QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED: The physical requirements of this position as determined by the manager are: regularly require extended periods of walking, climbing, standing or bending while observing ATS and equipment maintenance production, repair, and generation activities, to verify operational quality, perform verification inspections, personnel evaluations, and examine materials, overhauled equipment and systems. QUALIFICATIONS: In order to qualify, you must meet the Special Experience Requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions: Administrative and Management Positions- Quality Assurance Series (1910) BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-07, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience must demonstrate a practical knowledge in monitoring, controlling, or maintaining the quality of products or services in quality assurance, procurement, inspection, production, or related areas. Examples include: reviewing production activities and capabilities in light of contract quality requirements, reviewing written quality or inspection procedures for adequacy, and evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of quality/inspection systems, including sampling plans; analyzing quality data to detect unsatisfactory trends or weaknesses in the quality/inspection system; verifying by test or inspection, using sampling inspection or intensive product inspection techniques, that products comply with requirements prior to acceptance; identifying inadequacies and requesting corrective action; computing data, summarizing results, and preparing reports or charts depicting pertinent relationships using statistical methods; investigating customer complaints and deficiency reports, and providing identification of causes to appropriate authorities; reading, interpreting, and applying technical data such as blueprints, engineering drawings, product specifications, or technical manuals; reviewing and evaluating supply systems operations and procedures through periodic audits and surveillance inspections; comprehensive knowledge or quality assurance/control concepts, methods, principles, and practices to plan, direct, and/or accomplish a variety or work assignments involving all facets of a quality assurance program; knowledge of aircraft training systems, related equipment and supplies, including manufacturing and processing methods, testing and inspection techniques, and the interrelationship of functional parts and assemblies; knowledge of operating policies and procedures and related functional/administrative activities such as procurement, engineering, production, and supply to effect appropriate interface/coordination of quality assurance plans and programs; and knowledge of current computer system hardware and software support at the organization. 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. with a major study in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields related to the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: 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%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Expert technical working knowledge of the assigned ATS, hardware and software systems and equipment, configuration, operating characteristics, security and safety programs, and maintenance repair and modification procedures and skill in applying this knowledge to planning and developing Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans for evaluating contractor performance. Comprehensive knowledge of quality assurance/control concepts, principles, and practices, and skill to plan, develop and implement Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans for contractor services on ATS’s. Develop and implement innovative approaches to identify and record contractor performance trends and recommended areas for improvement. Broad knowledge of Air Force and DOD acquisition functional responsibilities and procedures and the role of quality assurance to integrate/coordinate complex quality program efforts with other widely dispersed functional disciplines such as engineering, procurement, configuration management, training operations, logistics and test and evaluation. Exercises very high degree of skill in interpreting, explaining, and applying regulatory and technical requirements and specifications to a wide variety of complex quality assurance issues or problems encountered in pre-award surveys, contracted statement of work, inspection reports, evaluations of corrective actions and meetings with supervisors, subordinates, functional managers, contracting officers, contractor’s representatives and system users. Skill in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with the ACO, MAJCOM, wing agencies, flying and support squadron leadership, various functional managers, contractor representatives and system users. Ability to communicate effectively, orally, written, and graphical presentation. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
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