Program Specialist (Legal Eligibility)

The 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.

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements prior to the closing date of this announcement, 05/27/2026. You 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 experience.

A 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.

Responsibilities:

The 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.

Salary : $72,977