Program Management Specialist

Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food and agriculture issues based on public policy, the best available science and effective management. The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) links U.S. agriculture to the world, improves foreign market access for U.S. food and agricultural products, builds new markets, improves the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and provides food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries.

Duties

• Initiates bill payment related to office operations, including review of payment documents ensuring that payment documentation meets standards for further authorization, monitoring expenditures against targets and/or budgets.
• Prepares and manages correspondence, including travel messages and other cables, formats formal correspondence drafted by other staff members.
• Ensures that the equipment, server, and system are properly maintained and arranges for service. Works closely with HQ to make purchase, repair, and disposal recommendations for computer equipment.
• Utilizes the FAS Integrated Financial Accountability System (iFAS) to view, manage and track request for funding, approved allocations, expenditures, and allow users to reconcile transactions from both the FAS and State accounting systems.
• Provides administrative and logistical support for trade capacity building activities in the region, including making recommendations regarding contracting with hotels for meeting space.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: - Experience with financial/budget software tools to create reports, budgets, and/or financial recommendations. - Experience processing administrative work to effectively support the workforce such as office management, document control, travel coordination, maintaining calendars, scheduling and planning meetings, taking minutes during meets, scheduling, reserving conference rooms, acquiring supplies, maintaining an inventory of supplies; timekeeping, writing newsletters or other written publications on a regular and reoccurring basis about happenings and events within an organization etc. - Experience coordinating formal gatherings for the office ensuring that participants are notified, space/supplies are available for meetings and/or conferences. - Experience utilizing Information Technology (IT) software such as MS Office Suite and/or other Microsoft programs to complete administrative work (travel authorizations and vouchers, employee personnel files, etc.) in compliance with policies, regulations and laws. OR at least two full years of graduate level education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or equivalent) OR Masters degree OR LL.B. OR J.D.in a field of study directly related to the work of this position as described in the vacancy announcement. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-09 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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

This position does not have an education qualification requirement. Please see above for education qualification requirement information. If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.