Program Specialist (Legal Eligibility)

SummaryThe Program Specialist (Legal Eligibility) provides administrative and analytical support to the Peace Corps legal eligibility and clearance process by reviewing applicant documentation, adjudicating background investigations and issuing legal clearances for cases within the delegated authority. Serves as a resource on legal eligibility policies, assists with policy implementation, and helps resolve routine eligibility issues while ensuring confidentiality, compliance, and timely processing.Learn more about this agencyDutiesHelpThe Program Specialist (Legal Eligibility) performs the following major duties:Process and adjudicate background investigations using established standards and ensure confidentiality throughout.Review applicant documents to determine legal eligibility and suitability for Peace Corps service.Research and address moderately complex policy-related questions; refer complex or sensitive issues to the supervisor.Interpret and apply relevant regulations, policies, and procedures.Determine appropriate actions for resolving customer service issues and identify when matters should be addressed by other staff.Maintain accurate records and manage files in accordance with records management guidelines.RequirementsHelpConditions of employmentApplicants selected for this position are subject to the following Conditions of Employment:You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old.Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service (see www.sss.gov).Prior to employment, Peace Corps will review records for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former employees, as required by statutes 5 USC 3322 and 22 USC 2507b.You must submit a signed statement acknowledging adherence to the Peace Corps Conditions of Employment before your first day.You must obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. This position is designated for drug testing under the Drug-Free Workplace Program. You must pass a pre-employment drug test. After hire, you will be subject to random drug testing.Occasional travel may be required for this position.The initial appointment to this position cannot exceed five years.QualificationsApplicants must meet all qualification requirements prior to the closing date of this announcement, 05/27/2026You will receive credit for all qualifying experience demonstrated in your resume, including volunteer work. Qualification claims are subject to verification. This vacancy is being announced at one (1) grade level.Specialized Experience at the FP-5(GS-9) Level: To qualify for this position at the FP-5 grade level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression, FP-6 or GS-8. This experience must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the role. Specialized experience includes: Reviewing and assessing applicant legal history to determine eligibility or suitability based on established regulations and criteria; Processing and adjudicating background investigations, including making determinations on cases with minor or moderate complexity; Interpreting and applying policies, regulations, and procedural guidelines to provide guidance and make informed eligibility decisions; Analyzing case information and resolving routine legal or administrative issues, including written responses and recommendations.~OR~A combination of education and experienceA Master's or equivalent graduate degree~OR~2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree~OR~L.L.B. or J.D., if related.~AND~Time-in-Grade Requirements: Current or former Federal employees, including Peace Corps employees, must meet applicable Time-in-Grade requirements to be eligible for this position. For positions above the FP-09 (GS-05) level, you must have completed at least one year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the position to which you are applying.All current or former Federal employees, including internal employees, must provide a copy of their SF-50(s), "Notification of Personnel Action," to demonstrate that you meet Time-in-Grade requirements. For more information, refer to the "Required Documents" section below.Please note:If you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience, please review the "Education" section of this announcement.Experience that satisfies the Specialized Experience requirements must be clearly documented in your resume. Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Please review the "Required Documents" section of this announcement for further information on resume requirements.Specialized experience may be gained in the public sector, private sector, or through volunteer service (e.g., National Service programs such as Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, or other organizations such as professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, or social groups).One year of experience refers to full-time work. Part-time work will be credited on a prorated basis.For more details on qualification requirements, refer to the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions, available on the OPM web site.EducationMaster's or equivalent graduate degreeor2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degreeorLL.B. or J.D., if relatedIf you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education a transcript must be submitted with your application. Transcripts can be official or unofficial.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.Education must be obtained from an institution accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be used toward qualification requirements. Applicants should report only attendance and/or degrees from accredited schools. To verify whether a school is accredited, visit the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation website.Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must provide evidence that your credentials have been evaluated by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign education programs. The evaluation must confirm that your education is equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. program, or that full credit has been granted by a U.S. accredited college or university. For more information, visit: U.S. Department of Education - Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.Additional informationPosition Information:This is not a bargaining unit position.The minimum and maximum salaries listed on this announcement includes locality pay.Peace Corps Information:This is a federal civilian position in the Excepted Service, and the incumbent will serve as a member of the Foreign Service.Peace Corps employees are paid under the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay system, which differs from the General Schedule (GS) pay system. In the FP pay system, lower grade level numbers indicate higher levels of responsibility and pay. The FP-09 is the lowest, entry-level, grade and the FP-01 is the highest, senior-level, grade.This position is eligible for situational telework only. For more information regarding the Agency's telework policy see Peace Corps Manual Section 632.The Peace Corps uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.This is a drug-free workplace and we promote a drug-free environment.Additional hiring needs may be filled through this vacancy.Intelligence Background Information: Peace Corps Manual Section 611 is applicable to this position:This prohibits the employment of certain persons previously engaged in intelligence activities or connected with intelligence agencies within the past 10 years.If you have ever worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), you are not eligible for employment at the Peace Corps in any capacity, and you should not apply for employment at the Peace Corps.Acceptance of employment with Peace Corps precludes employment by certain intelligence organizations for a specific period after Peace Corps employment ceases.Applicants who indicate on the announcement questionnaire that they, or a family member, have an intelligence connection will be required to submit a completed Intelligence Background Questionnaire. The Peace Corps Office of Human Resources will provide instructions for submitting this form after the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide the completed questionnaire will result in disqualification from further consideration. If you have any type of possible intelligence connection, your application will not be processed until this form is submitted.Except when the CIA or the National Security Agency (NSA) is involved (see below), if your connection with an Intelligence Agency involves an immediate family member who is employed or has been employed in intelligence, the immediate family member should complete the form.If you have an immediate family member who is employed or has been employed with the CIA, please contact your family member in person (not by phone, email, social networking, or any other means that is not in person) and ask him or her to contact the Office of General Counsel at the CIA.If you or an immediate family member have been employed by or associated with the NSA, you or your family member must contact the NSA Prepublication Review Office at (443) 634-4095.Expand Hide additional informationCandidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.BenefitsHelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.