Field Operations Specialist at Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R) — Applications Closed

Job Description

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is hiring a Field Operations Specialist for its Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R) in Atlanta, GA.

In this role, you will serve as the lead SBA official in disaster areas, coordinating with federal, state, and local officials and overseeing all SBA activities and staff for Presidential disaster declarations.

You will represent SBA at Regional Interagency Steering Committee meetings, prepare written reports, and direct the interviewing of disaster survivors, assisting with application completion and screening disaster loan applications.

You will also coordinate with FEMA and state/local disaster staff to plan and establish Disaster Recovery Centers, ensuring SBA's needs are met. Additionally, you will plan, develop, deliver, and evaluate training presentations using Microsoft Office Suite.

This position is ideal for experienced disaster recovery professionals who thrive in dynamic, high-stakes environments and are committed to helping communities rebuild after disasters.

Salary & Compensation

Salary: $94,654 - $123,052 per year.

Qualification

To qualify for this GS-12 Field Operations Specialist position, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector.

This experience must include implementing policies for a disaster or emergency program, leading field team operations, planning and delivering employee training, and assessing operational program needs. There is no education substitution for this grade level.

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector.
• Experience implementing policies, guidelines, and/or procedures for a disaster or emergency program.
• Experience leading or overseeing team operations in the field.
• Experience planning and delivering employee training.
• Experience assessing the needs of an operational program and adapting the appropriate mix of resources and skills required to meet those needs.
• Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for promotion under Merit Promotion 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 08/07/2026.
• Experience can include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must successfully complete a background investigation.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead SBA official in the disaster area, coordinating with federal, state, and local officials and overseeing all SBA activities and staff for Presidential disaster declarations.
• Represent SBA at Regional Interagency Steering Committee meetings and prepare and submit written reports.
• Oversee and direct the interviewing of disaster survivors, assisting with application completion, and screening disaster loan applications (paper and electronic), and loan closings.
• Coordinate with FEMA and state and local disaster staff in planning and establishing Disaster Recovery Centers, and act to see that SBA's needs are met at those centers.
• Plan, develop, deliver, and evaluate a variety of training presentations utilizing Microsoft Office Suite.
• Provide operational coordination, interagency liaison support, and field execution of disaster recovery activities to ensure timely and effective assistance to disaster survivors.

Conditions & Requirements

• You may be required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a government travel credit card.
• If required to travel to a disaster site, you may encounter hazardous working and/or living conditions (e.g., no water or electricity, minimal lodging facilities).
• Mandatory Overtime: Substantial compensated overtime hours may be required while on assignment (up to seven days a week and ten to fourteen hours a day).
• 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.
• Telework may be available as determined by agency policy.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a complete benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career rewarding.
• 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

1. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
2. Applicants meeting basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on additional assessments, including the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment.
3. Based on your application and responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments.
4. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.
5. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
6. Qualified Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review applicant materials to ensure they meet the specialized experience and technical requirements for this position.
7. The assessments relate to competencies including Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork.
8. You must meet or exceed the cut score on the assessment to be considered.

Required Documents

• Your Resume must not include photographs. Resume length may not exceed 2 pages and must contain: Name, address, telephone number, email address; Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade); If qualifying based on related unpaid experience, provide hours worked per week and beginning/ending dates (mm/dd/yyyy to mm/dd/yyyy); If other than full time, provide …
• Federal employees must submit proof of your permanent career/career-conditional competitive status (SF-50 showing current grade and tenure and an SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different).
• If you are using education as a substitution for experience (if allowed), or if there is an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts (unofficial or official) that clearly describes your qualifying education.
• If you are claiming Veteran status, submit a copy of all required documents (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA disability letter).
• CTAP/ICTAP/RPL Applicants: Provide proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (if applicable), your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location, and your most recent performance appraisal.
• If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

How to Apply

1. Read the entire announcement and all instructions before beginning your application.
2. To apply, complete the initial online application on the official application portal, including the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
3. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement (08/07/2026) to receive consideration.
4. Begin the application process by clicking the Apply Online button on the official application portal page.
5. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

Additional Information

• This position is located in the Small Business Administration, Field Operations Center East - FOCE in Atlanta, GA.
• This is a non-Bargaining unit position.
• This is not a drug testing designated position.
• Reasonable Accommodation: If you have a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you may request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests must be received prior to starting the assessments.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Inter-Agency Career Transition Assistance (ICTAP) are available for eligible surplus or displaced federal employees.
• Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement if additional vacancies occur within 180 days of the date the certificates were issued.
• SBA uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Agency contact: Cindy Saechao, Email: [email protected], Address: Field Operations Center East - FOCE, 101 Marietta Street NW, Suite 700, Atlanta, GA 30303 US.

About Company

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R) is the division responsible for administering disaster loans and coordinating recovery efforts after declared disasters.

This Field Operations Specialist role is based in the Field Operations Center East in Atlanta, GA, and directly supports SBA's mission to help communities rebuild. Working at SBA means joining a dedicated team focused on delivering timely and effective assistance to disaster survivors across the country.

Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R) is named as the hiring organisation for the Field Operations Specialist post.