Head Start Program Specialist

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start (OHS), located in Chicago, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, and New York, New York.
Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.
Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic AND Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below.
Basic Requirement: You must meet one of the items listed below (A, B, or C):
A. Possess a degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (Must provide transcripts)
B. Possess a combination of education and experience -- that provided you with the knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. (Must provide transcript)
C. Possess four years of appropriate experience that demonstrates acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
Minimum Qualifications:
GS-09: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (3) of the (4) duties listed below:

• Providing advice and/or assistance related to Head Start programs or initiatives;
• Ensuring grant plans, operations, and/or requests are following applicable laws and regulations;
• Compiling and/or evaluating data to identify problems related to Head Start programs,
• Drafting recommendations and/or solutions to issues concerning Head Start program operations, programs or policies.

OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree; or a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level.
GS-11: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (3) of the (4) duties listed below:

• Providing technical guidance related to Head Start program and/or initiatives;
• Ensuring grant plans, operations, and/or requests are following applicable laws and regulations;
• Gathering and/or analyzing facts to devise solutions to financial policy/program issues;
• Improving operational efficiency and/or effectiveness of Head Start programs and/or services.

OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field directly related to the position.; or a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level.
GS-12: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (3) of the (4) duties listed below:

• Providing technical guidance related to Head Start program and/or initiatives;
• Ensuring grant plans, operations, and/or requests are following applicable laws and regulations;
• Gathering and/or analyzing facts to devise solutions to financial policy/program issues;
• Refining and/or developing Head Start program guidelines that improve the effectiveness in program operations.

Documenting Experience:
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.
Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.
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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.
OPM Qualification General Policies Website
www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=app
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.Education: If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: FULL_TIME