Program Specialist (PSOB)

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Office. BJA is responsible for providing national direction an leadership to encourage improvement of the functioning of the criminal justice system.

Duties

• Serve as a Senior Benefits Specialist with responsibility for the development, coordination, and determination Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) death, disability, and education claims.
• Plan and implement new PSOB Programs.
• Ensure compliance of PSOB policies and procedures with relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines.
• Respond to inquiries from the public and private sectors regarding claim eligibility, program requirements, appeal procedures, and other concerns related to death, disability, and educational assistance cases.
• Analyze all submitted documentation for death, disability, or education benefits in conjunction with the PSOB Act and regulations.

Salary

• $139,395 - $181,216/year

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Subject to background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Federal payments are required to be made by Direct Deposit.
• Requires registration for the Selective Service. Visit www.sss.gov.
• Pre-employment drug testing required.
• 1-year probationary period may be required.
• Security Requirements: Non-Sensitive/Moderate Risk

Qualifications Specialized Experience:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of specialized experience include:

• Performing analytical studies involving issues related to death, disability, or education benefit programs.
• Developing plans for implementing short and long-range death, disability, or education benefit program goals.
• Reviewing prior death, disability, or education benefit claims to gather information and reconcile conflicting data; devising new or modified methods of analyzing findings in death, disability, or education benefits reviews.
• Researching or analyzing uncommon or complex death, disability, or education benefit issues.

Technical Qualifications:
Applicants who meet the basic entry and minimum qualification requirements, as described above, will be further evaluated on the following technical qualifications:

• Ability to evaluate death, disability, and education benefits administration claim processing and techniques
• Oral Communication
• Ability to provide death, disability, or education program management advice and assistance
• Ability to provide Guidance on death, disability, or education program management issues
• Knowledge of mission, structure, programs, and responsibilities of a wide range of public safety agencies.
• Written Communication

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Other Information

• This position may be eligible for telework per agency policy.
• OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
• Recruitment incentives may not be authorized.
• This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
• Please do not indicate current or former position salary in your application or resume.
• As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
• This position has a duty station of Washington, D.C. The selectee will be required to physically report to the OJP office building at least four (4) days per bi-weekly pay period and may incorporate leave and official travel plans into this reporting requirement. The office director or supervisor may request the selectee's presence in the office more frequently, as determined by the needs of the office. The selectee will be responsible for covering all commuting-related travel expenses. OJP employees are eligible for one transportation benefit - parking or the Department of Justice (DOJ) transit subsidy.

Required Documents

REMINDER: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) ON 12/02/2024 .

Required Documents

1. Resume (To receive credit for experience, your employment history must be documented in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date and include the number of hours worked per week. Failure to follow this format may result in disqualification),
2. Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable; see below),
3. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (current and former federal employees; see below for more information), and
4. Performance Appraisal (for current federal employees) Note: if not provided, may be required at time of interview.

Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP / Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(u) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the Agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action for Competitive Appointment.

Non-competitive Eligibility
You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; veterans w/ service-connected disabilities of 30% or more; returning volunteers from the Peace Corps or Vista, Veterans' Recruitment Appointment, etc. Appropriate documentation to support your claim must be included in your application, along with the type of special appointment you are seeking. Current/Former Federal Employees
If you are a current or former Federal employee in a permanent, competitive service position, you must submit documents to confirm your status or reinstatement eligibility.

• Submit an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or other official agency documentation that shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".
• Submit your most recent Performance Appraisal (dated within the last 18 months) or a separate statement explaining why you are unable to submit your appraisal. If not provided at time of application, it will be required at time of interview

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the supporting documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

A complete application package, to include the responses to the online Assessment Questionnaire, must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/02/2024to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

• Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site .

If you are unable to apply online, please contact Joseph Mackey at
joseph.mackey2@usdoj.gov or 202-812-6699 for alternate application procedures.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.