Location: Cambridge,MA, USA
Summary The U.S. DOT Volpe Center seeks several Program Support Specialists to provide analytical support to division projects, financial management, human resource management, business operations and other administrative functions. Responsibilities The Program Support Specialist: Projects support to senior personnel includes collecting, organizing, or analyzing data; organizing stakeholder engagement events; drafting summary documents or requests for information; or other similar technical work in support of division projects. Performs a variety of activities in support of Division financial and technical project-related activities, including tracking costs related to division resources and cost estimation for new work. Participates in administrative support meetings and provides office coverage for senior executive assistants, senior staff assistants, program support specialists, administrative assistants, or other members of the administrative support team as needed. Creates, reviews and edits information/action memorandums, domestic and foreign travel packages, meeting agendas, and other correspondence on behalf of technical and management staff. Supports the time and attendance system for staff, travel arrangements, calendar management, meeting/conference support, analyzing administrative processes and opportunities to improve processes, division recruiting processes and other duties as assigned. The ideal candidate will be exceptionally proactive, detail-oriented, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Must have excellent analytical and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to improve process efficiencies and manage a diverse workload consisting of a mix of office management and project management support for the assigned division. They will operate with guidance from the supervisor, project managers, and operational offices, conveying a high level of professional integrity and motivation. To see the work of the various divisions please visit our website: If you enjoy solving problems to support a team in achieving meaningful goals, then this job is for you! Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. You must meet specialized experience to qualify. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). Qualifications To determine which grade(s) you are eligible for, review the following grade specific details. You will be asked questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet this experience and/or education in your resume and/or uploaded transcripts or you may be deemed ineligible. For the GS-07: To qualify on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level, which included performing work such as, or related to: Experience assisting with business process documentation and improvement through project/program tracking and management. For example, assisting with progress or financial monitoring for a project. Experience assisting with research related to the improvement of program delivery. For example, assisting with gathering information to identify customer or stakeholder needs, or contributing to the development of a system to track outreach/marketing. OR To qualify on Education, you must have at least 1 year of graduate-level education OR a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement*. Transcript(s) are required for verification. *Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. (In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.) 1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ( B or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ( B+ or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate level education and experience. This must be fully supported in your included resume and transcript(s). For the GS-09: To qualify on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level, which included: Experience providing business process documentation and improvement through project/program tracking and management. For example, monitoring progress or financial project reports. Experience providing analytical support for technical projects. For example, using spreadsheets or other software to organize and analyze data. OR To qualify on Education, you must have at least 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree. Transcript(s) are required for verification. You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported in your included resume and transcript. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will also be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodologies sufficient to provide summaries and assessments of a variety of program and administrative data. Knowledge of financial management, human resource management, internal controls, and acquisition related administrative processes and procedures sufficient to effectively support senior personnel and the division chief in the day to day execution of such programs. Knowledge of division programs and project practices sufficient to interact and exchange information with division personnel, and, as required, sponsor representatives. Skill in oral, written and visual communication skills sufficient to effectively interface with contacts within and outside the Volpe Center. For all types of consideration, 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 directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education Graduate Education: If using graduate education to qualify for either grade, education at the graduate level (above a bachelor's degree) in an accredited college or university, in the amounts specified for each grade in the qualifications section, meets the requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. For more information go to: Additional Information U.S. Citizenship is required. Emailed applications will not be accepted, you must apply online. Relocation expenses are NOT authorized. Telework is available. Required to obtain a government travel and government purchase card. Volpe is committed to fostering an all-inclusive diverse workforce where employees feel valued for their unique backgrounds and qualities and have a sense of belonging and engagement in helping to advance transportation for the public good. PLEASE NOTE: Current Volpe employees with duty stations other than Cambridge, MA may apply for this position and may remain in their current duty station, if selected. Salary will be adjusted in accordance with the locality pay of the specific area. Salaries for areas are available on the OPM website: The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, ...@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.