PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Summary

National Defense University (NDU) supports the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. This job announcement uses the USA Hire Assessment to evaluate applicants. For more information, visit USA Hire Assessment

Duties

• Serve as the primary point of contact for international students and families, providing guidance and support throughout pre-arrival, onboarding, residency, and departure processes.
• Coordinate and support educational travel, field studies, events, and sponsorship activities by managing logistics, travel documentation, communications, and program execution.
• Maintain and analyze program records and databases, ensuring accurate student information, reporting, and compliance with organizational requirements.
• Assist with outreach, engagement, and communications initiatives by preparing correspondence, newsletters, web content, promotional materials, and alumni support activities.
• Support Program improvement efforts through project management, data analysis, reporting, process documentation, briefings, and recommendations to enhance operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade (as outlined below) within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required. Specialized Experience: For the GS-7: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5. Specialized Experience is defined as experience in an administrative setting with the ability to take on assigned tasks &/ or projects of limited scope and complexity designed to develop skills and proficiency in the occupation. For the GS-9: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7. Specialized experience is defined as experience in an administrative setting with the ability to work on assignments or projects independently and more advanced methods that require the application of established principles, concepts, and techniques of the occupation. For the GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing administrative, programmatic, customer service, or logistical support in an educational, military, international affairs, security cooperation, or governmental environment. Volunteer Experience: 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, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience: For the GS-07: One full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp) may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. For the GS-9: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education, Master's or equivalent graduate degree, may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. For the GS-11: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement. If you are using education to substitute for the specialized experience, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html). Official Transcripts: If the position you are applying for has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications (i.e. you would not qualify without the education obtained), you MUST submit transcripts with your application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application outside of what is outlined above; however, official transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying or prior to…