ACADEMIC SPECIALIST

Summary

National Defense University (NDU) supports the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. This is a Title 10 Excepted Service Appointment. Appointment is not to exceed 2 years with the possibility for extension.

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Academic Program Administration - 60% Manages, coordinates, and supports recurring academic processes required to execute CISA's academic programs, particularly at Fort McNair. Develops, integrates, maintains, and coordinates the CISA College calendar and the academic calendars and schedules for CISA's McNair-based programs. Reconciles College and program requirements with NDU academic calendars, holidays, major institutional events, and other scheduling constraints; identifies potential conflicts and recommends solutions to academic leadership; coordinates approved changes with faculty and affected offices; and maintains the official College and McNair program calendars throughout the academic year. Coordinates course and student academic processes, including course offerings, enrollment, registration, and related academic actions with academic leadership, faculty, the NDU Registrar, and other responsible University offices. Tracks recurring academic requirements, actions, and deadlines; identifies process issues; and recommends courses of action when academic leadership decision is required. Maintains documentation and tracks academic actions requiring review or decision by designated academic officials. Coordinates staffing of actions, ensures required documentation is completed, monitors actions through disposition, and maintains associated records in accordance with applicable CISA and NDU policies and procedures. Coordinates the academic components of student and faculty orientation, in-processing, and out-processing in conjunction with operations support staff. Provides guidance to students and faculty on academic systems, calendars, deadlines, and other program processes within the incumbent's assigned responsibilities. Coordinates course administration, including maintenance of required course information and documentation; ordering and distribution of required books and other instructional materials; maintenance of the purchased course-book orders and inventory for CISA's McNair-based programs; and coordination of copyright permissions and related requirements with faculty and responsible College and University offices, including the NDU Library. Administers assigned academic information and learning-management systems, including establishing and maintaining courses and associated information within those systems and assisting with enrollment in conjunction with the Registrar's office and service chairs. Works with applicable CISA and NDU offices to coordinate user access, address system-related issues, and provide guidance to faculty and students on system use. 2. Academic Policy, Governance, and University Integration - 25% Coordinates implementation of NDU academic policies, processes, and requirements within CISA's McNair-based academic programs. Reviews applicable University academic guidance and requirements, identifies implications for College academic processes, coordinates required actions with responsible University offices, and recommends actions when academic leadership decision or direction is required. Develops and maintains academic procedures, business rules, and standard operating procedures within assigned areas and consistent with established CISA and NDU policy. Reviews existing processes to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or inefficiencies; recommends improvements; and coordinates implementation of approved changes. Coordinates Academic Policy Council processes and other assigned academic governance activities, including preparation and staffing of agenda items, maintenance of academic policy and decision records, tracking of actions and decisions, and coordination of approved actions with responsible College and University offices. Works collaboratively with other CISA academic-management personnel to coordinate common academic processes, share effective practices, and provide continuity and mutual support. 3. Curriculum and Academic Program Support - 15% Supports academic leadership and faculty with curriculum management, program assessment, program review, and other academic program requirements. Coordinates associated processes, documentation, necessary adaptation, and actions within assigned areas of responsibility. Coordinates preparation, staffing, tracking, and maintenance of curriculum and program actions, including curriculum proposals, course changes, program reviews, and related documentation. Tracks actions through established College and University review and approval processes and coordinates implementation and documentation of approved actions. Supports recurring institutional academic requirements, including applicable accreditation and Joint Professional Military Education requirements. Coordinates and maintains associated information, documentation, and actions as required.

Qualifications and evaluation

A screening panel will review your resume and narrative answers to the assessment questions to evaluate your qualifications for the position. NDU uses a multi-tier selection process for academic positions. The following questions will be reviewed by the NDU screening panel https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13099002. Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.ssc-cc@mail.mil

Education

Education Requirement: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if the position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment, if selected for the role. * An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence PRIOR to appointment. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation upon request. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below. Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. 1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. 2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application. 3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status, then More Information for this position. Return to an incomplete application by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Required documents

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume: A two-page maximum resume is required. Applicant guidance on the two page resume requirement may be found at: Learn more about the new resume requirements. Complete initial Eligibility Questionnaire: Your resume must demonstrate the quality of your work as it relates to the experience requirements outlined in the job announcement. Other Supporting Documents - Refer to the eligibilities section for documents to submit. NOTE: Transcripts are not required at time of application submission. Your resume and narrative answers to the hiring criteria will be reviewed by the NDU screening panel to evaluate your qualifications for the position. If selected for an interview, official transcripts will be requested at that time to verify educational requirements are met. Eligibilities Information: The following supporting documents are REQUIRED to verify your individual eligibility status. Not all will apply for each applicant. They MUST be received by the closing date of the announcement. SF-50: Current and former federal employees, including those currently working for the agency, must submit their SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) reflecting their highest grade held on a permanent basis for at least 52 weeks, tenure, and appointment type. Failure to provide this document may result in disqualification. If you claim Veteran's Preference: - You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be. - If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability - If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference. Other documents identified in the announcement. WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by the closing date of the announcement at 11:59 EST, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered or uploaded is received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

Additional information

Background or Security Investigation: This is a Noncritical Sensitive position which requires a background investigation. The individual selected for this position is required to obtain and maintain a Secret security determination to occupy a Noncritical Sensitive position within the agency as a condition of employment. Accepting this position, you may be required to serve an 18 month trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. Reemployed Annuitants: Department of Defense has the authority to hire annuitants without reduction in pay. For more information, go to: https://www.dcpas.osd.mil/policy/retirement/reemployedannuitant All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-4434 for assistance. National Defense University (NDU) is the premier national security institution focused on advanced joint education, leader development and scholarship. Under the direction and leadership of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the oversight of the Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff (J-7), NDU offers a collegial and collaborative academic environment to support the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) and other graduate level programs to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. NDU is comprised of six primary educational institutions and four additional component agencies: National Intelligence College (NIC), National War College (NWC), Dwight Eisenhower School (ES), Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), College of International Security Affairs (CISA), the College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC), Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), International Student Management Office, Operations Support and the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course. NDU has a comprehensive benefits package that includes retirement, social security, and thrift savings plan (TSP); health, life, and long-term care insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. NDU employees enjoy flexible work schedules, transit subsidy and situational telework opportunities.