The incumbent in this position serves as the Director of the Research to Practice Division (RTP) in the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). The Director RTP administers discretionary programs, contracts, and activities authorized under Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

Duties

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 100 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 100th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.As a Supervisory Education Program Specialist, GS-1720-15, you will be responsible for:•  Serve as a principal advisor to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Director and Deputy Director on the formulation of policy, the administration of operating discretionary programs, and legislative proposals. Brief and advise the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Director and Deputy Director on national trends, future needs, historical precedent, and other issues related to the programs administered by the office.•  Overall management, coordination, and administration of Research to Practice Division (RTP) by providing leadership and direction to a staff of over 40 employees involved in the implementation of discretionary grant programs and contracts; determining that office policy objectives have been achieved; ensuring compliance with applicable statutes and regulations; briefing the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Director and Deputy Director on matters encountered that may adversely affect the administration of programs with Research to Practice Division (RTP); and providing recommendations, specifying options and proposed solutions.. •    Actively engages in intra/interagency work to ensure children and youth with disabilities and their families and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) services and programs are appropriately included within initiatives, priorities, policies, program budgets, and guidance. •    In consultation with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Director and Deputy Director, has responsibility for coordinating and communicating program activities to Federal, State, local and community officials and organizations, including establishing and maintaining communications with education associations advocacy groups, Research to Practice Division (RTP) grantees, and the general public, such as maintaining communications through Websites, listservs and other technologies. The incumbent also must balance the needs and interests of conflicting groups, urge support for the Secretary’s priorities, and assist to resolve conflicts and sources of disagreement.  Direct all Research to Practice Division (RTP) programs and for the ongoing review of those programs to ensure consistency of effort toward program goals and outcomes, by reviewing procedures for the review of grant applications, processing grants, processing contracts, developing regulations and non-regulatory guidance (as appropriate), providing technical assistance and other customer services, and making recommendations for grant awards to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Director and Deputy Director Monitors national and regional developments relevant to Research to Practice Division (RTP) programs and uses such information to assess the adequacy of Research to Practice Division (RTP) activities and to make programmatic adjustments as necessary.

Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Relocation will not be paid.
• Must Complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience for the GS-15One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:1.  Experience serving as a manager of a major education program; providing guidance to Federal, State, or local education officials in planning, developing, and carrying out an education program or serving as a consultant to top-level Federal, State or local officials on education issues and programs.  2.  Experience reviewing, analyzing, and development of policies governing special education programs to recommend change or improvements. 3.  Experience developing policies, establishing priorities, and implementing procedures for grant programs management that impact special education at the national, state, and local levels.  Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).1. Knowledge of assigned fields sufficient to exert extraordinary influence on policies, priorities, and activities of the department and other organizations, manage education programs, and participate on committees concerned with establishing long-term plans and priorities.2.  Ability to plan and manage a complex and technical workload through subordinate personnel.3.  Knowledge of the statutory and regulatory provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and experience with improving results for children with disabilities. 4. Skill conducting in-depth analyses involving complex variables and extend and apply new developments and approaches to broad program problems.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level. 

Basic Requirements:

1. Degree: that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses.

   or

   Combination of education and experience -- at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience must reflect the level and kind described in C below.

   or

   Four years of experience that demonstrated a thorough understanding of the principles and practices underlying the work of this series. This experience must have been of such character and diversity to demonstrate that the applicant possesses an understanding of the field comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university.

   or

   At least 1 full academic year of professional teaching experience. This experience is defined as full and primary responsibility, under general supervision, for instruction of assigned students in an accredited school or institution. This includes responsibility for preparing and presenting lessons and for evaluating students' progress, including a determination of the students' success or failure according to established criteria. Serving in an assistant capacity to a professor without the authority to determine the students' success or failure to meet course requirements does not meet this criterion.

Contacts

• Address EDUCATION-OFFICE OF SPECIAL ED & REHAB SERVICES 400 Maryland Ave. S.W. Attn: Human Resources Services Washington, District of Columbia 20202 United States
• Name: La Shawn Charles
• Phone: 2022885690
• Email: [email protected]