Self Determination Officer

One position is being filled. Serves as lead contracting authority for the award, administration, and oversight of Indian Self-Determination (P.L. 93-638) contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, ensuring statutory, regulatory, financial, and audit compliance while providing technical guidance to support effective tribal self-governance. Duty location determined at selection. Must reside within 49 miles of a DOI office.

Serves as Lead Awarding Official for P.L. 93-638 contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, performing pre- and post-award functions and ensuring compliance with applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. Administers financial assistance and payment provisions for P.L. 93-638 agreements, including funding, cost reimbursement, obligations, distributions, and contract support funding. Reviews and analyzes tribal proposals and applications for completeness, accuracy, legal and regulatory compliance, funding limitations, and award readiness; coordinates internal reviews and resolves issues prior to award. Maintains official award files and records from proposal receipt through closeout, ensuring documentation supports contractual actions, financial accountability, audit requirements, and regulatory compliance. Monitors post-award performance and financial execution, identifies budget overages, shortfalls, and other issues, and recommends corrective actions to support successful agreement administration. Provides authoritative technical guidance and assistance to Self-Determination Specialists, USWFS staff, tribes, and tribal organizations on contracting methods, statutory authorities, waivers, financial requirements, and P.L. 93-638 program administration. Conducts and supports program reviews and compliance assessments of tribal self-determination programs; prepares findings, follow-up reports, and recommendations to address deficiencies and improve program operations. Develops and delivers training and technical assistance for USWFS and tribal personnel on P.L. 93-638 requirements, including financial, personnel, property, travel, indirect costs, contract support costs, and cost principles. Prepares reports and responds to information requests from departmental leadership; tracks appropriations and obligations, resolves discrepancies, and ensures timely and equitable distribution and utilization of P.L. 93-638 funds.

U.S. Citizenship required. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Must be 18 years of age at time of close date of announcement. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Incumbent will be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. If new to the federal government, and this is your first appointment, as a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Please note - there is no qualifying education for this series.