Management and Program Analyst - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Summary The incumbent provides advice and support to management and program officials on interpretation of regulations and guidelines and their application to problems. The work impacts the structure and processes of management and program operations ensuring operations conform to appropriate principals and standards, provides the required degree of internal controls, meets compliance and reporting requirements that directly affect program goals and objectives of major significance to top management. Responsibilities Assists with reviews and analyses of functions/programs in support of Management Program activities. Utilizes program plans, operating budgets, and interviews to determine the continued effectiveness of plans, programs, and policies. Participates with higher level specialists in planning sessions and discussions of innovative ways to carry out assigned programs and new programs. Assists with researching and identifying program concepts and techniques. Monitors activities identified for special interest to keep leadership informed of developments through conferences and briefing papers. Participates in basic studies designed to analyze issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity affecting administrative and business programs. Assists higher graded specialist with planning, coordinating, and accomplishing studies which require skill in analysis and information gathering techniques. Participates with superiors in planning and developing programs and serves as a representative on committees to support program initiatives. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education. Specialized Experience for GS-07:To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the Federal GS-05 level or higher, that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position, examples of specialized experience includes; providing advice and support to management and program officials on the interpretation of regulations and guidelines and their application to problems, conducting review and analysis of systems and procedures type of problems, and attending meetings with management to discuss factual information relating to findings and conclusions. OR Education Substitution: 1 year of graduate-level education in a related field. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society. OR Combination of specialized experience and education as described above. Specialized Experience for the GS 09:To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the Federal GS-07 level or higher, that has equipped you with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. For this position, examples of specialized experience include performing assignments, projects, or studies, related to administrative business operations and programs; experience in applying analytical and evaluative techniques and skills to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature; or experience in producing a variety of technical and narrative reports to document planning and application work based on acquired knowledge. OR Education Substitution: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B., or J.D., if related. OR Combination of specialized experience and education as described above. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-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. Education If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You must submit a copy of your transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Physical Demands: The work is sedentary in nature. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some physical activity such as walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers and books, and driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform work. Work Environment: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts, which require normal safety precautions typical of offices and meeting rooms, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of tripping and falling, and observance of fire regulations. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.