The Conference Manager will support ILEAD by assuring that all face-to-face events are captured, documented, approved, and executed efficiently. They must have knowledge of the principles of program design, curriculum design and contracting. They will manage negotiations to assure an outcome which is satisfactory to the client, educationally sound, and within policy guidelines. They must be resourceful, tactful, persuasive, and effective in highly stressful and complex situations.

Duties

The major duties of this position include but are not limited to: Utilizes a thorough knowledge of the principles, concepts and methodology of the VA conference planning and approval procedures, regulations and requirements to develop and process conference packages assigned by the Supervisor. Develops conference packages for the most complex conference challenges. Coordinates and consults with the client, using substantive knowledge of conference/event planning, educational design and development, and administrative laws, rules, and regulations to obtain and clarify information required to obtain approval of the conference packages. Once client has agreed to the conference package details and has signed the conference package, the Conference Manager conducts a quality review, ensures all required signatures have been obtained, and sends to the Supervisor for final quality review and entering of the conference package in the routing process for approval. Updates data systems related to processing of conference packages and performs required data review and data validation. Monitors the progress of conference packages through the approval process, which may require contacts and negotiation up to and including the Office of the Secretary. Uses knowledge of laws, rules, regulations and precedents to develop and provide information to the various levels of approving officials. Uses and adapts analytic techniques to develop and present information supporting conference packages at various levels. Consults and negotiations at this level require knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the client program office to support proposed conference packages. Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed above represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the GS-11 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available Telework: This position is authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Remote: This is NOT a remote position. You must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist- Conference Manager/PD02200A and PD02201A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/06/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11.The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet at least one of the following qualification requirements: GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience is experience that included all or most of the following: Utilizing a thorough knowledge of the principles, concepts and methodology of the VA conference planning and approval procedures, regulations and requirements to develop and process conference packages assigned by the Supervisor. Applying knowledge of workflow coordination, including how to assess requests for conference package assistance from clients, determine complexity and any unique requirements of conference package requests, and analyze the complexity and any unique requirements of each conference package under development or review. Monitoring the progress of the conference package through the approval process, which may require contacts and negotiation up to and including the Office of the Secretary. ~OR~ GS-11 Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. The major study must be in photography, radio or television production, motion picture production, or another field related to this position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ GS-11 Combination of Education and Experience: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above may be used to meet the total qualification requirements for this position. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the GS-9 level may be used to qualify at this level. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess the following: GS-12 Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience is audiovisual production experience that included all or most of the following: Utilizing a thorough knowledge of the principles, concepts and methodology of the VA conference planning and approval procedures, regulations and requirements to develop and process conference packages assigned by the Supervisor. Applying knowledge of workflow coordination, including how to assess requests for conference package assistance from clients, determine complexity and any unique requirements of conference package requests, and analyze the complexity and any unique requirements of each conference package under development or review. Monitoring the progress of the conference package through the approval process, which may require contacts and negotiation up to and including the Office of the Secretary. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Technical Competence- Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Communication- Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Influencing/Negotiating- Persuades others; develops networks and coalitions; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions; builds consensus through give and take. Organizational Awareness- Organizational Awareness: Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the organization. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary however, on occasion it may involve some physical effort. Travel to conferences beyond the commuting area is required. Overtime work is frequently performed at conferences. While traveling the position occasionally involves long periods of repetitive actions, standing for long periods of time, keyboarding, lifting boxes of supplies or education materials (up to 40 pounds), loading and moving small handcarts, and traveling through airports with personal luggage and a laptop computer. Incumbent in this position will work with individuals at high levels within the department and must work multiple projects simultaneously. The ability to handle high levels of stress and conflicting priorities is required. Work is generally performed in a typical office setting with adequate heat, light and ventilation. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at the GS-12 grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VHA Central Office - Human Capital Management 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]