Program Specialist

Summary

This position is located at the Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida.

Duties

The incumbent reports to the Cemetery Director and has oversight of the administrative responsibilities including budget, correspondence, and work direction of lower grade General Schedule employees. Incumbent analyzes current and proposed program and budget operating programs to evaluate their actual or potential effectiveness in establishing and achieving goals and objectives set by the agency. The incumbent performs budget and program analysis duties and serves as the principal assistant to the Cemetery Director. Assures the coordination of the cemetery's Organization Assessment and National Shrine Standards as well as assists the Cemetery Director in accomplishing a variety of administrative functions. Incumbent compiles and analyzes data, identifies trends, prepares reports, and recommends solutions for resolving problems and to ensure compliance with operational standards and measures. Assignments involve special studies and investigations to promptly detect problem conditions in connect with operations through the cemetery. Resulting recommendations and advice may have impact on more than one interrelated activity and have strong impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of future cemetery program operations. Studies relate to the full scope of interment operations, grounds maintenance operations, headstone/marker/niche cover operations, and equipment maintenance operations, as well as to other topics such as facilities, personnel and security. Objective is to assess the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of the programs of the cemetery operations and to recommend resolution of problems in a full range of administrative and field activities. Evaluates the overall effectiveness of the primary mission of the cemetery. Scope of work encompasses the evaluation of the effectiveness of the organizational mission and its component activities. Evaluates and monitors the eligibility process to assure that requests are handled timely and compassionately while meeting regulatory requirements. Administers the allocated budget for the Jacksonville VA National Cemetery, including monitoring and tracking of all expenditures in assigned fund control points, including contract maintenance operations. Ensures cemetery compliance with budget performance measures to avoid over-expenditures. Incumbent will assist with development of budget justifications for increases or new requirements. Budgetary procedures require planning for control of resources to support the National Cemetery Resource Management Tool and the local budget activities, both administrative and maintenance operations. The work contributes to complete resource control of funding for personnel, equipment, supplies and materials. Performs office administration manpower reviews to ensure FTEE levels are utilized and to meet allocation allotment from the Southeast District Memorial Service Network (MSN). Incumbent advises and assists on issues that are sensitive and serious in dealing with the public in operation of Jacksonville VA National Cemetery. Problems involve issues such as determining interment eligibility and timely scheduling of committal services of a high-profile nature that may positively or negatively impact the cemetery, NCA or DVA. Prepares necessary correspondence and documentation, including after action reports for significant events. May also be responsible for the collection and manipulation of data obtain through daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual and annual checklists in support of the NCA Organizational Assessment and Improvement (OAI) program. Incumbent may also act as an alternate Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) as needed to provide oversight of numerous contractors and to ensure the completion of those contracted tasks. Incumbent may be temporarily assigned as acting director during director's absence, may perform outreach activities or represent the cemetery at station events, and will perform other duties as assigned. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist/PD137650 Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you ay preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13061361

Qualifications and evaluation

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/21/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13061361. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Please note that resumes must be provided in English to be considered. If your resume includes photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, or personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., you will not be considered for this vacancy. Please limit your resume to 2 pages with the font size no smaller than 10 points. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) References Other (2) Performance Appraisal Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility): You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50(s) that verify your eligibility for consideration as a current or former federal applicant; and Your SF-50 must verify your highest competitive grade, time-in-grade, your current promotion potential or full performance level and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 or pay adjustment SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. Recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50. Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled Veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans/veterans-preference/#content.

Additional information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.