS are required.

FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Information Management: Demonstrates the ability to recognize the need for specific information and possesses the knowledge to locate and collect this information efficiently. Utilizes organizational tools and systems, such as SharePoint, to systematically arrange and maintain important data and records.
• Organizational Knowledge and Administrative Practices: Applies understanding of management and organizational principles, including standard administrative practices and procedures commonly used within the organization. This encompasses familiarity with areas of responsibility, effective communication channels, delegation of authority, appropriate routing of correspondence, and the establishment and maintenance of filing and record storage systems.
• Analytical Methods and Techniques: Possesses knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative analytical methods and techniques, enabling thorough analysis of procedural issues that are factual in nature.
• Analytical Skills: Uses analytical methods and techniques to identify, evaluate, and resolve procedural problems. Demonstrates the ability to thoughtfully consider various factors and implement solutions to address identified issues.
• Technical Proficiency in MS Office: Maintains a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office software, understanding its capabilities, operating characteristics, and functions. This proficiency allows for the effective creation of documents and reports to support organizational needs.

OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field of study directly related to the work of this position such as Business Administration, Public Administration, Emergency Management, or other closely related fields.

OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-9 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

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 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Transcripts including the date your degree was conferred are required. Applications will not be considered without this documentation.

Additional information

• Recent Graduate appointments are intended to last for 1 year. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the USDA Recent Graduates Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position.
• If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entrance on duty.
• A Pathways Participant Agreement will be required if you are selected for a position. The agreement must be signed by all applicable parties prior to entrance on duty.
• First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
• Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
• Selection will be at GS-9 with the possibility of conversion to a term or permanent Program Specialist, 0301-09, with promotion potential to the GS-11 level. Conversion eligibility and position is not guaranteed and depends upon the program unit's needs.

CONVERSION REQUIREMENTS Recent Graduates may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. To be eligible for conversion the Recent Graduate must meet all of the following:

• Successfully complete at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program as outlined in the Participant Agreement.
• Demonstrate successful job performance.
• Meet the qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.