Vacancy Announcement Number

2801

Position

Assistant Indemnity Administrator, GS-0301-09/11
Dance, Design, Media, Museums, Visual Arts Division
Office of the Deputy Chairman for Grants and Awards

Salary Range

GS-09: $48,108 - $62,546 per annum
GS-11: $58,206 - $75,669 per annum

Salaries include locality.

Employees who are new to the Federal government are typically hired at the first step of the grade for which they are selected.

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL OF POSITION IS GS-12

Duty Location

WASHINGTON, DC
RELOCATION COSTS WILL NOT BE PAID

Opening Date

April 16, 2008

Closing Date

April 30, 2008

Who May Apply

This is a competitive delegated examining announcement open to all qualified U.S. Citizens. Current and former Federal employees can also receive consideration under the agency's Merit Promotion Plan by submitting a separate application to Vacancy Announcement #8003.

PLEASE NOTE – Current career and/or career-conditional Federal employees who are selected from a civil service register must serve a new, one-year probationary period.

Agency Summary

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), an independent Federal agency and the official arts organization of the United States government, supports excellence in the arts, both new and established; brings the arts to all Americans; and provides leadership in arts education. We are motivated by the vision of a nation in which artistic excellence is celebrated, supported, and available to all Americans. If you share our vision, and are excited by the possibility of making a difference in the cultural life of the Nation, please consider joining us. You will feel good about what you're doing, and you'll have access to excellent benefits and policies that allow you to balance the demands of work and personal life.

Visit our website at www.arts.gov for more information about the NEA.

Duties

The incumbent reports to the Director of Museums and Visual Arts and serves as the Assistant Indemnity Administrator with responsibility for assisting the Indemnity Administrator with activities relative to organizing, directing and implementing the Indemnity Program. The incumbent receives day-to-day technical guidance from the Indemnity Administrator. Duties of the position include:

Assists in implementing all operations of the Indemnity Program.

Receives, logs in and reviews applications, prepares panel books, distributes applications and related materials to panel members, writes panel recommendations and prepares minutes after the meeting, notifies members of the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities and their representatives of pending Council meetings.

Prepares briefing papers and support materials concerning indemnity applications for the panel and Council.

Makes preparations for panel meetings with the Indemnity Administrator and the panel chairman in addition to making preparations for all Federal Council meetings.

Monitors Indemnity Certificates utilizing a computer spreadsheet program in order to keep outstanding commitments within the total authorized ceiling levels.

Monitors claims for loss or damage to indemnified items, including determining the exact nature and cause of the loss, the appraised value of items after loss, and any evidence of litigation to determine blame or negligence.

Assists with the preparation of Indemnity Program Guidelines and the Annual Reports to Congress, as required by law.

Researches and develops statistical data, reports, surveys, profiles and other Program related materials.

As requested, incumbent may represent the agency in meetings regarding the Program, including national and international conferences.

As requested, incumbent may be asked to provide assistance with other Division work particularly as it relates to the application and grant processes.

Team participation is vital to effectively/efficiently accomplish assignments.

Selective Factor

Applicant must meet the mandatory requirements described below in order to be considered for this position:

Knowledge of museum operations including familiarity with the physical plant, security and climate controls systems; fire protection equipment and lighting fixtures; as well as policies and practices related to insurance.

Basic Qualifications

At least one full year of specialized experience must have been performed in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled. To further qualify for this position, you must meet the basic minimum qualifications requirements of at least one year of specialized experience in a position that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

For GS-11 - The experience would have been gained through working in a museum or related environment; researching and developing data; preparing spreadsheets; monitoring documents for accuracy; preparing information for use in presentations and other activities and events.

For GS-9 candidates - experience is similar to the GS-11; however, work assignments are monitored by a higher-level official.

Substitution of education for experience will be made as follows, provided area of study is related to the position to be filled:

GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree

or

2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree

or

LL.B. or J.D.

GS-11: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree

or

LL.M.

A combination of education and experience can be used to qualify for the position.

Evaluation Process

Eligible candidates will be rated under the Category Rating and Selection Procedures authorized as one of the Government-wide human resources flexibilities contained in the Homeland Security Act of 2002. If you are determined to be basically qualified for this job, a screening panel will further evaluate the quality of your accomplishments and experience. Your application will then be placed in one of the following categories described below.

Catgories

Eligible candidates will be evaluated against the following criteria and placed in one of two categories listed below by a screening panel:

GS-9

BEST QUALIFIED – Candidates considered to be Best Qualified would posses the following capabilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the Indemnity Program operations, practices and principles and of the insurance industry for handling exhibitions.
• Experience producing complex documents such as statistical reports, spreadsheets, correspondence, narrative text, columns and tables using Excel, Microsoft Word or other database packages.
• Work or educational experience involving fact-finding and analysis.
• Experience composing narrative material involving research or analysis of information/data that convey policy and procedures.
• Experience participating in public or in-house meetings, giving presentations or briefings on findings.

QUALIFIED – Candidates considered to be Qualified would possess the following capabilities:

• Awareness of the Indemnity Program operations, practices and principles and of the insurance industry for handling exhibitions.
• Experience using software to produce letters, memorandums, and routine reports.
• Experience analyzing data to determine accuracy and completeness of information.
• Experience providing telephone responses to persons or officials of organizations seeking information, and responding to such inquiries.
• Experience preparing narrative material for reports, memoranda and correspondence.

GS-11

BEST QUALIFIED – Candidates considered to be Best Qualified would posses the following capabilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the indemnification principles and practices of the insurance industry for handling exhibitions (including methods of packing, shipping, freight forwarding, customs brokering and the names of reputable companies in the U.S. and worldwide who provide such services).
• Demonstrated knowledge of Indemnity Program operations, practices and principles.
• Experience producing complex documents such as statistical reports, spreadsheets, correspondence, narrative text, columns and tables using Excel, Microsoft Word or other database packages.
• Substantial work or educational experience involving fact-finding, analysis, and presentation of findings or results which actually resolved identified problems.
• Experience composing narrative material involving research or analysis of information/data, funding proposals and other information used as a basis for decision-making.
• Experience participating in public meetings and conferences delivering policy related lectures or conducting workshops or giving presentations or briefings.

QUALIFIED – Candidates considered to be Qualified would possess the following capabilities:

• Awareness of the indemnification principles and practices of the insurance industry for handling exhibitions (including methods of packing, shipping, freight forwarding, customs brokering and the names of reputable companies in the U.S. and worldwide who provide such services).
• Awareness of the Indemnity Program operations, practices and principles.
• Experience using software to produce letters, memorandums, and routine reports.
• Experience analyzing data to determine accuracy and completeness of information.
• Some experience through work assignments requiring oral presentation on research and evaluation findings. Experience includes such work as telephone responses to persons or agency officials seeking information and responding to management inquires or public inquiries.
• Ability to prepare narrative material for reports, memoranda and correspondence that convey policy and procedures.

To successfully compete for this position, please ensure your resume shows evidence of the experience required as identified in the above listed categories.

How to Apply

1. Your application package should include:

1. Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612), or a resume, or any other written application format of your choice.

2. Include in Your application

Personal information

• Full Name, mailing address and day and evening phone numbers
• Social Security Number
• Citizenship (provide country of citizenship - most Federal positions require United States Citizenship.
• Veterans' Preference.
• Reinstatement eligibility (if you request, you must attach an SF-50 to show proof of your career or career- conditional appointment)
• Highest Federal Civilian grade held (also give title, job series and dates held).

Education

• High School - name, city and state, zip code and date diploma or GED received.
• College(s) – for each college you have attended, give the following information: name of school, location (city, state, and zip code), credit hours earned (semester or quarter), and type and year of degree(s), if any. Please include a transcript of your college education with your application.

Job information

• Please indicate announcement number, title and grade(s) of the job you are applying for.

Work experience

Provide the following information about your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job you are applying for:

• Job title (include series and grade, if Federal job)
• Duties and accomplishments
• Employer's name and address
• Supervisor's name and phone number
• Starting and ending dates (month and year)
• Hours work per week
• Salary
• Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor

Other qualifications:

• Job-related training courses (title and year).
• Job-related skills; for example - other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.
• Job-related certificates and licenses
• Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments: for example - publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking and performance awards (give dates but do not send documents).

The applicant selected for the position must complete a background investigation before final appointment to the Federal service.

FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION REQUESTED ABOVE MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR APPLICATION.

Where to send your application

Submit application citing vacancy announcement #2801 via one of the following means:

Mail, Commercial Delivery, or Hand Delivery to:
National Endowment for the Arts
Office of Human Resources
Attn: Phyllis Littles
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 627
Washington, DC 20506.

E-Mail to:
2801@arts.endow.gov
All electronic applications must be submitted using Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, or PDF format.

FAX to:
(202) 682-5708

The National Endowment for the Arts has experienced disruption of normal mail delivery through the US Postal Service since October of 2001. Therefore, to ensure timely receipt of your application, we recommend you use e-mail, fax, a commercial delivery service, or hand delivery.

All applications must be received by close of business (5:30pm) on April 30, 2008 Applications will not be returned.

You may also obtain a copy of this vacancy announcement by accessing the Agency's website at www.arts.gov. If you have specific questions regarding this announcement, please call 202-682-5405.

Veterans Preference

Category rating and selection procedures do not add veterans' preference points or apply the “rule of three,” but they do protect the rights of preference eligibles by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each rating category.

Applicants who claim veterans' preference must submit a
DD Form 214, Report of Separation from the Armed Services. Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent or more must complete a form SF-15 and provide other supporting documents.

Forms and information on the Veterans' Preference Act may be obtained at the Federal Job Information Center, Office of Personnel Management or at www.opm.gov.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service and will be required to complete a Certification of Registration confirming their selective service status.

Information for Current or former Federal employees

If you are a displaced Federal employee, you may be entitled to receive special priority under the Interagency Career Transition Assistant Plan (ICTAP). To receive priority consideration, please submit a copy of the appropriate documentation indicating your priority status (i.e., Reduction-in-Force notice, a letter from OPM or your agency) with your application. Displaced employee means:

1. A current or former career or career-conditional competitive service employee, in Tenure group I or II who has:

• Received a specific RIF separation notice;
• Been separated because of a compensable injury, whose compensation has been terminated and whose former agency is unable to place the individual;
• Retired with a disability and whose disability annuity has been or is being terminated;
• Received a RIF separation notice and retired on the effective date of the reduction-in-force or under the discontinued service retirement option; and/or
• Separated because he/she has declined a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area.

OR

2. A former Military Reserve Technician or National Guard Technician who is receiving a special retirement annuity from OPM under Section 8337(h) or 8456 of Title 5, United States Code.

If you meet one of the above criteria, you are a displaced employee and may be eligible for special selection priority.

3. An individual must also meet all of the following conditions:
• Have a current performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent; apply for vacancy at or below the grade level from which the employee has been or is being separated that does not have a greater promotion potential than the position from which the employee has been or is being separated;
• Occupy or was displaced from a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
• File an application for a specific vacancy by the closing date established by the agency;

AND

Be determined by the agency to be well qualified for the specific position (a well qualified applicant is one who satisfies all quality ranking factors at a fully successful level, meets all selective factors, and meets the qualification standards and eligibility requirements for the position).

Reasonable Accommodation

This agency provides reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Office of Human Resources, National Endowment for the Arts, on 202- 682-5564 (TDD). The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by case basis.