Summary This position is located in the National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), Resource Managment Staff (RMS) with one vacancy in Silver Spring, MD. The Program Specialist will provide human resources, acquisitions, and budget execution support to RMS and the Navigation Services Division. Responsibilities As a Program Specialist, you will perform the following duties: - Provide Human Resources (HR) support and will be responsible for actions, including but not limited to, recruitment, details, promotions, reassignments, requiring the ability to gather, assemble, and analyze facts, draw conclusions and develop recommendations or devise solutions on substantive operating programs that impact the management of production programs. - Monitor the budget execution for designated program office projects with various sources and types of funding. Analyze and evaluate continual changes in program plans and funding, and develop recommendations to mid-level and senior managers regarding financial and/or budgetary actions under uncertain conditions and rapidly changing program and financial/budgetary deadlines. - Serve as Contracting Officer Representative for designated contracts ensuring accurate and timely execution of procurement requests and modifications. Advise program staff on relevant guidance and regulations related to Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the areas of contracting and acquisitions. Apply an in-depth knowledge of general contracts and acquisitions in addition to knowledge of NOAA/Acquisitions and Grants Office (AGO) Federal acquisition rules and regulations. Work with organizations' Point of Contacts and Contracting Officer Representative to plan and execute future contracting needs, including but not limited to, development of statement of work, and market research. - Actively collaborate with management to resolve any problems associated with execution of the contract(s). Closely monitor contracts for call order and funds expiration. Support procurement/acquisition efforts for the projects assigned, ensuring accurate and timely execution of the procurement request and/or modification. Monitor funds and requests de-obligations once funds expire. Note: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZA-3; The ZA-2 is developmental leading to such performance. Requirements Conditions of Employment This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZA-2 is equivalent to the (GS-7/9). The ZA-3 is equivalent to the (GS-11/12). The ZA-2 is a Low Risk Sensitive position. The ZA-3 is a Medium Risk Sensitive position. *A one year probationary period may be required. *Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized. *This position is not in the bargaining unit. Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position? A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifications 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 EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position. 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. 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. To qualify at the ZA-2 or (GS-7) level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year {52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-1 or (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: - Providing assistance with Human Resources (HR) activities to include preparing or completing HR documentation or reports; and - Assisting in supporting procurement or acquisition efforts for an office or program. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: One full year of graduate-level education. OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below: - A grade point average (GPA) of 2.9 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study; - A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study; - Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college; - Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience. To qualify at the ZA-3 or (GS-11) level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-02 pay band or (GS-09) grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: - Coordinating and conducting Human Resources (HR) activities to support staffing needs and workforce management such as supporting the recruitment, promotion, or reassignment of staff; - Providing advice or guidance to staff on policies and regulations in areas of contracting and acquisitions; and - Supporting procurement or acquisition efforts for an office or program. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 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 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: - The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain active Contracting Office Representative (COR) II Level Certification. (ZA-3 Requirement Only) Position Requirements: - This position requires the submission of a Financial Disclosure Form, SF 450. Education College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken. Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation Additional Information CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents: 1. SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action: you must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series, and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position. (do not submit an Award SF-50) AND, the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND. 2. Performance Appraisal - most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan that does not include this information. NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. The Department of the Commerce (DOC) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.