Repayment Specialist

Repayment Specialist

Duty Location: Willows, California

Open & closing dates

07/16/2024 to 07/30/2024

Salary

$49,025 - $113,047 per year

GS-07 pay range - $49,025 - $63,733

GS-09 pay range $59,966 - $77,955

GS-11 pay range $72,553 - $94,317

GS-12 pay range $86,962 - $113,047

Pay scale & grade

GS 7 - 12

Duties

Serves as a liaison to the Regional Office, other governmental agencies, water districts, and the public regarding all Water Service and Repayment contract administration activities under the jurisdiction of the Northern California Area Office (NCAO). Major duties include the negotiation and administration of contracts for water service, distribution systems, project repayment, and conveyance, and analyzing and processing water transfer requests.

-Receives requests for water from present and potential water users; identifies the location of the requestor and the relationship to water delivery facilities.
-Consults with California Great Basin (CGB) Regional Office or Central Valley Operations Office (CVOO), as necessary to determine whether there is sufficient water to meet the request.
-Determines whether requestor's land is within or outside an existing water district or the Central Valley Project (CVP) Place of Use, considers how water is to be used and the applicable water marketing practices and procedures.
-Enters negotiations for interim renewal, long-term and temporary contracts, contract assignments, conveyance contracts, and water transfers; and proceeds in accordance with any limitations imposed by higher management levels.
-Requests and coordinates technical and factual studies and reports needed for contract negotiations and arranges for location of negotiations, facilities, press releases, and agenda.
-Recommends Reclamation's bargaining position for the negotiation and provides preliminary information to the proposed contractor concerning Reclamation law, available water supplies, and rates.
-In connection with approved contracts, carries out the full range of contract administration functions to assure compliance with contractual provisions and settlement of problems consequent to water service.
-Serves a point of Reclamation contact for water users' organizations in assigned area(s) concerning contract commitments, amount and terms of payment, and principal variations of the quantity and timing of annual water deliveries.
-Formulates and prepares policy positions for presentation to the Supervisory Repayment Specialist regarding the full scope of Reclamation activities as they impact the repayment function.
-Works closely with the Regional Solicitor's Office on legal matters pertaining to the preparation, negotiation and administration of water service and repayment contracts, water users' problems and litigation, and other matters related to the Reclamation contracting program for which incumbent is responsible.
-Assures that special operation and maintenance agreements and agreements transferring facilities to water users do not adversely impact project repayment.
-Re-analyzes the existing water service program in assigned area(s) in terms of changes of conditions and revised program concepts and carries out studies of water use and contract provisions to recommend changes in contract arrangements, regional practices as related to the area, and basic program policy.

RequirementsConditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
You will be required to complete a Financial Disclosure Form.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-07, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-05 level in federal service having demonstrated experience service which includes: evaluation techniques to perform repayment analyses to develop recommendations on repayment capacity; Familiarity with negotiation techniques and skill in devising negotiation strategies to work with existing and proposed contractors in the development of contract terms and conditions, modifications, amendments, and supplemental agreements in connection with both short-term and certain long-term agreements; applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the effectiveness of water management plans and activities and to identify, consider and resolve work processes and administrative operations of the program.

OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:
(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR
(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your 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) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR
(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).

The superior academic achievement provision is to be used to determine eligibility for applicable GS-07 level positions of persons who have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a qualifying grade point average (GPA), class standing, or honors society. For more information, visit OPM.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

To qualify at the GS-09, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-07 level in federal service having demonstrated experience service which includes: provides technical assistance to local water users in preparing and implementing best management practices and provides a service of educating the community on how individuals can actively participate in resource conservation; approved contracts, carries out the full range of contract administration functions to assure compliance with contractual provisions and settlement of problems.

OR

Education: 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. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 level in federal service having demonstrated experience service which includes: planning for the development of new, renewal, amendatory, supplementary or other water related contracts and administering water-related contracts within the delegated authority of the Regional Director; collaborating with other divisions, area offices, regions, and requesting water districts continually through the process to culmination of the final product; participating in water contract compliance reviews to ensure compliance with contract provisions; participating on Reclamation teams to develop policy or interpretation of laws or rules.

OR

Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

To qualify at the GS-12, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in federal service having demonstrated experience service which includes: the formation, administration or negotiation of water services contracts, project repayment or similar contracts; drafting and preparing contracts and using negotiation strategies to deal with proposed and current contracts; monitoring contract compliance with terms and conditions; development of technical reports and legal research for water service, distribution systems, and project repayment; experience in the development of requirements related to water contracting actions.

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.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 07/30/2024.

Education

This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-07/09 and 11 grade level(s). Applicants must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.