About this role
Job SummaryThis position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Office of the Director (OD). In this position, you will participate in establishing federal assistance policy for the programs of NIFA by assisting in planning, developing, and recommending policies and procedures. You will be assigned new and complex agency programs to implement as well as complicated and overarching grant policy issues to resolve.
QualificationsApplicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience includes one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that included experience: Advising program officials, recipients, or grants/contract administrators on application of policies, procedures, regulations to grants/contract technical issues; recommends changes in existing grants/contract administration policy based upon to resolve procedural issues; conduct compliance review of grants/contracting activities to ensure compliance with existing agreements and regulation. - OR - Awarding and administering grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to include developing proposals, awarding, negotiating terms, administration, and closing out of the agreement. 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.
Major DutiesAnalyze the circumstances surrounding policy issues, unresolved questions, current trends, long-range effects, and implications of possible courses of action to determine effects of proposed changes on NIFA Grants Management Policy.Research proposed and newly enacted legislation, regulations, and policies relating to grants, agreements, and special projects for changes in grants management policies and procedures.Conduct financial, compliance, and administrative reviews of agency grant programs to ensure compliance with agency staff and program participantsProvide outreach and assistance to university and other grants officials in maintaining their financial systems follow federal laws and regulations.Develop recommendations for changes in regulations and Government-wide guidance for grant programs applicable to NIFA.