Program Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Office. The PSOB Office is responsible for implementing the PSOB Program.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/22/2024 to 05/01/2024

• Salary

$139,395 - $181,216 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 14

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Washington, DC 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel

• To attend meetings, conferences and training.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Full Time

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

14

• Job family (Series)

0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Announcement number

JP-24-142

• Control number

787881700

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Individuals with disabilities

• Land & base management

Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.

• Military spouses

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

• Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

This is NOT a remote position. The duty station is Washington, DC. The selectee will be required to report to the duty station at least 4 days per bi-weekly pay period. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Applicants will be considered under Delegated Examining and/or Merit Promotion procedures based upon eligibility.

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Duties

(The duties described reflect the full performance level of this position)

The incumbent serves as a Senior Benefits Specialist and has primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and determination PSOB death, disability, and education claims. Assesses program effectiveness and the improvement of complex program and management processes and systems encompassing difficult and diverse functions or issues that affect critical aspects of PSOB death, disability and educational assistance claims.

Coordinates the development, administration, implementation and evaluation of PSOB programs consistent with the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act, and performs technical review and oversight of PSOB program activities.

Performs technical oversight activities within assigned program area to ensure that claims are processed in accordance with DOJ/OJP program procedures and policy, and that program goals and objectives are achieved.

Provides expert advice and guidance on broad projects and programs with national impact.

Guidance requires extensive interpretation for many different and unrelated program processes and methods, such as interpretations of original legislative or judicial intent and advice on revisions to existing policies and programs to meet requirements.

Maintains state-of-the-art expertise in assigned program area as well as an awareness of major national-level issues relative to the cause and incidence of public safety officer line-of-duty deaths. Assists reviewers by providing and interpreting data relative to public safety officer deaths and disabilities and by recommending data sources outside of the PSOB Program.

Responds to public/private sector inquiries regarding claim eligibility, PSOB Program requirements, appeal procedures, etc. Addresses concerns regarding death, disability and educational assistance cases. Recommends alternative and appropriate documentation to approve or disapprove eligibility where basic required documentation cannot be located or obtained.

Provides expert technical advice and assistance on complex benefit program issues. Recommendations impact long-range planning and implementation of program objectives.

Participates in the development of PSOB policies and initiatives related to program coverage. Reviews DOJ/BJA/PSOB rules, regulations, and policies in response to specific inquiries. Recommends policies, procedures, and guidelines for claims management/processing activities. Develops evaluation criteria for new PSOB Program initiatives.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.

• Subject to background/suitability investigation/determination.

• Submit all required documents and Online Assessment Questionnaire.

• Federal payments are required to be made by Direct Deposit.

• Requires registration for the Selective Service. Visit www.sss.gov.

• Pre-employment drug testing required.

• 1-year probationary period may be required.

See Other Information for further requirements.

Qualifications

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

MINIMUM FEDERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifying experience for the GS-14 level includes one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-13 level which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of specialized experience at the GS-13 level include: Experience performing analytical studies involving issues related to key agency death, disability or education benefit programs; experience developing plans for implementing short- and long-range death, disability or education benefit program goals; experience reviewing complex prior death, disability or education benefit claims to gather information and reconcile conflicting data; devising new or modified methods of analyzing complex findings in death, disability, or education benefits reviews.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications as described above will be further evaluated based upon the following technical qualifications:

Ability to analyze death, disability or education organizational and operational benefits administration and claims processing and techniques for program evaluations.

Ability to provide advice and guidance on death, disability or education program management issues.

Knowledge of the mission, structure, programs, and responsibilities of a wide range of public safety agencies, including law enforcement, firefighters, and other responders.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Click here to see the full Qualifications Statement.

Education

See Other Information.

Additional information

This position is included in the bargaining unit.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Status applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade by the closing date.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

This position may be eligible for telework per agency policy.

OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.

This position has a duty station of Washington, D.C. The selectee will be required to physically report to the OJP office building at least four (4) days per bi-weekly pay period and may incorporate leave and official travel plans into this reporting requirement. The office director or supervisor may request the selectee's presence in the office more frequently, as determined by the needs of the office. The selectee will be responsible for covering all commuting-related travel expenses. OJP employees are eligible for one transportation benefit - parking or the Department of Justice (DOJ) transit subsidy.

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• Benefits

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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 window

Learn more about federal benefits.

To explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees, visit the Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/Benefits#icc.

Fitness Reimbursement: OJP offers a fitness reimbursement program for employees' individual fitness-related expenditures.

OJP also offers credit union services, a health unit, and on-site nurse for your usage.

Transit Benefits: To defray your commuting cost, we are pleased to offer the Employee Transit Benefit Program.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be considered under all categories for which you are eligible.

For All U.S. Citizens: Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Candidates within the best qualified category who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

For Status/Merit Promotion/VEOA candidates: Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on the announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your resume and application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

For Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)/Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) applicants: The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, or if your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Under merit promotion procedures, to be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. Under category rating procedures, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria.