Program Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), House Office Buildings (HOB). The Program Specialist analyzes current and proposed operations, processes, goals, and objectives of the organization and advises senior managers on all matters pertaining to these issues. Responsibilities Tour of Duty: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm. (Hours may be flexible within core business hours or may change due to operational need). This position is emergency essential. Depending on the type of emergency, the employee may be required to report to work during emergency situations. This is a career ladder position requiring the incumbent to perform progressively more complex duties and responsibilities leading to the full performance level. * Duties quoted at the GS-11 level. The individual selected for this position will perform the following: Major Duties: Identifies procedural problems in program operations, using quantitative or qualitative methods. Performs contract administration activities for significant, highly specialized procurements. Monitors contractor activities through personal contact or review to ensure compliance with technical, financial, delivery, and other terms of the contract. Reviews official contract files to ensure no pending administrative action; contract is complete in every aspect and ready to close, and to obtain approval of all closeout documentation. Coordinates contract administration activities for long-term, extensive technical service contracts. Monitors status of contract performance, approval of progress payments, reviewing and providing recommendations on contractor proposals, resulting from change orders, scheduling, problems that have arisen and proposed solutions, verification of deliveries, and similar activities. Conducts in-depth analyses of contractors' financial and management systems and facilities for ability to perform and for compliance with federal regulatory requirements. Ensures the capture, reporting, and analysis of statistical data relating to the organization's operations and directs or personally performs special projects. Conducts studies on operating programs. Analyzes findings and makes recommendations on performance measures to evaluate productivity programs for a major organizational segment of the Architect of the Capitol. Schedules and conducts surveys and audits/inspections to ensure that management policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the strategic goals and objectives of the agency. Makes written and oral recommendations to resolve audit findings to senior management officials. Facilitates meetings, develops agendas and minutes, and tracks accomplishment of action items. Evaluates and analyzes multi-functional programs, functions, and organizations within the House Office Buildings to determine whether the management systems in current use efficiently accomplish the objectives sought. Produces reports on productivity surveys and studies for the operational shops of the House Office Buildings, analyzes custodial work assignment plans as required due to changes in space assignments in the House Office Buildings, and other reports as needed. Uses analytic techniques to determine whether the existing controls are sufficient for sound management. Produces and/or presents information and findings in a variety of formats (articles, papers, studies, briefings, and other media). Research current or new management practices for application to programs or operations. Responsible for customer service, using tact, diplomacy and patience when communicating and dealing with others, e.g., co-workers, managers, supervisors and internal/external customers. Responsible for utilizing a thorough knowledge of and compliance with applicable AOC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner and to initiate or take corrective action on unsafe conditions in managed areas. Performs other related duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be able to pass a drug test. Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs. You must meet the definition of specialized experience. To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below: A citizen of the United States; A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States. Qualifications You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. For the GS-09: You must meet the following education and/or specialized experience requirements to be qualified for this position: Candidates for the GS-09 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-07) grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates at least four (4) the following: Performing contract administration activities and oversight for specialized procurements. Conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses to assess and improve program effectiveness. Conducting studies related to organizational improvement, productivity improvement to present findings and provide recommendations for improvements. Generating reports and monitoring performance indicators. Experience using data management software. --OR-- Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. --OR-- Combination of specialized experience and education. For the GS-11: You must meet the following education and/or specialized experience requirements to be qualified for this position: Candidates for the GS-11 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-09) grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates all of the following: Performing contract administration activities and oversight for specialized procurements. Conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses to assess and improve program effectiveness. Conducting studies related to organizational improvement, productivity improvement to present findings and provide recommendations for improvements. Generating reports and monitoring performance indicators. Experience using data management software. --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-- Combination of specialized experience and education. Education GS-09:Education may be substituted for specialized experience as indicated above. If using education to qualify, candidates must provide transcripts if selected. GS-11: Education may be substituted for specialized experience as indicated above. If using education to qualify, candidates must provide transcripts if selected. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing if selected. Additional Information Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test. The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc\_1185221678150.shtm The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol. All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol. Note: Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.