USA Staffing

For the GS-14 level, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

-analyzing, evaluating, and recommending solutions to policy and program issues; AND
-plans and supervises the technical functions and administrative duties of a grant program; AND
-facilitating working relationships among diverse groups of people

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

1. Do you have one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level, or equivalent?

A. Yes

B. No

2. Please select from the options below that describe your experience planning tasks or identifying necessary resources to accomplish work for a team or staff?

A. I have set goals, administered, and directed the work of a staff of subordinates.

B. I have evaluated, approved, or rejected work products and performance of others.

C. I have resolved employee complaints and grievances.

D. I have initiated performance-based corrective or disciplinary action with employees.

E. I have developed and nurtured inter-office and intra-office relationships to gain cooperation for the purpose of successfully managing a project or program.

F. None of the above.

3. What is your experience directing and managing a staff? Select all that apply.

A. I have improved group or team performance by designing or executing staff development programs.

B. I have set goals, administered, and directed the work of staff through subordinate supervisors.

C. I have evaluated, approved, or rejected work products and performance of subordinates.

D. I have resolved employee complaints and grievances.

E. I have administered performance-based corrective or disciplinary action of employees.

F. I have improved performance among staff.

G. I have taken action to make the workplace more sensitive to cultural diversity.

H. I have been accountable for the quality of customer service within my organization.

I. I have managed staff located at a remote destination or teleworking.

J. None of the above.

4. Which strategies have you used to accomplish goals and objectives through others?

A. Delegating project tasks

B. Supervising others during the task completion

C. Providing oversight to ensure compliance with rules, regulations, and policies

D. Monitoring projects to ensure progress

E. Taking steps to help others meet timelines consistently

F. Managing multi-disciplinary teams

G. None of the above.

5. Select all of the following that describes your experience with monitoring reviews.

A. I have reviewed grantees for compliance of program grant requirements.

B. I have served as team lead for monitoring and evaluation of all applicable programs.

C. I have provided technical assistance to grantees.

D. I have reviewed and determined adequacy of grantee corrective actions in relation to findings from compliance.

E. None of the above.

6. Select the responses that describe your experience interacting with persons of varied backgrounds, cultures, or opinions to accomplish work activities and goals.

A. I have worked with people from backgrounds and cultures different than my own.

B. I have worked with persons from a similar culture but of a different race, gender, or ethnicity than my own.

C. I have worked with persons from a different socio-economic status than myself.

D. I have worked with persons whose native language was different than my own.

E. I have worked with persons who held different views from my own on important subjects or issues.

F. I have worked with persons who held a negative or antagonistic attitude toward me.

G. None of the above.

7. Which interpersonal activities have you performed in a professional setting?

A. I have negotiated solutions to difficult problems by learning about all sides of the issue and conveying my decisions or opinions to other parties.

B. I have influenced others to gain their commitment for pursuing new initiatives or technologies.

C. I have facilitated the resolution of competing or conflicting interests among co-workers whose cooperation was essential to the success of a project.

D. I have interacted with others professionally in situations where frequent changes, delays, or unexpected events caused major shifts in priorities, timetables, or work assignments.

E. I have tactfully handled sensitive information and/or situations (e.g., using neutral language, taking corrective action discretely).

F. None of the above.

8. Choose the statements that describe your experience resolving differences, sensitive issues, or problems among groups.

A. I have developed non-standard and innovative approaches to resolve issues while adhering to agency protocols.

B. I have gained respect and confidence from others (e.g., team members, colleagues, customers, managers) based on my use of tact and discretion when resolving differences.

C. I have determined customer expectations and requirements and used that information to improve work methods, procedures, products, and/or services.

D. None of the above.

9. Select the response that describes how you routinely interact with others in a work setting.

A. I have provided guidance to other on how to handle sensitive documentation.

B. I have developed trusting, productive working relationships with people who had different perspectives or cultural backgrounds to achieve goals/objectives.

C. I have interacted with persons in situations where frequent changes, delays or unexpected events caused major shifts in priorities, timetables, or work assignments.

D. I have provided direction, guidance, or instruction to support staff on administrative policies and procedures.

E. I have ensured that assigned staff actions, papers, documents have met established timeframes through tracking, suspension, and notification.

F. None of the above.

10. Which tasks have you performed to solve problems? Select all that apply.

A. I have identified incongruent or incomplete information to solve issues.

B. I have identified and resolved previously unknown issues (i.e., existing problems that no one discovered before).

C. I have implemented precedent setting solutions impacting my organizations (e.g., new work processes or operational procedures).

D. I have identified a problem early by proactively exploring an anomaly, which resulted in mitigation efforts.

E. I have reviewed information to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information and made logical conclusions.

F. None of the above.

11. Choose the statement that best describes your highest level or experience analyzing and evaluating information to identify problems and develop solutions.

A. I have performed work that required the independent resolution of problems involving diverse or unique issues using few pre-existing precedents.

B. I have experience performing work that required the resolution of problems involving issues that affected a limited segment of an organization using a wide range of source materials and pre-existing precedents.

C. I have experience performing work that required resolution of problems involving routine issues of limited impact on an organization using clear-cut guidelines and existing precedents that determine the most appropriate guideline to use.

D. I do not have experience performing work that required resolution of problems involving routine issues of limited impact on an organization using clear-cut guidelines and existing precedents that determine the most appropriate guideline to use.

12. Choose the statements that describe your experience developing effective working relationships in a professional setting.

A. I have negotiated with others to reach an agreement, settlement, consensus, or solution.

B. I have engaged others in information sharing to identify potential issues and propose possible solutions.

C. I have built constructive relationships with others to encourage continuous communication and feedback.

D. I have responded to questions from others promptly.

E. I have pursued networking opportunities to develop mutually beneficial professional relationships.

F. I have positively contributed to group discussions and meetings.

G. None of the above.

13. Which responses describe your experience communicating via telephone in a professional setting?

A. I explained actions needed to comply with financial regulations or program guidelines.

B. I explained the purpose of a specific regulation or program guideline.

C. I provided step-by-step guidance to resolve a problem.

D. I helped callers understand the cause of errors or problems.

E. I reiterated funding regulations or program guidelines.

F. I assisted callers in troubleshooting access to funds or drawdown issues.

G. I explained financial calculations (e.g., budgeting, cost allocations).

H. I solicited pertinent information from callers to resolve problems.

I. I established positive relationships with repeat callers.

J. I explained a financial concept in different ways to the same caller to achieve understanding.

K. None of the above.

14. For which purposes or goals have you prepared written materials?

A. To describe program findings and recommendations

B. To summarize the results of research or a project

C. To recommend a solution to a problem with supporting documentation and evidence

D. To describe a proposed process change

E. To influence the opinion or action of others

F. To negotiate agreement among conflicting parties

G. To explain a complicated or technical issue

H. To explain unpopular or controversial decisions

I. None of the above

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