Program Examiner (Agriculture and Interior)

US-Office-of-Management-and-Budget; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 60,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is seeking Program Examiners to oversee federal agriculture, conservation, public lands, or tribal portfolios and align agency operations with Presidential priorities. You will handle executive oversight, budget formulation, and policy evaluation across portfolios.

Responsibilities include gathering program information, preparing analytical products, and communicating with internal and external stakeholders to support senior decision-makers.

Qualifications

• Masters or equivalent graduate degree required for GS-9, or related graduate education.
• Combination of education and experience acceptable to meet total requirements.
• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree acceptable for GS-11.
• Graduate education must demonstrate competencies to do the work.

Responsibilities

• Gather information concerning programs, budgets, or organizational operations.
• Assist in preparing written reports, memoranda, briefings, presentations, or other analytical products.
• Analyze information and identify trends and discrepancies.
• Collaborate in developing written analytical products for review by senior staff.
• Communicate with stakeholders to obtain or provide information on program matters.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Budget formulation

Policy evaluation

Written reports

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree

Graduate education (2 years) leading to degree

LL.B. or J.D. (related)

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

LL.M. (related)

Job description

This position is located in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Incumbents will serve as a Program Examiner in the Agriculture or Interior branch overseeing federal agriculture, conservation, public lands, or tribal portfolios to align agency operations with Presidential priorities. Incumbents will be responsible for executive oversight, budget formulation, and policy evaluation across agriculture, natural resources, tribal affairs, and public land management portfolios.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

All applicants must meet the qualification requirements outlined below to be considered minimally qualified for this position. The qualification requirements are in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standards.

ALL QUALIFICATIONS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the next lower grade or comparable pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

To qualify at the GS-09 grade level you must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector performing the following duties:

• Gathering and researching information concerning programs, budgets, or organizational operations;
• Assisting in preparing written reports, memoranda, briefings, presentations, or other analytical products.

OR

A master's or equivalent graduate degree, 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

OR

A combination of experience and education. (Combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements as specified above. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9.)

To qualify at the GS-11 grade level you must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector performing the following duties:

• Analyzing information concerning programs, budgets, or organizational operations and identifying trends and discrepancies;
• Collaborating in the development of written analytical products that present findings, options, or recommendations for review by senior staff or management;
• Communicating with internal or external stakeholders to obtain, clarify, or provide information concerning program or organizational matters.

OR

B. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.M. degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

C. A combination of education and experience as listed above.

To qualify at the GS-12 grade level you must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector performing the following duties:

• Applying established analytical methods to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, funding, or operation of programs;
• Reviewing budget requests, program performance, or policy proposals;
• Preparing analytical products that synthesize program, financial, or policy details for management decision-making.

To qualify at the GS-13 grade level you must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector performing the following duties:

• Evaluating program performance, funding proposals, resource requirements, or policy alternatives and proposing recommendations;
• Leading the review of budget requests, program performance, or policy proposals and proposing findings or recommendations;
• Synthesizing financial, or policy information into decision documents, briefings, or policy position papers;
• Working with organizational officials or stakeholders to obtain information regarding program, budget, policy, or management issues.

To qualify at the GS-14 grade level you must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector performing the following duties:

• Conducting analyses of Federal programs or similar operations including budgets, regulations, or policy issues;
• Formulating recommendations involving funding, resource allocation, program performance, or policy positions;
• Developing analytical information for senior officials to make program, budget, policy, or management decisions;
• Providing recommendations to senior officials concerning funding or policy priorities;
• Participating in meetings or negotiations to resolve policy issues.

To qualify at the GS-15 grade level you must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector performing the following duties:

• Leading analyses of Federal programs, budgets, policies, or management issues with organizational or government-wide implications;
• Overseeing budgets, financial plans, resource allocations, or program funding proposals;
• Developing recommendations and decision products addressing sensitive, interagency budget, or policy issues for senior decision makers;
• Engaging, advising, or negotiating with senior officials to resolve competing priorities, defend organizational positions, or secure decisions concerning major program, budget, or policy initiatives;
• Coordinating interagency, cross-organizational, or multidisciplinary efforts to resolve issues and advance strategic or national policy objectives.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service program (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.