Program Specialist

About the role

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, headquartered in ATLANTA, Georgia. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM, on the day that 50 applications have been received or the closing date of the announcement, whichever comes first.

What you will do

• Provide personnel management administrative support to a serviced organization.
• Act as a liaison with the human resources office and coordinate personnel actions.
• Coordinate the preparation of all personnel actions within servicing assignment, track the status of various personnel actions from origination to conclusion.
• Conduct the purchase of a wide variety of specialized supplies, equipment, and services needed to support the operations of the organization using the Acquisition Performance and Execution (APEX) System.
• Prepare and submit oral and written reports, reconciliations, assessments, briefings as required by governing policies, procedures, and regulations to the supervisor for review, tracking, or internal workflow management and analysis, process improvement, or corrective action.

Education

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

For further information, visit: *** Note: Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application. Education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this announcement. Evaluation will be based on your application materials (such as your resume and supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and the results of all required assessments. Resume Requirement Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages in length.

Minimum Qualification Question As part of the application process, you must answer a minimum qualification question addressing whether you meet the Specialized Experience required for this position, as described in this announcement. Your response must be supported by the experience documented in your resume.

If your resume does not demonstrate the required Specialized Experience, you may be found not qualified.

Assessment Process USA Hire Technical Assessment You are required to complete a USA Hire technical assessment to evaluate the job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position.

HR Resume Review Human Resource (HR) Specialists will review your resume to determine whether you meet the required Specialized Experience. Applicants who successfully pass the assessment(s) may be referred to the Hiring Manager for consideration.

You must complete all required steps in the process, including submitting an application and resume and participating in the structured interview, to be considered for this position.

Clearance of CTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS. In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace.

The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public.

For PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers: PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the commissioned Corps may apply online to this announcement. Candidates will be referred as CC personnel and not as candidates for conversion to a permanent career or career-conditional appointment.

For Noncompetitive Applicants: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal Skills Learning Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self Management Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: ***

Documents you must provide

• Resume must not exceed two (2) pages and must support responses to the online application.
• Failure to submit a resume and all required documentation identified in this announcement may result in removal from further consideration.
• Use of the USAJOBS Resume Builder is encouraged to ensure all required information is included.
• Resumes must include duties, accomplishments, related skills, and start and end dates (month/day/year) for each position.
• Full-time employment will be assumed unless otherwise indicated; part-time experience will be prorated.
• Incomplete information may affect eligibility or rating.
• A complete online application (***) SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) - documentation supporting eligibility.
• If submitting a copy of your SF-50, or equivalent, submit one that shows the effective date of your current position, the full performance level, career or career conditional tenure and status in the competitive service.
• Other required supporting documents.
• Other Supporting Documents: (Only Submit if applicable to you.) College transcripts, if qualifying all or in part based on education CTAP RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement SF-50, showing positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to be placed through RPL, etc Latest performance appraisal including rating Documentation from your agency showing current promotion potential PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers must provide a copy of your current personnel order or other supporting documentation to be referred as CC.
• Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment, (severely disabled, eligible veterans, certain military spouses, etc.) For Résumé Tips visit: For Application Tips visit: For additional information about USAJOBS visit the Help Center: *** Official documents are not required at this time; copies are sufficient; may be requested upon selection.

What to expect next

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.

This vacancy may be eligible for use of Conditional Job Offers (CJOs) to help accelerate hiring and onboarding for eligible selectees. Under this approach, selected candidates may receive an offer earlier in the hiring process while required suitability and onboarding activities continue.

You will receive notice via email or by mail, if no email address was provided by you during the application process, once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment.

The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.). HHS has a Critical Preparedness and Response Mission: we protect the American people from health threats, research emerging diseases, and mobilize public health programs with domestic and international partners.

HHS' 24/7 Secretary's Operations Center (SOC) unites highly trained experts, well established processes, and state-of-the-art technology to coordinate resources and information as HHS responds to emergencies worldwide.

Every HHS employee has a role in supporting public health emergency management, whether through voluntary temporary assignments to emergency responses or sustaining other HHS programs and activities while colleagues respond.

In addition to their everyday work, HHS offers employees the opportunity to contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

Additional information

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon multiple factors, including funds availability. If authorized, certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

Incentives may include the following: moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service, etc. Bargaining Unit Position: Yes Research position: No Drug Screening Required: No Applicants selected for this position will be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring.

Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - *** Special Hiring Authorities for Military Spouses - *** People With Disabilities (Schedule A) - *** Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): For information on how to apply as an CTAP eligible see ***

To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

USA Hire Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA 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, based on your adjudication decision.

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 RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: ***