Program Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located at the Baltimore National Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 03/09/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If your most recent non-award SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Must have the ability to type at least 40 words per minute. Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

You may qualify based on your experience, as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Preferred Experience: COR II Qualified, Experience in NCA, and iFAMS experience.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for the GS-09 grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B.

or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 18 semester hours.

To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first year or 18 semester hours of graduate level education).

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Computer Skills Customer Service Critical Thinking Plan and Organize work 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Major Duties:

The incumbent primarily serves as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and Quality Assurance Specialist for Baltimore National Cemetery, as well as satellite cemeteries and will report directly to the Cemetery Director on contracting and quality assurance of all contracts assigned.

Incumbent administers contracts, procurements and acquisition segments to include review of statements of work, deliverable timetables and invoice payments.

Conducts Quality Assurance checks daily on Grounds Maintenance work completed by contractors and other cemetery contracts.

Acts as the Cemetery Representative for committal services when needed to include building BOSS cases, family packets and all Burial Accuracy procedures in the Accountability of Remains.

Completes all documentation required for Quality Assurance checks, processes all verification and compliance procedures.

Incumbent assists Director/ Management Analyst in all fiscal tasks, which includes: budget formulation.

Assist in tracking and maintaining fiscal accounting records for all expenditures to assure fiscal integrity.

Assists with contract development, communicates with contractors and central contracting, coordinates and monitors procurement activities. Acts as purchase cardholder for cemetery.

Performs public outreach as needed. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday. May include occasional weekends.

Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time.

Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year.

Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery.

Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Not Available Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position.

Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist/PD1573461 The full performance level of this position is GS - 09.

Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you may preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12891488