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Grade: 05

1 GS-5 Choose the answer that best describes your education and/or experience as they relate to the qualification requirements for this position. Answer to this question is required
  • I have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service. Examples of this experience may include: identifying problems, gathering data, and recommending solutions; planning and organizing work; and communicating orally and in writing.
  • I successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university.
  • I posses a combination of post high school education and work experience that in combination meet the requirements for this position.
  • I do not meet any of the requirements as described.
2 Participates on teams contributing appropriate skills and knowledge to achieve organizational outcomes. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not had the opportunity to work in a team environment.
  • I have participated on small teams (e.g., within a business unit or related to a specific academic course) to contribute my skills and knowledge.
  • I have led internal organizational teams (e.g., within a business unit or related to a specific academic course) where I contributed my skills and knowledge and assured active participation by all team members.
  • I have participated on cross-organizational/cross-discipline teams to contribute my skills and knowledge.
3 Assists customers by understanding their issues, needs, concerns, priorities, and by offering solutions. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this job function.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues in situations where the resolution was clear and easily implemented.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues by referring the customer to the individual who could best provide the needed assistance.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues by coordinating with appropriate parties and following through to ensure that the customer obtained the needed information or resolution.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and complaints where the issues were not easily identifiable and could not be easily fixed. I was required to analyze the problem, develop new options, and implement an effective solution.
4 Recommends procedural solutions to systemic administrative problems or issues. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this job function in my administrative work assignments.
  • I have carried out related job functions in my administrative work assignments.
  • On more than one occasion, I have recommended procedural solutions to systemic administrative problems or issues.
  • I have recommended and successfully implemented solutions to resolve systemic administrative problems or issues.
  • The procedural solutions I recommended and implemented permanently resolved the systemic administrative problem or issue.
5 Evaluates program effectiveness using analytical methods to report findings to management. Answer to this question is required
  • I have measured a program's progress toward meeting goals by monitoring metrics or milestones.
  • I have been responsible for quality assurance, quality control, or process compliance related to program operations.
  • I have gathered and evaluated customer service satisfaction information to understand program effectiveness.
  • I have used other analytical methods not listed here to evaluate program effectiveness.
  • I have used analytical methods such as determining trends and projections, measuring progress, or evaluating financial performance, but not for the purpose of evaluating program effectiveness.
  • I have not evaluated program effectiveness using analytical methods.
6 Are you knowledgeable in the area of grants management business process documentation and business process re-engineering? Answer to this question is required
  • Yes
  • No

Grade: 07

1 GS-7 Choose the answer that best describes your education or experience. Answer to this question is required
  • I have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: collecting data and evaluating information, reviewing budget data to monitor expenditures, and assisting with database queries.
  • I possess at least one full year of graduate level education.
  • Superior Academic Achievement - I meet 1 of the following: In the upper one-third of my graduating class; OR a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on my official transcript, or based on courses completed during my final 2 years.
  • I possess a combination of post high school education and experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.
  • I do not possess the experience described above.
[NA] Superior academic achievement is based on any one of the following: 1. Class standing: applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision (e.g., School of Business Administration), based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average (GPA): applicants must have either A. Grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on their official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or B. GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. 3. Class standing: applicants must be elected to membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies.
2 Do you have experience working with a grant proposal process? Answer to this question is required
  • Yes
  • No
3 Participates on teams contributing appropriate skills and knowledge to achieve organizational outcomes. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not had the opportunity to work in a team environment.
  • I have participated on small teams (e.g., within a business unit or related to a specific academic course) to contribute my skills and knowledge.
  • I have led internal organizational teams (e.g., within a business unit or related to a specific academic course) where I contributed my skills and knowledge and assured active participation by all team members.
  • I have participated on cross-organizational/cross-discipline teams to contribute my skills and knowledge.
4 Assists customers by understanding their issues, needs, concerns, priorities, and by offering solutions. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this job function.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues in situations where the resolution was clear and easily implemented.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues by referring the customer to the individual who could best provide the needed assistance.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues by coordinating with appropriate parties and following through to ensure that the customer obtained the needed information or resolution.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and complaints where the issues were not easily identifiable and could not be easily fixed. I was required to analyze the problem, develop new options, and implement an effective solution.
5 Recommends procedural solutions to systemic administrative problems or issues. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this job function in my administrative work assignments.
  • I have carried out related job functions in my administrative work assignments.
  • On more than one occasion, I have recommended procedural solutions to systemic administrative problems or issues.
  • I have recommended and successfully implemented solutions to resolve systemic administrative problems or issues.
  • The procedural solutions I recommended and implemented permanently resolved the systemic administrative problem or issue.
6 Evaluates program effectiveness using analytical methods to report findings to management. Answer to this question is required
  • I have measured a program's progress toward meeting goals by monitoring metrics or milestones.
  • I have been responsible for quality assurance, quality control, or process compliance related to program operations.
  • I have gathered and evaluated customer service satisfaction information to understand program effectiveness.
  • I have used other analytical methods not listed here to evaluate program effectiveness.
  • I have used analytical methods such as determining trends and projections, measuring progress, or evaluating financial performance, but not for the purpose of evaluating program effectiveness.
  • I have not evaluated program effectiveness using analytical methods.
7 Identify the position(s) in your resume in which you performed the above activity/activities; and/or gained the relevant experience. Maximum length of 250 characters. Answer to this question is required
8 Choose the answer(s) that best describes your skills preparing written communications to internal or external audiences regarding program or business activities. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this job function.
  • I have used existing templates or form letters/emails to respond to internal and external inquiries.
  • I have independently developed short memoranda or letters responding to internal or external customer inquiries.
  • I have developed standard operating procedures on business or program processes for office staff to use.
  • I have prepared instructional or informational materials directed to external customers.
  • I have developed business reports or academic papers on topics that were subject to external (customer, professor, etc.) review and use.
9 Analyzes data using qualitative or quantitative methods to assess program or organizational activities. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this or similar job functions.
  • I have not performed this specific job function but have performed very similar job functions.
  • I have performed this specific job function and have produced results.

Grade: 09

GS-9 The following narrative defines experience you may have that is directly-related to this job. To meet the one year requirement of directly-related experience, the following work examples or highly similar work experience would be regular and recurring components of your job function(s) that occupy a significant portion of your time. The following are work examples of directly related experience that show you meet the qualifications of the job: engaging in ongoing analysis of business processes to continually identify and recommend solutions to problems; developing and presenting factual evidence both in writing and before an audience to support enhancements in the methods of performing work; reviewing data for trends related to business processes, interpreting those trends, and determining causes and possible courses of action
1 GS-9 Choose the answer that best describes your experience. Answer to this question is required
  • I have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service as described above.
  • I possess a master`s or equivalent graduate degree.
  • I possess 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.
  • I possess a combination of post high school education and experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.
  • I do not possess the experience described above.
2 Evaluate program effectiveness using analytical methods to report findings to management. Answer to this question is required
  • I have generated trends that demonstrate program effectiveness over a set period of time.
  • I have compiled outcomes or measures as related to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) that demonstrated program effectiveness.
  • I have measured a program's progress toward meeting goals by monitoring metrics or milestones.
  • I have been responsible for quality assurance, quality control, or process compliance related to program operations.
  • I have generated projections of future program performance.
  • I have used activity based costing to evaluate the financial performance or effectiveness of program operations.
  • I have gathered and evaluated customer service satisfaction information to understand program effectiveness.
  • I have conducted benchmarking of other Government agencies or private industry to gauge the relative effectiveness of program operations.
  • I have evaluated cost containment or cost reduction measures to monitor program effectiveness.
  • I have used other analytical methods not listed here to evaluate program effectiveness.
  • I have used analytical methods such as determining trends and projections, measuring progress, or evaluating financial performance, but not for the purpose of evaluating program effectiveness.
  • I have not evaluated program effectiveness using analytical methods.
3 Identify the position(s) in your resume in which you performed the above activity/activities; and/or gained the relevant experience. Maximum length of 250 characters. Answer to this question is required
4 Do you have experience working with a grant proposal process? Answer to this question is required
  • Yes
  • No
5 Produce written documents explaining detailed procedural information to gain support for program initiatives. Answer to this question is required
  • I have prepared press releases or publications describing program activities to distribute to the general public.
  • I have prepared reports explaining detailed procedural information about program initiatives.
  • I have developed documents that described detailed procedures involved in a process, such as a grant proposal process.
  • I have prepared documents that explain the purpose of a program initiative.
  • I have written letters or memos to gain support for program initiatives.
  • I have produced documents that provide non-technical information to the general public.
  • I have summarized program accomplishments as related to strategic or performance goals.
  • I have provided information to other specialists for their use in preparation of responses and reports on program initiatives.
  • I have prepared memos or letters in response to a variety of non-scientific issues.
  • I have prepared narrative responses or reports to present analysis or evaluations of program data.
  • I have not produced written documents explaining detailed procedural information.
6 Communicate orally to coordinate complex processes. Answer to this question is required
  • I maintained liaison with other program offices or other agencies when coordinating a complex process.
  • I have exchanged factual information with other individuals.
  • I have explained complex processes to customers.
  • I have influenced managers or others to accept and implement findings and recommendations on organizational improvements or program effectiveness.
  • I have presented program initiatives or complex processes to individuals outside of the organization such as at a workshop or conference.
  • I have presented program initiatives or complex processes within the organization such as at a meeting.
  • I have not communicated orally to coordinate complex processes.
7 Participates on teams contributing appropriate skills and knowledge to achieve organizational outcomes. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not had the opportunity to work in a team environment.
  • I have participated on small teams (e.g., within a business unit or related to a specific academic course) to contribute my skills and knowledge.
  • I have led internal organizational teams (e.g., within a business unit or related to a specific academic course) where I contributed my skills and knowledge and assured active participation by all team members.
  • I have participated on cross-organizational/cross-discipline teams to contribute my skills and knowledge.
8 Recommends procedural solutions to systemic administrative problems or issues. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this job function in my administrative work assignments.
  • I have carried out related job functions in my administrative work assignments.
  • On more than one occasion, I have recommended procedural solutions to systemic administrative problems or issues.
  • I have recommended and successfully implemented solutions to resolve systemic administrative problems or issues.
  • The procedural solutions I recommended and implemented permanently resolved the systemic administrative problem or issue.
9 Assists customers by understanding their issues, needs, concerns, priorities, and by offering solutions. Answer to this question is required
  • I have not performed this job function.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues in situations where the resolution was clear and easily implemented.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues by referring the customer to the individual who could best provide the needed assistance.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and issues by coordinating with appropriate parties and following through to ensure that the customer obtained the needed information or resolution.
  • I have resolved customer concerns and complaints where the issues were not easily identifiable and could not be easily fixed. I was required to analyze the problem, develop new options, and implement an effective solution.

Grade: All Grades

1 Are you a current Pathways student at NSF? Answer to this question is required
  • Yes
  • No
2 Eligible students must have at least a 2.5 overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Do you have at least a 2.5 overall GPA? Answer to this question is required
  • Yes
  • No
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