Program Specialist (Watch Officer)

Summary

This position is located at the National Cemetery Administration in Washington, District of Columbia.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

03/18/2024 to 03/22/2024

• Salary

$72,553 - $113,047 per year

Pay listed is based on Rest of the US Locality. Locality will be adjusted once location is determined.

• Pay scale & grade

GS 11 - 12

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Locations

1 vacancy in the following locations:

• Oakland, CA

• Lakewood, CO

• Washington, DC

• Decatur, GA

• Show more locations (3)

• Indianapolis, IN

• Saint Louis, MO

• Philadelphia, PA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

25% or less

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

12

• Job family (Series)

0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

RP-24-AB-12353464-101

• Control number

782086200

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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.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees of the National Cemetery Administration.

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Duties

Position functions as the Program Specialist (Watch Officer) for NCA Current and Integrated Operations ("Watch Team") in the Office of the Executive Director, Cemetery Operations, National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Performs all program management work and activities for NCA Watch Team's three major areas of responsibility for program elements: NCA FNOE; NCA Cemetery Operations Master Action Calendar; and NCA Trip Packs and Leadership Biographies. This work and related activities include but are not limited to:

• Using technical knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, and Adobe Acrobat to create, revise, edit, file or otherwise organize or control communications, documents, files and other resources.

• Developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), process improvement initiatives, action plans and/or similar resources for program management.

• Executing effective control of the NCA Watch Team's major program areas through interpersonal leadership, continuity of communications, and recommendations to the Supervisor, Current and Integrated Operations.

• Supporting the Supervisor, Current, and Integrated Operations by assessing program health, advocating for program resources, and spearheading process improvement initiatives to include the design, development and tracking of project milestones and goals.

• Assisting the Supervisor, Current and Integrated Operations, in formulating and evaluating overall performance goals and objectives for program activities.

• Coordinating routinely with colleagues to gather information related to program improvement and advocates for program needs, objectives, and deliverables with other NCA offices as needed.

• Applying analytical and problem-solving techniques to identify, recommend and implement process and work product improvements and advises the Supervisor, Current and Integrated Operations, on achieving solutions to problems or issues by analyzing current work methodologies, practices, procedures, and resources to recommend improvements or enhancements for the benefit of the incumbent's team, the broader organization, and our internal and external customer groups.

• Supporting development and execution of reporting processes and procedures to monitor readiness and operational impacts for all NCA facilities ranging from minor incidents to emergency or disaster recovery and response actions. And, as needed, supports coordination with other VA, federal, state, and/or local components, including tribal governments to support monitoring of readiness and operational impacts to other facilities that have a relationship with NCA.

Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available

Telework: Available

Virtual: This is a Virtual Position. Virtual positions are where an employee works outside of original hiring duty station at VA-owned or leased space. The original hiring duty station for this position is National Cemetery Administration Central Office

• Washington, DC and your work duty location will be at one of the following:

• NCA National Scheduling Office

• St. Louis, MO

• Midwest District Office

• Indianapolis, IN

• North Atlantic District Office

• Philadelphia, PA

• Southeast District Office

• Decatur, GA

• Continental District Office

• Lakewood, CO

• Pacific District Office

• Oakland, CA

• Washington, District of Columbia

Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist (Watch Officer)/PD1621637

The full performance level of this position is GS - 12. At the level GS-11, you will perform similar duties but under closer supervision.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Subject to a background/security investigation.

• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 03/22/2024.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If your most recent non-award SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

• Must have the ability to type at least 40 words per minute.

• Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education, as described below:

• GS-11 Specialized experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include those similar to the GS-12 but at a lower level of responsibility. OR
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such or a degree or LL.M, if related which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the 36 semester hours of higher graduate-level education earned. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• GS-12 Specialized experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: specialized administrative/office work experience that includes work such as applying complex fact-finding, analytical and problem-solving methods and techniques to identify problems and draw conclusions. This experience should also include knowledge of computers and computer programs; specifically, Microsoft Office Suite applications. Designs, develops, and generates recurring and/or ad hoc products and reports using a variety of desktop software packages and databases. (Evidence of this specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of like duties performed in positions held on your resume. You will also need to provide work experience information such as hours per week, salary, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of specialized experience at the required grade level). OR
• Education: There is no educational substitution at the GS-12 grade level of this position.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management

• Analysis and Problem Solving

• Communication

• Computer Skills

• Critical Thinking

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary and requires sitting, walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items such as books, papers, files and laptop computers. Deployment to alternate work sites may be directed in support of emergencies, disasters, activation of the ERG, activation of the COOP or as directed to support drills or exercises. The work area is adequately lighted, heated and in ventilated areas.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Education

GS-12: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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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

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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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.