Agricultural Research Service Logo
Position Title
Administrative Officer
Agency
Agricultural Research Service
Announcement Number
ARS-M24Y-12411207-CGP Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, May 17, 2024 to Friday, May 31, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. Your answers will be used to determine your eligibility to apply to this job opportunity announcement. You will be considered under the eligibility option(s) to which you answer YES. Select YES to all eligibility options for which you want to be considered. If you respond NO to meeting the criteria for all the eligibilities, you will not be considered for the position(s) under this announcement.

NOTE: You must submit the required supporting documentation to receive consideration for EACH selected eligibility. Failure to provide the required documents will result in an ineligible rating and your application will be excluded from consideration.
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1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge) AND you either:
• retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; OR 
• rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 1991 or later to include disability determinations from a branch of the Armed Forces at any time, as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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3.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
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4. Were you employed overseas as an Appropriated Fund employee AND did you:
• complete 52 weeks of creditable overseas service in an appropriated fund position(s) as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area; AND,
• receive a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating; AND,
• return to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago?

For more information, review USAJOBS Former Overseas Employees resources.
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5.
Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty?

-OR-

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?

 For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
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6. Are you a current or former permanent Farm Service Agency County employee? (limit characters)
7. Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment? (limit characters)
8. Are you a Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment AND you have held or currently hold a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised? (limit characters)
9. Have you completed at least 1 year of continuous service immediately before separation from one or more nontemporary Foreign Service appointments; AND, your separation from a Foreign Service career-type appointment occurred in the last 3 years (individuals entitled to veteran's preference do not need to meet this 3-year requirement)?
-OR-
Have you completed at least 3 years of substantially continuous service under one or more nontemporary appointments in the Foreign Service immediately before separation from an unlimited, career-type appointment in that Service?
-OR-
Are you a current career or limited non-career appointee in the Foreign Service with at least 48 months of continuous service and a most recent performance rating of satisfactory or better? 
-OR-
Are you a former career or limited non-career appointee in the Foreign Service with at least 48 months of continuous service, the most recent performance rating of satisfactory or better, and no more than a one year break in service since your qualifying appointment?

NOTE:  If you are a current Foreign Service employee curtailment of an overseas assignment remains subject to the provisions and processes specified in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) and/or collective bargaining agreements.
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10.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

 For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
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11.
Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) who is claiming eligibility under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act and: 

• was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,

• served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a single break in service of two or more years; and,
• performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; and,

• if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and whose most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance.
  
Note: Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better.  Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked.  Non-pay status (such as LWOP) is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited.  Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.
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12.
Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management?

 For more information, review  Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.
 
-OR-
 
 Are you a current:

• Postal Career Service Employee;

• Postal Rate Commission Employee;

• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,

• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee?

For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
 
 
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13. Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 12 months; OR,

Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 36 months AND you are requesting an extension of your non-competitive appointment eligibility due to your military service; study at a recognized institution of higher learning; or involvement in another activity, which the hiring agency may view warrants extension?  OR,

 Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who completed at least 36 months of continuous service without a break in service of 3 days or more AND has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?
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14.
Do you have a severe intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
 
 
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15. Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below: 

• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating? 
OR 
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
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16.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has not held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
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17.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND  

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
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18.
Are you:

• a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• eligible for veterans' preference?

Note: If you are currently on active duty you may be considered under the two provisions above provided you submit  a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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Assessment 1
Your responses to the questions below will be used in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Your resume and application materials must support the level of experience and/or education you claim in this questionnaire. If, after a complete review of your application package, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible for this position. (limit characters)
1. From the choices below, please select the response that best describes how your experience meets the minimum qualification requirements for this position at the GS-13 level. Your resume must clearly support the response you select or you will be rated as not qualified.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Serve as the primary resource for assessing needs and developing business plans to meet administrative operational requirements.
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3. Analyze current financial systems for accountability and recommend establishment of effective controls and operational procedures for financial accountability.
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4. Analyze information concerning costs, personnel, budgets, equipment, and facility services.
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5. Recommend improvements in accountability procedures and systems to management.
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6. Identify technical program requirements and formulate and implement administrative policies, procedures, and methods to meet these program changes and requirements.
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7. Provide day-to-day liaison and problem resolution between administrative staff and program personnel.
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8. I have advised management officials and staff regarding the following procurement and contract issues: (Select all that apply)
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9. I have monitored standard procedures used for the accountability/tracking on the following: (Select all that apply)
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
10. Advise management officials on the regulatory requirements for the development and control of extramural agreements.
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11. Oversee agreements to ensure financial plans are established and billings are prepared.
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12. Conduct cost analyses for in-house vs. contracting of work and decide the most effective manner of meeting program requirements.
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13. Monitor the use and rate of expenditure of budgeted funds through continual dialogue with managers and their staffs, review of written documents, and examination of accounting records.
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14. Provide advice and counsel to the Board of Directors relating to the impact of decisions and participate in the development of new/revised guidelines.
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15. I have experience managing the following phases of budget formulation: (Select all that apply)
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
16. Review requests for personnel actions and provides advice and recommendations to management officials on propriety, relative need, and special problems which may be encountered in processing such requests.
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17. Promote sound safety and health management by monitoring accident and injury reporting and assure compliance with regulations.
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18. Assure that equal opportunity is extended to all employees, and all candidates for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or non-disqualifying handicapping conditions.
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19. Assist with coordinating the inspection of facilities to evaluate compliance with safety and health policies.
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20. I have experience advising management officials on procedures, laws, regulations, and policies that deal with the following: (Select all that apply)
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21. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.
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