Duties
HUD's Mission
The mission of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is to foster strong communities by supporting access to quality, affordable housing, expanding the housing supply, and unlocking homeownership opportunities for the American people. The Department is committed to furthering the promise of self-sufficiency in every American while promoting economic development to revitalize rural, tribal, and urban communities across the country.
The Office of Housing provides vital public services through its nationally administered programs. It oversees the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the largest mortgage insurer in the world, and regulates important parts of the housing industry. The Office of Housing is committed to building and preserving healthy neighborhoods and communities through homeownership, rental housing and healthcare opportunities.
The mission of HUD's Office of Housing Counseling is to provide individuals and families with the knowledge they need to obtain, sustain, and improve their housing. OHC accomplishes this mission by supporting a strong national network of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and housing counselors.
The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
As a/an Housing Program Specialist, you will:
- Develop and analyze program policies, reviewing and monitoring the effectiveness of housing counseling program policies and/or procedures, and direct participation in the Office's mission to increase the quality and availability of housing counseling opportunities.
- Develop, coordinate and oversee multimedia and print marketing education campaigns as mandated by statute.
- Communicate with industry regarding resources, model programs, research findings, and media opportunities.
- Analyze the need for housing counseling among different geographies and populations, and developments, implement and evaluate programmatic initiatives to efficiently and effectively meet the needs.
- Conduct outreach, education, training, and consultation services to housing counseling partners and local governments towards the Offices mission to increase the quality and availability of housing counseling opportunities.
- Plan, initiate, and conduct analytical studies to determine methods to expand the quality and availability of housing counseling expertise using various media and distribution channels.
- Conduct analytical studies of various issues related to housing counseling in order to evaluate the effectiveness of current national policies and procedures in meeting Office of Housing Counseling and Departmental objectives. Define problems and makes recommendations for more effective administration of housing counseling programs. Prepare reports on studies for use by senior officials.
- Reply to correspondence, audit findings, and respond to complex inquiries from the Congress, the White House, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and other Federal organizations, industry partners, special interest groups, consumers and FOIA requests. Contribute to grant and certification criteria in response to policy priorities, program effectiveness, counseling needs and results of oversight reviews. Participate in grant development and review, outreach and capacity building activities, and oversight reviews as needed.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
Candidates will be selected for a job assigned to one of the official duty stations listed in this announcement. Failure to report to duty at the location for which the candidate is selected may be grounds for a disciplinary action, including removal.
Key Requirements:
- Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
- A probationary or trial period may be required. Continued employment is contingent upon supervisory certification that continued employment will benefit the Federal Service; the certification will occur no less than 30 days before the end of the probationary/trial period.
- Must successfully complete a background investigation.
- Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form i-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
- Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- Please refer to "Additional Information Section for additional Conditions of Employment."
Qualifications
You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-13 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the
GS-12 grade level in the Federal service
. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Conducting, monitoring, and providing oversight of program participants for compliance with requirements and federal regulations relating to housing or housing counseling programs; AND
- Evaluating program initiatives and providing feedback regarding analysis of effectiveness and recommendations for improvements; AND
- Providing recommendations that impact pending legislation, regulations, or guidelines regarding city, county, state or federal low-income housing programs; AND
- Developing standards, procedures or guidelines on assisted housing programs and communicating any changes to internal or external stakeholders.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the
GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Interpreting and implementing guidance and responses on assisted housing policies, regulations, and procedures; AND
- Assisting in developing standards, procedures or guidelines on assisted housing programs; AND
- Communicating changes to internal or external stakeholders regarding city, county, state or federal low-income housing programs.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-11 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Monitoring, review and oversight for program compliance, and policy review and development; for housing counseling program or major federal program or campaign; AND
- Conducting, monitoring, and providing oversight of program participants for compliance with requirements and regulations relating to housing or housing counseling programs; AND
- Evaluating program initiatives and providing feedback regarding analysis of effectiveness and recommendations for improvements.
OR Education: You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows:
Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or an LL.M., in a related field.
OR Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the education requirement must equal at least 100 percent.
Only graduate level education in excess of the first 2 years may be credited for education and combined with experience. The total percentage of education added to the total percentage of experience must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resume.
Time-in-Grade: In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following
time-in-grade requirement, if applicable:
For the
GS-13 you must have been at the
GS-12 level for 52 weeks.
For the
GS-12 you must have been at the
GS-11 level for 52 weeks.
For the
GS-11 you must have been at the
GS-09 level for 52 weeks.
Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.
Education
The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
Additional information
OTHER INFORMATION:
- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
- Relocation expenses will not be paid.
- Relocation incentive will not be paid.
- Recruitment incentive will not be paid.
- This is a bargaining unit position.
- This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- HUD offers alternative and flexible work schedules.
- This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies for similar positions across HUD. During the online application process, you will be asked to specify if you would like your application information shared with other hiring managers in the Program Office listed in this announcement or in other HUD Program Offices. Opting to share your application information will not impact your application for this announcement, nor will it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (CONTINUED):
HUD employees are subject to a number of government-wide and HUD specific ethics laws and regulations, including restrictions on working in a real estate related business, and having Section 8 tenants, along with other prohibited interests and activities. To review applicable ethics rules and HUD specific restrictions, please visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/general_counsel/ethics.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS:
If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire
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.
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.
Review our benefits
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.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the result of the online assessments required for this position. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Rating: You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Flexibility
- Influencing/Negotiating
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.
If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the
Career Transition Assistance Plan(CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must be assigned the middle category or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.
Required Documents
A complete application includes:
1. A resume: All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.)
- USA Jobs restricts resume uploads to a maximum of 2 pages. Resumes attached in other sections (such as "Documents" or "Other") will not be considered in the determination of specialized experience. If multiple resumes are submitted, the resume submitted last (based on time stamp) will be the only one reviewed as a part of your application. To ensure readability, resumes must be formatted using an easy-to-read font (such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial) with a minimum font size of 10-points and margins no smaller than 0.5 inches. Failure to follow these formatting guidelines may result in disqualification from further consideration.
- To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume.
- For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
2. Vacancy question responses: All applicants are required to complete vacancy question responses by clicking the apply online button of this vacancy announcement.
3. Performance Appraisal or explanation: Submit a copy of all pages of your most recent completed annual performance appraisal, dated within 12 months of the
opening date of this announcement, that includes the final rating. In cases where the performance appraisal is more than 12 months old, incomplete, missing pages, or unavailable, you must attach a written explanation of the reasons. Failure to do so may prevent you from being considered for this position.
If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal or have not received one in the last 12months, please submit a statement as to why it is not available when completing your application questionnaire.
4. Submission of any required documents identified below, if applicable: Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible)
- CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES -- Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:
- Submit a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive service as Tenure 1 or 2 (Block 24), Position Occupied as 1 - Competitive Service (Block 34), current Grade (Block 18) and Salary (Block 20).
- Typically Award SF-50s do not provide the required information.
- If the full performance level of your position is different from the grade indicated in Block 18, please provide proof of the full performance level.
- If your highest permanent grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing that grade.
- If you are currently on a Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA), submit a copy of an SF-50 indicating that type of appointment. Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc.
- FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES (ELIGIBLE FOR NON-COMPETITIVE REINSTATEMENT):
- If you are a former federal employee and wish to be non-competitively reinstated for a higher grade or full performance level than which you left federal employment, you MUST provide a copy of your separation SF50 (the "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2") AND the last performance appraisal you received from your federal employment which shows at least a fully successful rating. (Note: the Performance Appraisal or explanation requirement as stated above is in addition to this requirement.)
- SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS: (e.g., Military Spouses, Interchange Agreement, VEOA, VRA, Schedule A Disability, etc.)please see USAJOBS Help Center - Unique Hiring Paths.
- In order to be eligible under one of these authorities, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.
- LAND MANAGEMENT-BASED SPECIAL HIRING ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS:
- In order to be eligible under this authority you must submit all required documentation outlined in this link: here
- CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS:
- If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.