Program Advisor (Senior Policy Advisor)

Clarification from the agency

Your application will be considered if you are a: Live within the 50 mile radius of Washington DC and are eligible under GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP); Are a VEOA eligible veteran Are a Military spouse Are an eligible Land Management employee

Major Duties include:

• Coordinates technical elements of the organization's policy and program(s) with related activities of other government agencies, promoting mutual cooperation in areas which can be combined for more effective results. Defines and modifies research and/or programmatic objectives, devising innovative ways to solve problems of major importance to the agency.
• Reviews for technical feasibility and adherence with the organization's objectives and recommend actions on proposed contracts, in-house projects or other similarly broad strategic initiatives.
• Applies a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to assess and improve program effectiveness and/or complex management processes, projects and systems.
• Plans and conduct pioneering work across the policy areas of outstanding scope, difficulty and complexity in unexplored or heretofore unpromising areas of investigation. Conceives, initiates and monitors policies, programs and projects dealing with the most challenging problems in the policy area and of national significance to the agency.
• Confers with key government, private officials, and top experts in one or more policy areas, representing the agency at technical symposia and conferences. Leads and participates in regional, national and/or international special projects or studies, work groups, task forces and panels, frequently focusing on unprecedented problems, policy making and shaping the future direction of agency programs.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
• Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
• Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

• the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year)
• number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

The GS-15 salary range starts at $169,279 per year. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level or higher in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is defined as:

• Drafting policies and/or policy statements that impact the delivery of mission support services at the agency level.
• Analyzing legislative and regulatory initiatives to determine impact to agency level operations.
• Providing policy analysis to recommend organizational changes to senior level leadership and other key stakeholders.
• Conducting research using data analytics to develop reports and/or provide recommendations on organizational efficiency.
• Presenting technical policies and/or agency regulations to various senior level stakeholders.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the resumes of qualified candidates and assign a score for each of the five required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) based on the experience documented in the resume and narrative responses.

1. Skill in applying principles and theories of management techniques to a variety of management problems not susceptible to treatment by standard methods in order to make recommendations that impact agency operations.
2. Knowledge of the occupational area(s) of specialization, its governing laws, regulations, methodologies and/or policies to provide sound and authoritative technical guidance on all issues related to the assigned program.
3. Skill in applying qualitative and/or quantitative methods in the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness.
4. Ability to act independently in the planning and execution of a variety of projects and to make authoritative and fi nal decisions requiring considerable technical judgment.
5. Skills in oral communications to present sensitive recommendations to higher authority, to obtain compliance with policies from activities nationwide, to articulate position/policy of vast technical complexity and to represent the agency on task forces.

Demonstration of these KSAs must be supported by your resume. Applicants should also make note of each KSA, as you will be asked to address them later in the application process.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), your resume must clearly demonstrate experience in at least 3 of the 5 required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) to receive priority consideration.

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Resume: Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. Your resume must contain the following information:

• Name, address, telephone number, email address;

• Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);

• Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.

• Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.

Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.

Note: If required to submit an SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action), an equivalent agency Notice of Personnel Action form is acceptable. Such document(s) must show all of the following: effective date, position, title, series, grade, and rate of basic pay, tenure group 1 (career) or 2 (career-conditional), position occupied group, and name of agency. If you are a GSA employee (except in the OIG), you are not required to submit an SF-50.

If you are claiming veterans preference:

(a) DD-214 that shows your type of discharge, character of service and the dates of your active duty service.

(b) If you are claiming 10-point preference or derived preference (spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a deceased or disabled veteran), you must submit documentation that establishes your entitlement in addition to the DD-214:

• VA disability rating letter or other official documentation (refer to SF-15 for complete list).

• SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference

IF YOU ARE:

Active duty military- Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).

Federal employee or Reinstatement Eligible: Submit your latest SF-50.

Current or former Land Management Agency Employee - Submit a and b:

     (a) one or more SF-50s, including your most recent one that shows you were on a competitive time-limited appointment(s) with a Land Management Agency and served on the appointment for a period(s) totaling more than 24 months without a break of 2 or more years.

     (b) Copy of your agency’s annual performance appraisal(s) or written reference(s) from a supervisor at the agency verifying satisfactory performance during your appointment(s).

If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.

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