Quality Assurance Specialist

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to those covered by the indicated hiring paths and living in the local areas of Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Buffalo, NY; St. Louis, MO; and Muskogee, OK, who are eligible for priority consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).

Specific duties include:

• Tasked with the comprehensive review and monitoring of various systems within Education Service to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as internal policies.
• This involves analyzing system requirements across multiple platforms, identifying non-compliance issues, and recommending improvements.
• Develops, tests, and recommends enhancement, and performs maintenance of EDU systems, with a focus on workflow, data collection/ reporting, and efficient program administration for end users.
• Assists with development of guidelines and procedures for use in monitoring systems.
• The incumbent supports the Chief, Quality Assurance-Automation, in assessing internal controls and conducting Enterprise Risk Management reviews.
• The Specialist prepares detailed reports on the results of reviews and consolidates findings for presentation to senior leadership, government officials, and other stakeholders.
• This role involves preparing responses to inquiries from the general public, other agencies, and members of Congress concerning quality assurance and oversight responsibilities.
• The Quality Assurance Specialist conducts special focus reviews, as needed, which may involve in-depth analysis of systems or processes based on emerging issues, legislative changes, or specific requests from senior management.
• The Specialist collaborates with IT and development teams to test, recommend, and implement system enhancements, focusing on improving workflow, data collection, and program administration.

Promotion Potential: The full performance for this position is a GS-13
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Quality Assurance Specialist; PD41979A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
This position is NOT in the Bargaining unit

Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• The needs and interests of the agency;
• Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selectees are required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements: I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/04/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet the time-in-grade requirement.

• For a GS-13 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-13 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience is defined as experience demonstrating all of the following:

• Experience adjudicating claims under Title 38, including applying statutory and regulatory criteria and evaluating evidence.
• Experience with oversight of quality work products by vendor and assessment of internal controls.
• Experience in analyzing system requirements across multiple platforms.
• Experience in developing, testing, and recommending enhancements and platform maintenance of benefits systems.
• Experience in collaborating with IT and development teams to test, recommend, and implement system enhancements.
• Experience in conducting special focus reviews that address in-depth analysis of systems or processes.

Volunteer Experience: 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; religions; 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume, you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Occasionally requires filing or moving materials, carrying light objects such as files, books, and papers. No special physical qualifications are required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

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):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

• Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Customer Service: Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
• Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Written Communication: Write material to include policies and portrayal of statistical data in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner to internal and external contacts.
• Quality Assurance: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance, quality control, and reliability used to ensure that a project, system, or product fulfills requirements and standards.
• Veterans Benefits: Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies, guides, and procedures and judicial determination applicable to Veterans benefits programs or services.

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Resumes may not exceed two pages and must be legible for review of eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.

• Resume:
  • Contact Information:
    • Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number
  • Relevant Work Experience:
    • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include:
      • Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
      • Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 - 08/2022)
      • The number of hours you worked per week
    • Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement
  • Optional Details:
    • When relevant, include:
      • Current Security Clearance
      • Job-related training
      • Language skills
      • Organizations and affiliations
      • Professional publications
      • Eligibility for special programs (e.g., military spouses, individuals with disabilities, etc.)
• A copy of your most recent NON-award SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
• Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal.

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750)
• Award SF-50s

Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

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