Indian Self Determination Specialist

About the role

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, OJS, Assoc Dir-Support Services in Location Negotiable After Selection, United States.

Incumbent serves as an advisor to the OJS Deputy Bureau Director through the OJS Self-Determination Advisor, for the interpretation of self-determination Legislation, statutory provisions and governing rules as they relate to the practices, procedures and general operations of OJS's administration of tribal contracting and grant activities.

What you will do

• Serve as the Level I or Level II Awarding Official for OJS providing expert technical support and leadership in the oversight, planning, development, execution and evaluation of OJS initiatives designed to implement the Act.
• Provide interpretive analysis of the statutory provisions and governing rules of the Act which leads to the direct formulation of OJS policies relative to the Act.
• Furnish expert assistance and guidance to Central and District office OJS staff and Management Officials, tribal officials, OJS program managers and field staff.
• Direct appropriate actions to address issues or disputes for OJS management relative to the Act and institutes follow-up action to ensure resolution to the issues or dispute.
• Perform the full spectrum of the more complex contracting and granting functions from pre-award to closeout, including construction contracts, under Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, as amended.
• Develop and provide training to OJS Districts and Central Office Operations and ensure compliance with Federal regulations.
• Work within broad concepts and objectives to identify and analyze National self-determination training and technical assistance needs for all OJS District staff, including those most urgent and complex, of OJS Central and Field Staff, and tribal staff.
• Develop and implement training courses designed to improve knowledge of and encourage tribal participation in, and management of, programs under the Act.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

How you will be evaluated

Your application package will be evaluated against the minimum qualification requirements specified above. In order to qualify, your resume must specifically describe your work history and the duties you performed in each position.

Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date of 11/09/2026 to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including structured resume review, structured interview and/or accomplishment record. These assessments measure the critical competencies required to successfully perform the job.

Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Oral Communication Planning and Evaluating Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Technical Competence Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472).

Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles.

For more information, please visit: ***

DUE WEIGHT FOR PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS AND AWARDS.

For Current and Former Federal Employees, due weight will be given for performance and awards. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. REVIEW BEFORE YOU SUBMIT: You may preview the assessment questions here in the ***

Documents you must provide

• Resume which details work experience including dates worked (mm/yy-mm/yy); position title; position series and grade (if federal service); work schedule; hours worked per week; relevant duties performed; supervisor with contact information, and 3 professional references and contact information (Do not include current/former supervisors), etc Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages.
• If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
• On-line Assessment Questionnaire Transcripts (if using education to qualify) - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, an official transcript may be requested at a later time.
• Veteran's documentation - (if applicable) VA letter on VA letterhead stating your overall combined rating, SF-15, DD-214 (Member 4 Copy Only) reflecting an honorable discharge and dates of active duty military service.
• Special Appointing Authority documentation (if applying under a special hiring authority) BIA Form 4432 The Form BIA-4432 must be completed as stated in the Instructions on the Form and this form with must be submitted with your application for Federal employment (if claiming Indian preference).
• Performance Appraisal (if applying under the Land Management Flexibility Act) Current & Former Federal Employees.
• If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee OR a former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility you must submit the following by the closing date of this announcement, or you will not receive consideration as such: A copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level and step.
• If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade.
• If you have promotion potential in any of your positions, please provide an SF-50 stating your highest full performance level; and Due Weight for Performance Appraisals and Awards: Your most recent Performance Appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable); and If applicable, a list of any awards you received in the last 5 years (i.e., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.).
• Click here for information see Reading your SF-50 to determine your service and appointment typeALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM Eastern Time ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
• If your application package is incomplete in any way, you will not be considered for this position, and requests for extensions will not be granted.
• Please double check your application package before you submit it.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE SOLICITED OR ACCEPTED BY THIS OFFICE.

Benefits

Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630).

For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Additional information

The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your [probationary period -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) OR Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated.

Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF50 noting position, grade level, duty location with their application.

To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

For more information visit: *** SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY: Certain candidates may be eligible to apply under a special hiring authority including those for disabled individuals, Peace Corps employees, Foreign Service employees, veterans, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Information Center: *** Vets Info Guide: ***