Program Specialist

Summary

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States (WHA/USOAS). The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist providing administrative and program oversight support of activities between the United States and OAS, working closely with WHA/EX and other offices to ensure the Mission's logistical, managerial, and human resource needs are met. The incumbent is also the mission's protocol officer supporting day-to-day operations.

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Duties

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• Develops, analyzes, and evaluates work methods and procedures to improve staffing use, work distribution, management controls, and information and documentation systems.
• Serves as primary liaison to the OAS protocol office and helps develop and implement the Mission's protocol policy. Gives expert recommendations to the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission on protocol-related operational and policy issues.
• Develops administrative regulations or guidelines for internal program operations and new criteria for measuring program results.
• Oversees office spending, equipment, supplies, travel requests, vouchers, and the representational budget. Advises mission staff on travel regulations, processes vouchers for senior officials, and reviews quarterly budget reports to analyze spending.
• The incumbent of the GS-12 position performs essentially the same duties as the GS-13, under closer supervision and decreased level of complexity.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

GS-12: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience assisting with administrative and program support in one or more functional areas (e.g., human resources, travel, budget, procurement, or logistics), such as researching issues, gathering information, and suggesting solutions to supervisors.
• Experience assisting with planning and coordinating programs, projects, or events, such as helping develop plans, tracking resources and deadlines, and resolving routine problems, in settings involving several stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating with staff at various levels, including senior officials, to support organizational goals, such as drafting recommendations, tracking resources, and helping resolve issues, in line with established policies and regulations.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

GS-13: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience providing administrative and program support across several functional areas (e.g. human resources, travel, budget and financial management, procurement, logistics, and internal controls) to analyze issues and recommend solutions to management.
• Experience managing complex programs, projects, or events from planning through completion, such as developing plans, coordinating resources, meeting deadlines, and resolving problems, in settings involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience working with senior officials and multiple stakeholders to meet organizational goals, such as developing recommendations, managing resources, and resolving complex issues, in compliance with applicable policies and regulations.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

• To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the "Request a Reasonable Accommodation" button within the Assessment Application.
  
  For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at OAA@state.gov.
  
  OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests:
  
  
  • RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only.
  • Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.
  • Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.
  • Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.
  • Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.
  • Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.
  • If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at OAA@state.gov.
• If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
• Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

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.

Review our 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.

Job Description

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States (WHA/USOAS). The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist providing administrative and program oversight support of activities between the United States and OAS, working closely with WHA/EX and other offices to ensure the Mission's logistical, managerial, and human resource needs are met. The incumbent is also the mission's protocol officer supporting day-to-day operations.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

• Develops, analyzes, and evaluates work methods and procedures to improve staffing use, work distribution, management controls, and information and documentation systems.
• Serves as primary liaison to the OAS protocol office and helps develop and implement the Mission's protocol policy. Gives expert recommendations to the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission on protocol-related operational and policy issues.
• Develops administrative regulations or guidelines for internal program operations and new criteria for measuring program results.
• Oversees office spending, equipment, supplies, travel requests, vouchers, and the representational budget. Advises mission staff on travel regulations, processes vouchers for senior officials, and reviews quarterly budget reports to analyze spending.
• The incumbent of the GS-12 position performs essentially the same duties as the GS-13, under closer supervision and decreased level of complexity.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

GS-12: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience assisting with administrative and program support in one or more functional areas (e.g., human resources, travel, budget, procurement, or logistics), such as researching issues, gathering information, and suggesting solutions to supervisors.
• Experience assisting with planning and coordinating programs, projects, or events, such as helping develop plans, tracking resources and deadlines, and resolving routine problems, in settings involving several stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating with staff at various levels, including senior officials, to support organizational goals, such as drafting recommendations, tracking resources, and helping resolve issues, in line with established policies and regulations.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

GS-13: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience providing administrative and program support across several functional areas (e.g. human resources, travel, budget and financial management, procurement, logistics, and internal controls) to analyze issues and recommend solutions to management.
• Experience managing complex programs, projects, or events from planning through completion, such as developing plans, coordinating resources, meeting deadlines, and resolving problems, in settings involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience working with senior officials and multiple stakeholders to meet organizational goals, such as developing recommendations, managing resources, and resolving complex issues, in compliance with applicable policies and regulations.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

• To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the "Request a Reasonable Accommodation" button within the Assessment Application.
  
  For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at OAA@state.gov.
  
  OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests:
  
  
  • RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only.
  • Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.
  • Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.
  • Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.
  • Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.
  • Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.
  • If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at OAA@state.gov.
• If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
• Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

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.



Help

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.

Review our 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.