Program Specialist

Office of the Secretary • District of Columbia, DC

11d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), within the Office of the Secretary. The incumbent performs small business advocacy duties based on geographic and organizational work assignments, primarily in strategic outreach and counseling. The role supports small businesses and large prime contractors seeking to work with the VA. Work is primarily sedentary. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Flexible or compressed scheduling may be available at the manager’s discretion. Telework may be authorized under agency policy, but the position is not virtual. Return-to-office mandates require in-person work unless an exemption is approved.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the normal line of progression for the occupation.
• For current federal employees who held a GS grade within the past 52 weeks, meet the GS-13 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-12 by the announcement closing date.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• May be required to serve a probationary or trial period.
• Subject to a background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Resume must include job titles, employer names, hours worked per week, start and end dates, duties and responsibilities, and federal grades where applicable.
• Applicants seeking experience credit must clearly identify duties and hours worked per week.
• No educational substitution is available at this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Provide training and consulting sessions to prospective small business contractors about VA operations and opportunities.
• Support the small business community and large prime contractors.
• Arrange meetings and briefings through the Direct Connect process so small businesses can present their qualifications and capabilities to senior VA program officials.
• Develop presentations, conference materials, and promotional items for small business conferences, trade shows, and industry events.
• Staff small business booths at trade shows, small business conferences, and SBA matchmaking events.
• Provide one-on-one counseling to small businesses interested in pursuing business opportunities with the VA.
• Plan and manage special projects and initiatives to strengthen, facilitate, and integrate programs.
• Collaborate with staff members and key groups within and outside the organization as a liaison.
• Develop materials for public speaking engagements.
• Perform administrative work in areas such as personnel administration, budgeting and financial management, procurement and contracting, property management, or supply.
• Analyze program or operational effectiveness against established goals and objectives, and evaluate agencywide programs against short- and long-range goals.
• Evaluate capability statements from small businesses seeking to work with the VA.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with access to a range of benefits for employees and their families.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for qualifying job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed