Workforce Development Specialist

Summary

Positions are located in the U. S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), National Office, Office of Workforce Investment (OWI). OWI is responsible for implementing an integrated national workforce investment system that supports economic growth and provides workers with the information, advice, job search assistance, supportive services, and training for in-demand industries and occupations. These positions are in the bargaining unit.

Duties

• Major duties for this position are listed below: Performs tasks within the workforce development or education program in OWI, assists with executing responsibilities under the assigned program functional segment. Responsible for the development of proposed regulations and sub-regulatory policy guidance related to the administration of assigned education and workforce development programs. Maintains a high level of awareness of statutory, regulatory, and program requirements especially for programs authorized under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Wagner-Peyser Act, or Perkins V. Provides advice and technical assistance to Federal staff, grant recipients, state agencies, Tribal governments, local organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders regarding education and workforce development program requirements and performance expectations, allowable activities, fiscal accountability, and implementation strategies. Conducts program-related training and reviews for monitoring and reporting on program performance. Plans and conducts webinars, conferences and meetings to promote grantee best practices and collaborates to provide integrated services. Plans and develops training for grantees on best practices and on compliance with applicable policies and statutes. Works with the Grant, program, and Close Out offices in resolving grants issues during the grant lifecycle. Communicates federal and grant award requirements to grantees to ensure understanding of grant requirements. Resolves investigations, incidents and complaints or audit events pertaining to the grants program. With supervision, drafts sections of Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs); based on his/her subject matter expertise, reviews FOAs for editorial and policy content. Prepares grant summaries and implementation support for new grant programs, including new grantee orientations. Effectively utilizes electronic grant management systems in accordance with established guidelines and protocols. Maintains grant files and adheres to grant management documentation requirements established in Employment and Training Orders.

Qualifications

GS-12: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11 in the Federal Service.Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Experience providing technical assistance to grantees on compliance with workforce development or education programs authorized by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WOIA), or experience with programs authorized by Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). OR Experience resolving grants issues during the program lifecycle for workforce development or education programs authorized by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WOIA), or experience with programs authorized by Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

How to apply

Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center. STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete. NOTE: In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the résumé uploaded under the 'Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration. STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button. STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy. STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button. STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then Update Application. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about 2 hours; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.