Management & Program Analyst

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted only from current permanent Rural Development employees with competitive status; and CTAP/RPL eligible candidates.

• Duties are at full performance level. Participates in special projects related to multiple RD programs. Researches issues, gathers and analyzes data, and provides reports as necessary.
• Conducts program studies of the various program elements. Independently develops analytical methods and study procedures, deviating from accepted practices as required by each study.
• Plans the organization, methods and procedures for conducting management and system studies of broad application which occasionally interrelate extensively with other existing/new systems.
• Prepares documents for management officials to be used in discussions with members of Congress, high-level officials of other Federal and state agencies, special interest groups and the public.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, and specialized experience as defined below.

Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of federal service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

For the GS-12: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11), or it's non-federal equivalent.

Specialized experience is defined as measuring and analyzing the effectiveness and productivity of administrative and technical programs to find efficiencies; applying fact-finding and investigative techniques to conduct studies; analyze findings from studies, or technical programs to make recommendations to workflow, or organizational processes; drafting reports based on existing procedures or observations of program activities.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 level.

For the GS-13: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12), or it's non-federal equivalent.

Specialized experience is defined as analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of program operations; researching and investigating new or improved business and management practices for application to agency programs or operations; assisting in the testing and implementation of solutions; planning, developing, and implementing a variety of operational and administrative initiatives; working with senior analysts on developing strategic vision for annual goals and long-range plans of operations throughout all organizational units; coordinating management initiatives, determining administrative management and program support trends and weaknesses; advising necessary corrective actions as needed to improve operating effectiveness.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-13 level.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0343 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.

Current Rural Development employees:

• Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
• Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.

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