Summary This position is with the Small Business Administration, Office of Field Operations - Region IX in Citrus Heights, California. The Business Opportunity Specialist is responsible for the full scope of the agency's government contracting and business development programs, as well as developing and conducting outreach and training to strengthen and improve business opportunities for eligible small businesses. Responsibilities The Business Opportunity Specialist coaches and guides a portfolio of 8(a) firms in the development and maintenance of business plans. Maintains regular performance monitoring and reporting techniques to assure compliance with the firm's participation in the 8(a) Business Development program. Develops and administers the portfolio by providing support to address the firm's gaps in areas such as contract sourcing, business capture and marketing assistance, financial consultation and providing guidance regarding business growth and development. Duties include, but are not limited to: - Marketing the 8(a) program to create awareness of the program and its benefits to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs; - Providing training to federal contracting officers, Procurement Center Representatives (PCR), Commercial Market Representatives (CMR), small business officers and other federal contracting officers, decision makers and influencers; - Promoting SBA programs and services through outreach and marketing; - Recruitment, training, education and development of small businesses interested in working with the government (federal, state and local level); - Small business consultation and working with SBA PCRs/CMRs to identify the needs of government organizations (federal, state and local level); OSDBU/OSBP (DOD) and primes/sub contractors to assist them with meeting their small business goals; - Linking and matching the needs of organizations (government organizations and prime/sub contractors) to the capabilities of small businesses through business matchmaking and other outreach and marketing initiatives; -Education regarding public-private sector relationship-building, SBIR/STTR; and corporate procurement/partnership strategy (portfolio expansion, mentor-protege opportunities, micro-macro private sector relationship building); - Furthering the SBA mission. Physical Demands: This position combines an office environment with outreach and training activities. Requires extensive travel throughout the District, including frequent early morning, evening and occasional weekends and overnight travel and/or may travel outside the District. Use multi-modes of transportation including operation of either a government-owned motor vehicle or a privately-owned motor vehicle (GOV/POV). The work requires some physical exertion such as lifting boxes of hand-outs, information packets, computers and other items that can weigh up to 40 pounds. Transport, set-up and tear-down displays and/or other equipment at trade shows, training sessions and other activities as needed. A valid state driver's license is required. Work Environment: Work is normally performed in an office setting and in a variety of rural and urban environments (office, hotels, warehouses, factories, farms, faith-based and community-based locations, construction sites, restaurants, garages, laboratories, etc.) and may incur exposure to moderate risk, discomfort and unpleasant surroundings. The work may require special safety precautions, e.g ., visiting or working in industrial plants or test environments where hazards are present such as machines, moving equipment, chemicals, noise, vibrations, hazardous or extreme weather conditions, or comparable situations. May be required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, coats, boots, hardhats, goggles, gloves or shields. This is a bargaining unit position with AFGE Local 228. This is not a (drug) testing designated position (TDP). Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications GS-1101-12 Basic/Mandatory Education Requirement: This position has a basic education requirement; you must furnish a copy of your college transcript(s). Transcripts must include your name, the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in you being rated not qualified for the position. 1. Successfully completed a four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. One full year of full-time undergraduate study is 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours; OR 2. At least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) of education in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. AND Specialized Experience: In addition to possessing the basic/mandatory education requirement for this position, you must also have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector which demonstrates the ability to work independently in ALL of the following: (1) Utilizing federal procurement laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; AND (2) Recruiting, training, educating or developing businesses interested in working with the government or with prime contractors; AND (3) Promoting an organization's programs and services through outreach and marketing. These qualifications must be clearly referenced in your resume. AND Selective Placement Factor: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen-out element. Those who do not provide their certification showing possession of the following selective factor will be rated not qualified: A. Possess a valid level I Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) or FAC-C (Professional) or level I Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification or DAWIA Professional. ***As of October 1, 2023*** all applicants will be required to be certified as the FAC-C (Professional). You can find additional information regarding the certifications at https://www.fai.gov/certification/fac-c/new-fac-c-professional and https://www.dau.edu/ You MUST submit your qualifying certification with this application or you will be rated ineligible for consideration. OR B. Agree to complete the training program required to obtain Level I FAC-C certification, as a current or future employee of the SBA, by the date that is one calendar year after the date you are appointed as a Business Opportunity Specialist. You will be required to sign a training agreement if selected. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site: Business Opportunity Specialist, 1101 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. TIME-IN-GRADE: If you are a current career or career-conditional federal employee applying for promotion under Merit Promotion you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in positions at the next level lower than the position being filled. All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 11/07/2024. Education APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. *** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. *** For further information, click on: Foreign Education. Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable\_Accommodations\_for\_USA\_Hire Career and InterAgency Career Transition Assistance Programs: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job in their current agency (intra-agency, i.e. SBA employees only). Inter-Agency Career Transition Assistance (ICTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job at another agency (inter-agency; i.e. not applying to their current or former agency). You are eligible for CTAP/ICTAP if: 1. You are a current federal employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee meaning you have received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF). 2. Your agency, or the agency to which you are applying, is accepting applications from within or outside of the permanent workforce. 3. The position to which you are applying MUST BE in the Local Commuting Area of the position of record from which you are being displaced. 4. You meet the qualifications and other requirements of the job for which you are applying. This includes being rated as well-qualified for the position (score of 85 or better based on your responses to the competencies and associated questions listed within the assessment). Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For additional information visit www.sss.gov. Consistent with work requirements and current SBA Policy, and all applicable provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with AFGE the SBA offers employees opportunities to perform work at an alternative location (e.g. home). Telework may be available. For information on Telework visit: http://www.telework.gov/ Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement if additional vacancies occur within 180 days of the date the certificates were issued.