Program Specialist

National Park Service • Thurmont, MD

9d

About The Position

The Program Specialist serves with the National Park Service, Office of the Superintendent, in a staff role advising on administrative matters and strategically guiding park management and staff toward effective business management. At the GS-09 full-performance level, the position supports park budget and financial management, analyzes expenditures and funding, prepares budget reports and recommendations, researches accounting issues, processes invoices, coordinates property inventories, and advises supervisors and staff on timekeeping policies and procedures. The position may require occasional overnight travel of up to 1–2 nights per month, operation of a government vehicle, and completion of training and maintenance of a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. Work is mostly sedentary and indoors, with occasional work in park maintenance, warehouse, and outdoor areas. The role is suitable for telework with supervisor approval.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must pass a background investigation and receive favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license if required to operate a government vehicle.
• Must complete required training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must meet applicable Time-in-Grade requirements if a current Federal employee.
• At the GS-09 level, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including reviewing accounting systems or databases to identify discrepancies, analyzing account relationships and transactions, processing invoices, maintaining supply inventories, and preparing administrative reports or briefings; or qualifying graduate education; or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• Applicants using experience to qualify must document hours worked per week; applicants using education must submit transcripts.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications by the announcement closing date of November 9, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Assist park managers with budget and financial management, including coordinating the budgeting process, tracking spending across multiple accounts, and advising on funding availability.
• Review and analyze expenditures against available funding and provide regular updates and reports on park fund status.
• Recommend budget and spending adjustments based on knowledge of park programs, historical trends, and account structures.
• Prepare recurring and special summary reports on budget areas, identifying potential operational and financial efficiencies.
• Research and resolve accounting problems, including erroneous payments and discrepancies between programmed and actual expenditures.
• Pay invoices for goods and services after gathering required documentation and signatures.
• Coordinate annual and semi-annual personal property inventories and adjustments to the park-wide property inventory.
• Serve as a payroll timekeeper and advise supervisors and staff on timekeeping policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• Eligible candidates may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive, subject to case-by-case approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level