Acquisition Program Specialist (Budget Liaison)

Summary

Summary

This position is in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), Board Operations Division, Administrative Management Branch. PTAB reviews ex parte appeals, reexamination requests, interferences, and proceedings under the America Invents Act. The Administrative Management Branch provides acquisition, budget, finance, and administrative support for PTAB operations.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.This position serves as the Acquisition Program Specialist. This is your next ideal career move if:

• You have managed acquisitions and procurement planning for equipment, services, and supplies; monitor organizational needs; plan acquisitions; ensure use of appropriate procurement methods; and coordinate with acquisition officials and other stakeholders to support mission requirements.
• You have developed and maintained processes to monitor contractor performance related to delivery, cost, and progress; identified potential problems, cost overruns, and funding risks; and initiated corrective actions to improve accountability and contract outcomes.
• You have advised program officials on acquisition planning and strategy by preparing statements of work and related acquisition documentation, analyzing contractor proposals, and supporting solicitation, negotiation, and contract modification activities.
• You have managed the planning, preparation, and execution of an organization's budget and operating plan by reviewing and revising budget estimates and justification materials, monitoring obligations, expenditures, and funding trends, and ensuring funds are used in accordance with applicable requirements.
• You have provided analysis and advice on acquisition and budget matters by reviewing contract processes, purchase orders, and purchase card activity, managing automated procurement systems, recommending process improvements, and ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and internal controls.
• You have served as a liaison and representative on acquisition and budget matters by coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, presenting information in meetings and briefings, providing guidance to leadership, and supporting coordination across acquisition, finance, and program operations.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Suitable for Federal Employment
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at General Business and Industry Series 1101

Specialized Experienceis experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-XX in the Federal service: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-13.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Experience managing acquisition and contract administration activities for equipment, services, and supplies, including preparing or supporting acquisition documentation, monitoring contractor performance, resolving cost, schedule, or funding issues, and ensuring compliance with applicable acquisition regulations, policies, and internal controls.
• Experience managing budget formulation and execution for an organization or program, including developing budget estimates and justifications, monitoring obligations and expenditures, preparing or supporting operating plans, and ensuring compliance with financial requirements and funding limitations.
• Experience providing advisory services to leadership and program officials on acquisition, budget, and administrative matters, including coordinating with multiple stakeholders, recommending process improvements, supporting internal controls, and representing the organization on related issues.

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; religious; 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.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Non Bargaining Unit position.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate".

Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP. CTAP documentation requirements are listed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.



Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Job Description

Summary

This position is in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), Board Operations Division, Administrative Management Branch. PTAB reviews ex parte appeals, reexamination requests, interferences, and proceedings under the America Invents Act. The Administrative Management Branch provides acquisition, budget, finance, and administrative support for PTAB operations.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.This position serves as the Acquisition Program Specialist. This is your next ideal career move if:

• You have managed acquisitions and procurement planning for equipment, services, and supplies; monitor organizational needs; plan acquisitions; ensure use of appropriate procurement methods; and coordinate with acquisition officials and other stakeholders to support mission requirements.
• You have developed and maintained processes to monitor contractor performance related to delivery, cost, and progress; identified potential problems, cost overruns, and funding risks; and initiated corrective actions to improve accountability and contract outcomes.
• You have advised program officials on acquisition planning and strategy by preparing statements of work and related acquisition documentation, analyzing contractor proposals, and supporting solicitation, negotiation, and contract modification activities.
• You have managed the planning, preparation, and execution of an organization's budget and operating plan by reviewing and revising budget estimates and justification materials, monitoring obligations, expenditures, and funding trends, and ensuring funds are used in accordance with applicable requirements.
• You have provided analysis and advice on acquisition and budget matters by reviewing contract processes, purchase orders, and purchase card activity, managing automated procurement systems, recommending process improvements, and ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and internal controls.
• You have served as a liaison and representative on acquisition and budget matters by coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, presenting information in meetings and briefings, providing guidance to leadership, and supporting coordination across acquisition, finance, and program operations.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Suitable for Federal Employment
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at General Business and Industry Series 1101

Specialized Experienceis experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-XX in the Federal service: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-13.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Experience managing acquisition and contract administration activities for equipment, services, and supplies, including preparing or supporting acquisition documentation, monitoring contractor performance, resolving cost, schedule, or funding issues, and ensuring compliance with applicable acquisition regulations, policies, and internal controls.
• Experience managing budget formulation and execution for an organization or program, including developing budget estimates and justifications, monitoring obligations and expenditures, preparing or supporting operating plans, and ensuring compliance with financial requirements and funding limitations.
• Experience providing advisory services to leadership and program officials on acquisition, budget, and administrative matters, including coordinating with multiple stakeholders, recommending process improvements, supporting internal controls, and representing the organization on related issues.

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; religious; 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.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Non Bargaining Unit position.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate".

Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP. CTAP documentation requirements are listed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.



Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.