PROGRAM SPECIALIST III-DOE - SES - 48001840

Requisition No: 872431 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: PROGRAM SPECIALIST III-DOE - SES - 48001840

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 48001840 

Salary:  45,060.11 

Posting Closing Date: 03/23/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)

Location: Tallahassee Turlington Building

Program Specialist III-DOE-SES

Salary Range: $45,060.11

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY
This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:

• Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
• Any position held by a Florida University
• All periods of employment from high school graduation
• All periods of current or prior unemployment
• Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
• Any Education
• Any Volunteer Experience
• Your resume and application must match

• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. 

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

OFFICE CONTACT:

Kim Hale, 850-410-5180

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This is specialized work supporting an Educational Policy Analyst – DOE - SES and the State programs staff of the Office of Student Financial Assistance in the Administration of the state funded financial aid programs.

This position performs duties under the supervision of the Educational Policy Analyst-DOE-SES in the State Scholarships, Loans & Grants Section of the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The section administers financial assistance programs funded by state and federal sources including scholarships & grants and provides technical assistance to students, parents, high school and district personnel, and college financial aid officers.

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 performance and behavior of all employees 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 & RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

• Monitor and provide technical assistance to district staff and postsecondary institutions regarding the initial application process, renewal, and reconciliation of state financial aid through means of, but not limited to, procedural tracking, memorandum maintenance, written and verbal correspondence, etc.
• Establishes and maintains 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.
• 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 reports, for greater program efficiency.
• Assist in the development of rules and legislation and 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 with the correction of student level SSN issues, including duplications, merges, and deletions.
• Responsible for report preparation for State Programs as needed by management.
• Assist supervisor in management of all programs in the unit and act as a resource person for the unit in the supervisor’s absence.
• Perform other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to analyze data.
• Knowledge of student financial aid programs
• Knowledge of the techniques for planning, implementing or evaluating educational programs or conducting research.
• Knowledge of mainframe database systems
• Knowledge of micro computers
• Knowledge of word processing, data base, presentation and spreadsheet software
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments per required calendar events.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Four (4) years of professional experience in business operations, financial accounting, program management.
• Experience in creating and conducting training courses.
• Experience with public speaking.
• Ability to provide work samples of writing skills for grammar, editing and communication review upon request.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preferences will be given to:

• Applicants who meet both the professional and educational experience.
• Applicants who complete application information and hire requirements listed in the advertisement accurately and to completion.

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTIONS:

SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements.

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or University in education and/or business/program management can substitute for 4 years of direct experience.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUATION MISSION STATEMENT:

Every day the Department of Education works hand in hand with parents, teachers, educators, and community members to improve Florida's education system for students of all backgrounds and abilities. Our site reflects this cooperative relationship and the role that so many Floridians play in ensuring student success.

The FDOE’s mission for Florida’s Early Learning-20 education system is to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities.

Serving approximately 3 million students, 4,400 public schools, 28 colleges, 200,000 instructional staff, 46,000 college professors and administrators, and 340,000 full-time staff throughout the state, FDOE enhances programs and services for Florida’s students from early learning through college and career development. In addition, FDOE manages programs that assist individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or disabled succeed either in school settings or careers - encouraging independence and self-sufficiency.

FDOE’s goal is to hire individuals to provide:

1. Higher Student Achievement
2. Seamless Articulation and Maximum Access
3. Skilled Workforce and Economic Development
4. Quality Services

Florida Department of Education

https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

LEAVE INFORMATION: SMS/SES

• Annual Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.

• • Sick Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions shall be credited with 104 hours of sick leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of initial appointment.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted 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, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

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 Selective Service website.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287

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.