Program Specialist

$70,623

Herndon, VirginiaFull-timePosted Oct 15, 2026

Job description

The primary purpose of this Program Specialist position is located Operational Planning and Deployments Branch (OPDB), Operations Planning & Coordination Division (OPCD) is to detect, deter and defeat criminal, terrorist and hostile activities that target our nation's transportation systems.

This Program Specialist position is located Operational Planning and Deployments Branch (OPDB), Operations Planning & Coordination Division (OPCD), Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), Law Enforcement (LE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: : Selects, builds, staffs, and adjusts LE/FAMS domestic and international missions in a timely manner, in accordance with risk-based, established protocols, and applicable administrative requirements to support risk mitigation in the commercial aviation domain.

Processes complex international personnel and mission revisions through applicable databases and scheduling systems due to field office conflicts, airline operations changes, or evolving threats and coordinates with other OPDB units to ensure compliance with alternate requirements, processing of visas, and notification of international partners.

Verifies information across multiple sources, ensures accuracy through evaluation of completed mission changes, meets deadlines, and adjusts strategies to achieve objectives. Independently monitors, analyzes, evaluates, and operationalizes information from multiple sources, such as airline schedules, field office availability, and travel policies.

Participates in special project assignments to meet operational needs and mission objectives and ensures the technical accuracy and completeness of training manuals and standard operating procedures. Writes internal procedural documents and standard operating procedures for support role functions of the OPDB, as applicable.

Duties posted are at the highest band level.

In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following specialized experience to be considered qualified for the position: To qualify for the SV-F pay Band (equivalent to GS-5/7/9), you must have: Experience: Three (3) years of progressively responsible general experience, one year of which was equivalent to the SV-E or GS-4 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Such experience will demonstrate the ability to: analyze problems, gather information, and recommend solutions; plan and organize work; AND communicate effectively orally and in writing. OR Education: A four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's or higher-level degree in any field from an accredited college or university.

(Must submit copy of transcripts) OR Combination of experience and education: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the position; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the position; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position. To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-F or GS-9 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience with flight scheduling systems in order to effectively plan and schedule personnel for worldwide travel and office automation systems, programs and processes, computer applications, and database management programs including but not limited to Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Apply customer service skills to internal and external stakeholders to maintain mission staffing and resource requirements through changes in priorities or availability. Ability to select and interpret appropriate guidance, conduct fact-finding, and evaluate circumstances in order to take necessary action to maintain operational priorities even with short notice or complicating factors.

OR Education: Completion of a Ph.D. in a related field or equivalent doctoral degree; OR Education: Three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR Education: LL.M., if related OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for this position, and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the band level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the band level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-G or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience is defined as: Mission Scheduling Notification System (MSNS) applications to instruct others in the use of the systems, make recommendations for process and procedure, or develop requirements for development and modernization of information technology systems. Apply customer service skills to internal and external stakeholders to maintain mission staffing and resource requirements through changes in priorities or availability.

Select and interpret appropriate guidance, conduct fact-finding, and evaluate circumstances in order to take necessary action to maintain operational priorities even with short notice or complicating factors. Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.

e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri. Corps) 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.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses from an accredited college or university, which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume.

The information must be provided with the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree.

Description copied from Transportation Security Administration's careers page. Read the full posting before you apply.

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