PROGRAM SPECIALIST III-DOE - 48003461

Requisition No: 841857 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: PROGRAM SPECIALIST III-DOE - 48003461

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 48003461 

Salary:  46,713.09 

Posting Closing Date: 11/26/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

DIVISION OF Finance & Operations

Office of Funding and Financial Reporting

LOCATION: TALLAHASSEE

Program Specialist III

Position Number: 48003461

Salary Range: $39,320.81 - $91,750.32

 DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This is a professional administrative position within the Office of Student Financial Assistance. This position is responsible for a unit assigned to administer specific student assistance programs.  In addition, this position is responsible for maintaining contact with institutions and students pertaining to complex issues on financial aid awards. This position is also responsible for assisting with responsibilities assigned to the section’s Technical Assistance Unit.
• The employee must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions.
• The employee must interact courteously with others.
• The employee's performance and behavior must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit.
• Attendance is an essential function of this position.

DUTIES:

• Establish and maintain a computerized database to manage data on applicants for financial assistance programs funded by state and federal sources including scholarships, grants, tuition reimbursement, and loan forgiveness programs.
• Assist supervisor with the development and amendment of program(s) policy and procedural manuals. 
• Evaluate applicant data and information to determine eligibility, make awards, and ensure timely and accurate disbursement of funds to all eligible award recipients.  Process may also include the evaluation of academic transcripts.  Direct and coordinate processing of documents pertaining to specific state administered financial aid programs including award letters, rejection letters, refunds, and verification forms to ensure the meeting of program requirements.
• Develop and maintain statistical and demographic reports on program applicants and recipients to provide a current snapshot of the program at any given period.
• Evaluate and recommend system improvements, such as revised forms, procedures, and type of information collected, for greater program efficiency.
• Provide technical assistance and communicate verbally and in writing on program requirements to applicants, parents, institutions, and other interested parties on complex financial aid issues including policy interpretation, appeal consideration, and judgments on eligible programs of study, interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations, and explanation of office procedures.  This requires a full knowledge of state and federal program statute, rules and policies.
• Assist with the development of informational and technical documents and program applications.  Assist with the development and response to surveys, collection, and analysis of student financial assistance data, and with the forecasting of participation and budgetary requirements.
• Evaluate program policies and operating procedures, and draft recommendations for improvements.  Prepare, review, and evaluate program data and reports. 
• Assist in the development of rules and legislation for student financial assistance programs.  Analyze and recommend to supervisor changes that may be needed in program rules or statutory authority and draft proposed language or review proposals made by others.
• Monitor disbursements to ensure that awards do not exceed budget authority and assist supervisor in preparation of budget requests.  Provide technical assistance to institutions on the delivery of funds, award revisions, applicant eligibility, and interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of Microsoft Office software, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

Specific Required Qualification

Strong Excel skills

BENEFITS INFORMATION

Benefits information can be found on the following websites: http://www.myflorida.com/MyBenefits  

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

All applicants for employment or to volunteer who are selected for an interview will be provided with the Consent to Background Screening form for level 2 screening, the Affidavit of Good Moral Character, and the Notice of Rights. The leading candidate for employment or to volunteer will be required to execute the Consent form and Affidavit, report to a designated location, and submit fingerprints for level 2 screening.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department.

Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications.

Selective Services System (SSS)

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962 will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.