Program Specialist

Summary
This position located with International Programs, Washington Office, Disaster Assistance Support Program (DASP).
Serves as a Program Specialist and subject matter expert advising on technical matters involving international disaster response and management program planning and coordination.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Marti McClintock at mmcclintock@usaid.gov.
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted only from current permanent Forest Service (FS) employees with competitive status; and CTAP/RPL eligible candidates.
Videos
Duties

• Technical advisor for cooperative programs between the USDA Forest Service and the Agency for International Development, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA).
• Organizes and coordinates USAID/BHA systems for disaster readiness, including procedures, guides, manuals, job aides and other support for Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and Response Management Teams (RMTs).
• Serves as an organizational Program Specialist and project manager for a variety of projects and workgroups related to USAID/BHA systems, methodologies and procedures for international disaster response and management.
• Maintains an ongoing relationship with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) aimed at accessing lessons learned and adapting existing interagency systems for competency-based position management to the USAID/BHA context.
• Develops solutions to promote USAID/BHA's response readiness, effectiveness, and efficiency for disaster and civilian humanitarian crisis response. Supports the evaluation and incorporation of new additions and changes to these products.
• Serves as a Program Specialist and project manager for the DASP Detailer Program. This involves coordination of training, qualifications, site security/access/badging, official correspondence and logistics for detailer assignments.
• Maintains standard operating procedures and electronic file structures for all DASP Detailer Program Coordination functions.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must possess or be able to obtain a Secret security clearance.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must obtain and maintain a U.S. State Department medical clearance for worldwide travel.

Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-09: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following of the following: assisting with coordinating a complex disaster management system such as the Incident Command System (ICS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the U.S. Government's international analogues to these systems, such as USAID/BHA's Response Management System; and/or assisting in the preparation of disaster response material; and/or presenting and coordinating disaster response training; and/or assisting with resourcing and staffing related to disaster response.
OR
Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; LL.B. or J.D., if related;
OR
an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours).
For the GS-11: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: operational or programmatic experience coordinating a complex disaster management system such as the Incident Command System (ICS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the U.S. Government's international analogues to these systems such as USAID/BHA's Response Management System; and/or serving as a subject matter expert developing disaster response material; and/or presenting and coordinating disaster response training; and/or developing and tracking budgets, plans, and contracts related to disaster response.
OR
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related;
OR
an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).
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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.
Additional information
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
This is a temporary promotion not-to-exceed 1 year and may be extended without further competition or may end earlier due to lack of work or funds, or at the discretion of the Hiring Manager. This temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition. If the temporary promotion is not made permanent, you will be returned to your permanent position of record or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay in the Forest Service, in the same geographic location, if possible. Your salary will be adjusted to the grade level and step that you would normally have been in had you remained in your position.
This vacancy is being announced concurrently with vacancy announcement 24-WO-OC-IP-12334707-DT-LDF under USDA Demonstration Project procedures (open to US Citizens). Current and former Federal employees may apply to both announcements but should be sure to apply to this Merit Promotion announcement to avoid losing consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement
This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.
This position may be eligible to telework up to two days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/
Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

• Benefits
  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.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

• Oral Communication
• Planning and Evaluating
• Public Safety and Security
• Writing

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.
If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.
To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12309363

• Benefits
  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.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
  
  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
  • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
  
  In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim any of the following:
  
  • Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of propos...