Program Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States (WHA/USOAS). The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist providing administrative and program oversight support of activities between the United States and OAS, working closely with WHA/EX and other offices to ensure the Mission's logistical, managerial, and human resource needs are met. The incumbent is also the mission's protocol officer supporting day-to-day operations.

Duties

• Develops, analyzes, and evaluates work methods and procedures to improve staffing use, work distribution, management controls, and information and documentation systems.
• Serves as primary liaison to the OAS protocol office and helps develop and implement the Mission's protocol policy. Gives expert recommendations to the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission on protocol-related operational and policy issues.
• Develops administrative regulations or guidelines for internal program operations and new criteria for measuring program results.
• Oversees office spending, equipment, supplies, travel requests, vouchers, and the representational budget. Advises mission staff on travel regulations, processes vouchers for senior officials, and reviews quarterly budget reports to analyze spending.
• The incumbent of the GS-12 position performs essentially the same duties as the GS-13, under closer supervision and decreased level of complexity.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. GS-12: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience assisting with administrative and program support in one or more functional areas (e.g., human resources, travel, budget, procurement, or logistics), such as researching issues, gathering information, and suggesting solutions to supervisors. Experience assisting with planning and coordinating programs, projects, or events, such as helping develop plans, tracking resources and deadlines, and resolving routine problems, in settings involving several stakeholders. Experience coordinating with staff at various levels, including senior officials, to support organizational goals, such as drafting recommendations, tracking resources, and helping resolve issues, in line with established policies and regulations. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position. GS-13: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience providing administrative and program support across several functional areas (e.g. human resources, travel, budget and financial management, procurement, logistics, and internal controls) to analyze issues and recommend solutions to management. Experience managing complex programs, projects, or events from planning through completion, such as developing plans, coordinating resources, meeting deadlines, and resolving problems, in settings involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. Experience working with senior officials and multiple stakeholders to meet organizational goals, such as developing recommendations, managing resources, and resolving complex issues, in compliance with applicable policies and regulations. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.