Federal

Supervisory Complaint Resolution Specialist, GS-1101-13, FPL 13 (MP)

Federal Student Aid Β· Department of Education
πŸ“ Denver, Colorado GS-13 $106,437 - $172,980/yr
Posted: Mar 27, 2026 Deadline: Apr 6, 2026 (Closes in 2 days days left)

About This Position

This position is located in the Department of Education's, Federal Student Aid (FSA) Division in Washington, DC and in other locations. FSA is responsible for administering key financial assistance programs under the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to students and their families each year for education beyond high school. FSA is committed to keeping the promise made through the Higher Education Act. The confidentiality, integrity and availability of FSA information is critical.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13, if you possess the specialized experience. Specialized Experience for the GS-13 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) following duties or work assignments: Experience supervising or leading professional staff responsible for resolving borrower complaints within a regulated financial aid, lending, compliance, or customer resolution environment, including assigning workload, providing technical guidance, and ensuring timely and accurate case resolution. Experience applying complex statutes, regulations, or program policies to resolve disputes or operational issues within federal student aid programs, higher education administration, financial services, loan servicing, or similar regulated program environments.

Experience analyzing complaint cases, operational data, or servicing records to determine appropriate resolutions, identify systemic issues, and recommend operational or policy improvements affecting program delivery or customer experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

Ability to supervise professional staff and manage operational workloads in a fast-paced case management environment while ensuring regulatory compliance and performance accountability. Knowledge of Title IV statutes, regulations, and federal student aid program operations sufficient to oversee complex complaint resolution determinations. Skill in developing operational procedures, training materials, and written guidance related to complaint resolution and regulatory interpretation.

Skill in analyzing complaint data and operational metrics to identify trends, systemic risks, and opportunities for program or process improvement. Ability to communicate complex regulatory findings and operational determinations to senior leadership and external stakeholders.

Major Duties

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first. We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application. As a Supervisory Complaint ResolultionSpecialist, GS-1101-13, you will be responsible for: Supervising day-to-day complaint resolution operations, including assigning work, setting priorities, coaching staff, reviewing case determinations, and ensuring timely, accurate, and consistent resolution of borrower and institutional complaints.

Directing and overseeing resolution of complex, sensitive, or precedent-setting Title IV complaints involving borrowers, institutions, and loan servicers, ensuring determinations are legally and operationally sound. Establishing and maintaining operational procedures, policies, and training materials governing complaint resolution activities and provides ongoing guidance to staff to ensure consistent interpretation of regulatory requirements. Monitoring complaint trends, operational metrics, and case outcomes to identify systemic issues affecting borrowers, institutions, or program partners and recommends improvements to program operations or complaint handling processes.

Representing the Office of the Ombudsman in engagements with internal leadership, legal counsel, institutions, servicers, and other stakeholders regarding complaint resolution matters and program oversight activities.

Conditions of Employment

Condition of Employment: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: β€’ your performance and conduct; β€’ the needs and interests of the agency; β€’ whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and β€’ whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents.

To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Education

There is no Education requirement at this grade-level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants: 1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors.

You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents.

You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

  1. Rating and Ranking If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position). Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be assigned a numerical score (out of 100 possible).

If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

  1. Referral and Selection If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

Veterans' Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email [email protected] to schedule a session with a career counselor (β€œVeterans Counseling Session” should be placed in the subject line of the email). Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education.

If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment. Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

This position is considered essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures. Financial Disclosure: This position requires a financial disclosure. Bargaining Unit: This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.

How to Apply

Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. Step 2: Create a resume using the USAJOBS resume builder. Ensure that your resume demonstrates your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiates your responses to the occupational questionnaire.

Step 3: Upload any required documents into your USAJOBS account (must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX)). Step 4: Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire and attach any required documents. Verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the agency's hiring system.

You will have the opportunity to upload any additional required documents in the agency's hiring system.

Click β€œFinish” to submit your application.

NOTE: You may update your application or required documents at any time while the announcement is open by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking on "Application Status," clicking on the position title, clicking "Update Application,” and following the prompts. In order to receive consideration for this position, you must submit your complete application, including all required documents, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If the vacancy announcement has an application limit, we recommend that you submit your complete application at the time of initial application.

We will not accept any required documentation after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If you have any questions regarding submitting your application, please contact the HR Specialist listed under the Agency Contact Information.

Required Documents

You must submit (REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS): β€’ A resume demonstrating your experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiating your responses to the occupational questionnaire. Please limit your resume to 2 pages with the font size no smaller than 10 points. If your resume is more than 2 pages, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed and considered for the qualification's determination.

If you are a current or former federal employee (including current U.S. Department of Education employees), you must also submit: β€’ A Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), which demonstrates your competitive status eligibility. To verify your eligibility, we will review your SF-50 to determine your tenure (block 24) and position occupied (block 34).

Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments, promotions, within-grade increases, and pay adjustments. If you currently hold or previously held a federal position at or above the highest grade of this position or you have/had promotion potential at or above the highest grade of this position, you must also submit an SF-50 documenting your highest grade level held or promotion potential. Examples of sufficient SF-50s include appointments and promotions. β€’ A Copy of your most recent Performance Appraisal and Awards, as applicable.

Your performance appraisal and awards are requested to further assess the quality of your experience should your application be referred to the selecting official. If you are claiming eligibility under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), you must submit: β€’ A copy of your DD-214 that shows active service and character of discharge, member copy 4 (Separated Members only); OR β€’ A certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days from the date of application (Current Active Duty Members only); AND/OR β€’ The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) AND all documents indicated on the form as proof of type of preference. If you are claiming eligibility under any Special Hiring Authority, you must submit: β€’ Adequate proof of your eligibility (e.g., Documentation of noncompetitive eligibility as a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Documentation of noncompetitive eligibility for employment under Schedule A as a person with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities.) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the https://www2.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ictap.html or https://www2.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ctap.html for information on how to apply as a CTAP, or ICTAP eligible.

To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Supervisory Complaint Resolution Specialist, GS-1101-13, FPL 13 (MP) position at Federal Student Aid?
The salary range for this position is $106,437 - $172,980/yr. This is a GS-13 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Complaint Resolution Specialist, GS-1101-13, FPL 13 (MP) job located?
This position is located in Denver, Colorado. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Minimum Qualification Requirements You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13, if you possess the specialized experience. Specialized Experience for the GS-13 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) following duties or work assignments: ...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Apr 6, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-13 mean?
GS-13 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.