Budget Analyst

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

This position is being filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). The system replaced the Federal GS pay plan structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. Non supervisory positions cap out at interval 3 of the band.

The ZA-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12 grade levels. The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14 grade levels.


To qualify at the ZA-3 level you must meet one of the following:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 or GS-9 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Preparing budget estimates, tracking obligations, communicating verbally and in writing with customers; and
• Preparing budget reports for management; and
• Making comparisons to the operating budget.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Completed a 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, in a field related to this position.

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE.

To qualify at the ZA-4 level you must meet the following:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. To qualify at the ZA-4 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Developing budget policies or procedures; and
• Preparing budget estimates, exhibits, backup tables, briefing documents, or budget reports; and
• Preparing narrative justifications use in budget submissions; and
• Assessing rates, fees, and investment proposals.

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.