Program Specialist

Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Assist the staff and managers to develop and implement policies procedures and guidelines which institute processes for work to run as effectively and efficiently as possible. Implementations may require recommendations for changes in established process and procedures which help workflow of applicable sections. Assist with data reviews and analyzes data results identifying any data trends and making recommendations for updating or creating new processes and procedures to help increase workflow. Work may entail modification of data mining to include changing or updated variables to meet the overall intent of the assigned task.
• Tracks any lag time with recruitment or classification actions. Provides solutions to management on how to improve processing times for recruitment actions. Aids and advice on hiring and classification actions during weekly meeting staff meetings. Reports are reviewed for completeness and accuracy prior to being forwarded for official review.
• In a developmental capacity the employee assists in the duties for the following programs: Employee Engagement and Recognition Programs and Performance Management. Work entails providing guidance and advice on assigned programs to improve employee satisfaction provide meaningful employee recognition and assist supervisor with Performance Management assistance. The incumbent is responsible for internal programs as assigned such as Employee Enhancement Program. The incumbent is responsible for all aspects of the program (speakers program content checking equipment snacks drinks and answering questions) from start to finish.
• Prepares and presents reports and briefings on assignment status and/or recommended actions to appropriate individuals. Visits activities throughout the office to assist staff supervisors and management officials as requested or as determined necessary by superiors.
• Provides technical advice and assistance and disseminates human resource information to organization. Reviews classification standards guides to assist and coordinate classification assignments. Assist with the initial classification of individual position for submittal to the CCU Aids supervisors and operating officials on the classification submissions and processes.
• Assists in the development of initiatives to improve management processes and systems using the most efficient utilization of human resources. Studies and advises managers and supervisors on staffing requirements resources and problems in assigned offices involving a high degree of complexity.
• Input routes approve processes and tracks RPAs and other personnel actions; reviews changes corrects job descriptions via the automated system and accesses electronic data bases for assigned employees to generate reports and extract data for program requirements for managers as needed. Incumbent is expected to manage and maintain full visibility over all RPAs from cradle to grave and provide advice/assistance in all stages of the recruitment process.
• Under the direction of a higher-level specialist the employee provides advice and assistance in the areas of discipline adverse actions grievances performance management and recognition employee counseling and related functions. Gathers background information and does extensive probing and analysis to identify causes of misconduct and/or poor performance select the appropriate penalty to ensure consistent and progressive discipline throughout the organization and then advise managers.
• Provides advice and assistance to managers and supervisors who are responsible for compliance with EEO affirmative action and other special emphasis programs. Keeps employees informed regarding policies and latest regulations on health and life insurance benefits retirement and other benefits training time and attendance pay overtime awards employment opportunities and other personnel actions.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory qualification and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The full performance level of this position is GS -12.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
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#: Program Specialist GS-12:39563A/ GS-11:39564A / GS-09:39565A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Bargaining Unit: No

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 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.

Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows:

• 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 or trial period
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• 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.
• Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 07/30/2026.

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

• For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level.
• For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.
• If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement you must currently hold the GS- 09 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12.

The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade as required by the this instance you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-09 Grade Level

• Specialized Experience - Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing employee and management advisory services for specific requests requiring research of human resources policies and practices relating to staffing employee relations or benefits. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:
  • Guide employees in resolving primarily common work-related or personal problems;
  • Provide leaders and employees with information and interpretations of the organizations policies procedures and guidelines;
  • Provide advice regarding appropriate levels of personnel actions.

OR

• Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. Masters or equivalent degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLB or J.D. if related.

OR

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-09 level. Equivalent combinations of (1) specialized experience and (2) Masters education. To compute divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.

GS-11 Grade Level

• Specialized Experience - Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules regulations and procedures including Personnel Management Recruitment and Staffing Classification Employee Benefits (OWCP retirements and insurance programs) and/or Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:
  • Provide advisory services to leaders and employees on a range of human resources concepts laws and policies;
  • Assist leadership in solving a range of complex problems and issues;
  • Participate in policy development groups or projects based on broad organizational requirements.

OR

• Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. if related to the competencies.

OR

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. Equivalent combinations of (1) specialized experience and (2) PH.D graduate education. To compute divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. (The applicants first 2 years of graduate study are not qualifying for GS-11.)

GS-12 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience which was at the GS-11 level and must have been held in the Federal Government. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing advisory services quality review services or experience drafting and approving standard operating procedures and/or other forms of regulatory guidance covering multiple fields of Human Resources rules regulations and procedures including Personnel Management Recruitment and Staffing Classification Employee Benefits (OWCP retirements and insurance programs) and/or Employee and Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:
  • Provide advice and guidance in the areas of classification and staffing and recruitment;
  • Defending agency actions in front of a 3rd party hearing (FLRA MSPB);
  • Experience as the chief negotiator in labor negotiations.
• There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level.

Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree) the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.

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 sedentary. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings and to conduct HR work. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at