Summary This position is with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and works in a State Office with the Management and Strategy Organization or in an Area Office with the Area Staff. The incumbent serves as an Administrative Program Specialist working for the Assistant State Conservationist for Management and Strategy (Supervisory Business Manager) or the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations. Responsibilities Assists in coordinating the administrative work of a complex organization with centralized and decentralized organizational offices requiring complicated administrative controls to accomplish the work of the organization. Provides assistance to the Supervisory Business Manager and other staff on administrative program operations and performs special projects as requested. Provides support to the local unit in planning evaluating, and reporting on a various business operations and locally-based administrative services needed to carry out the business of conservation at the state, area, and field levels. Assists in the implementation of procedures designed to improve administrative effectiveness, automating and streamlining procedures wherever possible to serve the best interests of the organization. Assists in ensuring administrative activities are procedurally compliant and that all required tasks are being performed correctly in accordance with established rules and regulations. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants 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 must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g., one year at the GS-7 grade level for consideration for the GS-9 grade level). Applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-9 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include performing the following duties: Providing assistance to staff on administrative program operations and special projects; Providing administrative support to staff in planning, evaluating, and reporting on various business operations; OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: 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., in business administration, human resources, public administration or other directly related field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (MUST submit copies of transcripts). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Administrative and Management Positions. 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 You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e., substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). 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. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. 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. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP 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 applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. 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 workday, 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. Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary, but does require some standing, walking, and bending to reach files. The position requires carrying light items, such as books and papers. Work is performed in an office environment. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated, and involves everyday risks, or discomforts related to an office setting. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.