About this role
Job SummaryThe Program Specialist provides administrative and program support within the Office of the Secretary to the Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM), Office of Facilities Acquisitions, and Contracting Officer staff. Responsibilities include managing correspondence, training documentation, tracking systems, contract-related records, and other administrative functions that support efficient office operations and effective mission delivery.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/17/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 level. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 level. 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 announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-7: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing administrative and technical support; preparing correspondence; maintaining files/records; managing, compiling and tracking data; making recommendations on programs and policies to improve quality outcomes; implementing process improvement initiatives; and utilizing various software programs. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree. GS-9: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-7) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing administrative and technical support; preparing correspondence; maintaining files/records; managing, compiling and tracking data; using qualitative and quantitative techniques for analyzing and measuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of a program; making recommendations on programs and policies to improve quality outcomes; implementing process improvement initiatives; applying knowledge of policies, regulations, and guidelines; and utilizing various software programs. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 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: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first full year of graduate level education. 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. Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary with some standing, walking, bending, sitting, and carrying of lightweight objects. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: Managing administrative functions for the Senior Contracting Officer and his/her staff Posting solicitations on Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS) Overseeing the status of proposed and awarded contracts for design and construction projects Utilizing quantitative and qualitative analyses and knowledge of the interrelationships of database systems to manipulate massive variables of data to reach multiple scenarios needed to carry out programs and assess their overall effectiveness Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Washington, DC. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420. Location Negotiable: Location is negotiable among VA-approved staff offices, subject to space availability and management approval. Applicants without an existing assigned VA staff office must be located within 50 miles of the CFM regional office location listed above to be considered. This is not a remote position.
Major DutiesThis is not a remote/ virtual position. Location is negotiable among VA-approved staff offices, subject to space availability and management approval. Applicants without an existing assigned VA staff office must be located within 50 miles of a CFM regional office to be considered. This is not a remote position. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Managing administrative programs, budget tracking, time and attendance systems, logistics requests, and correspondence Coordinating executive-level calendars, meetings, and priorities Planning, coordinating, obtaining or providing a variety of administrative and management support services required for the day-to-day operation of the office Managing correspondence for the office including workflow needed for upper management approval and tracking assignment due dates to ensure management is aware of status Drafting and reviewing office responses such as reports, correspondence and presentations for consistency, spelling and grammar Preparing office reports to track milestones and suspense dates Planning and supporting committees, boards, and other standardized meetings for the office, including preparing minutes, agendas, and sending/ updating invites to participants Providing expert advice on specific tasks and making available written instructions, reference materials, and relevant background material Ensuring minutes are reviewed and promulgated to attendees Serving as Training Management Administrator including tracking completion of mandatory training and reporting delinquencies to management Serving as a timekeeper, assisting in administering leave, and communicating with Payroll to assist employees with resolving issues Managing executive travel Managing contract documents, web-based development of training guides and handbooks Maintaining log of warrants and Contracting Officer Authorization letters Tracking employee training needs to maintain warrant Preparing contractual documents, purchase orders, delivery orders, task orders and purchase card orders Conducting research and developing mechanisms to improve contract tracking data and reports systems Using Microsoft Office Suite and specialized systems to analyze, track, and report program data Analyzing program data to identify trends and recommend process improvements Developing tracking tools and reports to improve program efficiency and decision-making 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. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Position is eligible for Ad Hoc telework (situational telework) with supervisor approval. Regular and recurring telework is not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Location is negotiable among VA-approved staff offices, subject to space availability and management approval. Applicants without an existing assigned VA staff office must be located within 50 miles of a CFM regional office to be considered. This is not a remote position. Position Description/PD#: PD10013O and PD10012O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedRequirementsYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In 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 one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.