Education Program Specialist, GS-1720-13, FPL GS-13 (DE)

Summary This position is located in the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), The incumbent performs professional work involving the promoting, coordinating, and improving education policies, programs, standards, activities, and opportunities in accordance with national policies and objectives. Learn more about this agency Duties APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.   We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.As a Educational Program Specialist, GS-1720-13, you will be responsible for: Providing substantial input into the development of education objectives, policies, and long-range work priorities for the program unit to which assigned. Provides broad levels of advice to managers in virtually all aspects of the program and activities related to it. Researching and developing new and revised regulations, program guidelines, and strategies for achieving overall objectives including such areas as: procurement, competitive selection, grant review, and on-site monitoring. Advising managers on important aspects of program operations and interprets program requirements, criteria, rules and regulations to assist in resolving controversies and/or settling issues with the potential for significant policy impact. Providing authoritative leadership and guidance for important special projects that have a significant bearing on the direction and operation of the organizational unit and may require a significant level of integration with the objectives and functions of other organizational units, as well as high levels of demonstrated programmatic expertise. Designing and conducting evaluations of educational programs (or components thereof) sponsored by the Office and prepare recommendations for new approaches and initiatives. Requirements Conditions of employment Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service. Must complete a background investigation and fingerprint check. Must be a US Citizen. Relocation will not be paid. You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period. Condition of Employment: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: • your performance and conduct; • the needs and interests of the agency; • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. 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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience. Qualifications You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two. Specialized Experience for the GS-13: One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: Experience in at least one of the following areas—charter school development, financing, authorizing, management (including operations), or oversight (including compliance)—or related school choice work, demonstrated through leading programs or projects, managing budgets or grants, developing policies, coordinating stakeholders, or ensuring compliance. Experience administering and managing preK-12 education or school choice related grants. Experience conducting projects involving the analysis of policy-related issues by gathering and compiling input from program offices, reviewing relevant literature, regulations and program records to develop analysis and support conclusions for management decisions. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement). Knowledge of education theories, principles and practices and the roles of the federal, state, or local governments sufficient to plan, evaluate, and advise on funded educational programs, their requirements and problems. Ability to apply analytical and evaluative methods and techniques in developing of new procedures and approaches to identify and resolve significant issues and problems. Skill in engaging relevant  education partners and working across multiple organizations or units to achieve common goals. Ability to develop and lead others to implement education program policies, processes, or guidelines. Skill in developing and leading training or professional learning meetings for senior level officials. Education Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.  Basic requirements:  Degree: that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses. OR Combination of education and experience -- at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience must reflect the level and kind described in C below. OR Four years of experience that demonstrated a thorough understanding of the principles and practices underlying the work of this series. This experience must have been of such character and diversity to demonstrate that the applicant possesses an understanding of the field comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university. OR At least 1 full academic year of professional teaching experience. This experience is defined as full and primary responsibility, under general supervision, for instruction of assigned students in an accredited school or institution. This includes responsibility for preparing and presenting lessons and for evaluating students' progress, including a determination of the students' success or failure according to established criteria. Serving in an assistant capacity to a professor without the authority to determine the students' success or failure to meet course requirements does not meet this criterion. Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.  For further information, please click Foreign Education. Additional information Veterans’ Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email [email protected] to schedule a session with a career counselor (“Veterans Counseling Session” should be placed in the subject line of the email). Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment. Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.Essential/Non-Essential: This position is considered non-essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.Financial Disclosure: This position does not require financial disclosure.Bargaining Unit: This position is included in the bargaining unit (American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252).Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency. Expand Hide  additional information 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. 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. As an ED employee, you will also benefit from our family-friendly work environment. As part of our commitment to maintain a work life balance, we offer excused leave for Parent/Teacher Conferences (3 hours); excused leave for annual health screenings (4 hours); and matching leave for community volunteer service. Other flexibilities that may be available to you include alternative work schedules. You may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to receive a relocation incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program as a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive student loan repayments, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. 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.