Federal Resume Template and Example (2026): OPM Guide

• Hard enforcement: If your only submitted resume exceeds two pages, you are ineligible for further consideration. The system does not truncate; it rejects.
• Word target: Two pages in a clean federal resume format translates to approximately 800 to 900 words of content (ClearanceJobs, 2025).
• Previous standard: Federal resumes were routinely 3 to 5 pages before this rule. Some exceeded 10 pages for senior positions.
• Exceptions: Non-Title 5 agencies, judicial branch, and legislative branch agencies may accept longer resumes if they add specific instructions to the job announcement. Medical and research positions requiring a CV may also be exempt.
• Font requirements: USAJOBS recommends sans-serif fonts: Lato (preferred), Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto, or Noto Sans. Margins should be 0.5 inches.

1. Motivation for federal service: Why do you want this specific role at this specific agency? Do not recycle generic "public service" language; tie your answer to the agency's mission statement and the position's scope.
2. Commitment to the Constitution and rule of law: Describe how you have upheld ethical standards, laws, or policies in a prior role. One CCAR-format example is stronger than three abstract sentences.
3. Relevant qualifying experience: Summarize the single most relevant accomplishment from your resume as it relates to the Specialized Experience section of the announcement. Use the announcement's exact phrasing.
4. Contribution to agency mission: Explain what you would deliver in the first 6 to 12 months. Quantify where you can, even if the quantification is an estimate tied to the announcement's stated scope.

• Full legal name
• Mailing address (full street address, city, state, ZIP)
• Phone number (daytime and evening if different)
• Email address
• U.S. citizenship status
• Veterans' preference (if applicable: 5-point, 10-point, CPS, XP)
• Highest federal civilian grade held (if applicable: GS level, series, dates)

For each position, include all of the following:

• Job title (exact title, not an abbreviated version)
• Employer name and full address (street, city, state, ZIP)
• Start and end dates (month/year format: MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY or "Present")
• Hours worked per week (e.g., "40 hours/week" or "Part-time, 20 hours/week")
• Salary or GS grade/step (e.g., "$72,000/year" or "GS-12, Step 5")
• Series code for federal positions (e.g., "0301" for Miscellaneous Administration)
• Supervisor name and phone number with "May contact: Yes/No"
• Duties, accomplishments, and scope (detailed narrative addressing the job announcement qualifications)

• Institution name and location (city, state)
• Degree type (B.S., M.A., Ph.D., etc.)
• Major and minor (if applicable)
• Graduation date (month/year) or expected graduation date
• GPA (required for positions with education requirements; include if 3.0+)
• Semester/quarter credits earned (especially important for positions requiring specific coursework)
• Relevant coursework (only if the job announcement specifies course requirements)

[YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME]

[Street Address] | [City, State ZIP]

[Phone Number] | [Email Address]

U.S. Citizen | Veterans' Preference: [None / 5-Point / 10-Point / CPS] | Highest Federal Grade: [GS-XX or N/A]

Professional Summary

[2 to 3 sentences. State your years of experience, area of expertise, and one to two quantified accomplishments that directly address the job announcement. Mirror keywords from the announcement's Qualifications and Specialized Experience sections.]

Work Experience

[Job Title]

[Employer Name], [Full Street Address, City, State ZIP]

[GS-Grade/Step, Series Code] (for federal positions) OR [Salary: $XX,XXX/year] (for private sector)

[MM/YYYY] to [MM/YYYY or Present] | [XX hours/week]

Supervisor: [Name], [Phone] | May contact: [Yes/No]

[Detailed paragraph describing your primary duties, scope of responsibility, and key accomplishments. Address the specific qualifications listed in the job announcement. Include metrics: budget managed, team size, percentage improvements, number of stakeholders served. For the two-page limit, aim for 4 to 6 lines per position for your most recent roles.]

• [Key accomplishment with quantified result]
• [Key accomplishment with quantified result]
• [Key accomplishment with quantified result]

[Previous Job Title]

[Employer Name], [Full Address]

[GS-Grade or Salary] | [MM/YYYY] to [MM/YYYY] | [XX hours/week]

Supervisor: [Name], [Phone] | May contact: [Yes/No]

[Shorter description for older positions: 2 to 4 lines covering key duties and one quantified accomplishment. Include all required data fields even for condensed entries.]

Education

[Degree Type] in [Major], [Minor if applicable]

[University Name], [City, State]

Graduated: [MM/YYYY] | GPA: [X.X/4.0] | Credits: [XXX semester hours]

Certifications

[Certification Name], [Issuing Organization], [Date Obtained], Expires: [Date]

Security Clearance

[Clearance Level], [Granting Agency], Investigation Date: [MM/YYYY]

MORGAN T. RIVERA

4820 Parkside Court, Alexandria, VA 22304

(703) 555-0188 | morgan.rivera.fed@email.com

U.S. Citizen | Veterans' Preference: 5-Point (TP) | Highest Federal Grade Held: GS-13, Series 0343, 07/2023 to Present

Work Experience

Management and Program Analyst, GS-0343-13, Step 4

Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20201

Salary: $113,834/year | 07/2023 to Present | 40 hours/week

Supervisor: Jennifer Hollings, (202) 555-0142 | May contact: Yes

Lead program evaluation and portfolio management for a $45M grants program serving 36 state grantees. Develop and implement enterprise-level information management policies, coordinate with 5 regional offices, and brief senior leadership on quarterly performance. Serve as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for 3 analytical support contracts.

• (Context) Inherited a grants review process averaging 92 days per application against a statutory 60-day target. (Challenge) OMB audit flagged the backlog as a material weakness. (Action) Built a standardized CCAR review checklist, trained 8 GS-9 through GS-12 analysts, and introduced weekly triage meetings. (Result) Reduced average processing time by 35% (92 to 60 days), cleared OMB finding within one cycle.
• (Context) Grants error rate sat at 12% at entry, driving rework across the portfolio. (Challenge) Rework consumed 1.2 FTE annually. (Action) Partnered with data team to implement automated validation rules in the grants system and rewrote two policy memos to close ambiguous language. (Result) Cut error rate from 12% to 3% in 11 months, recovering ~$280K in annual staff time.
• (Context) Congressional inquiry requested portfolio performance data across 36 grantees by geography and demographic served. (Challenge) Existing reports lacked disaggregation; 48-hour response deadline. (Action) Built a reusable Power BI dashboard pulling from the grants data warehouse and wrote the narrative response. (Result) Delivered on time; dashboard adopted by 3 additional program offices and cited in the agency's annual Report to Congress.

Senior Business Analyst

Acme Consulting Group, 1100 Corporate Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201

Salary: $96,500/year | 05/2019 to 06/2023 | 40 hours/week

Supervisor: David Chen, (703) 555-0119 | May contact: Yes

Managed federal client portfolio for HHS and VA engagements totaling $6.2M annually. Delivered program evaluation, performance measurement, and information management policy work comparable to GS-12/13 specialized experience. Led cross-functional teams of 5 to 9 consultants across 4 concurrent engagements.

Go through every work experience entry and add these fields that your private sector resume almost certainly omits:

• Hours per week: Write "40 hours/week" for full-time roles. For part-time positions, list the actual hours. This is the single most common omission that causes federal resumes to be screened out.
• Supervisor information: For each position, add your supervisor's name and phone number. If you cannot be contacted at that employer, note "May contact: No."
• Salary: List your annual salary or hourly rate for each position. If you held a federal role, list GS grade, step, and series code instead.
• Full employer address: Expand from "Acme Corp, Chicago, IL" to "Acme Corporation, 123 Main Street, Chicago, IL 60601."

At the top of your resume, directly below your contact information, add: citizenship status, veterans' preference (if applicable), and highest federal grade held (if you have prior federal service). This block takes one to two lines and is required on every federal resume.

Federal HR specialists need more context than private sector recruiters. Convert your short bullets into substantive descriptions that address the job announcement qualifications directly.

Federal HR specialists evaluate your resume against the specific qualifications listed in the job announcement. They look for exact keyword matches, not inferences.

• Copy the "Specialized Experience" section from the announcement
• For each requirement, write a sentence in your resume that uses the same terminology
• If the announcement says "experience with federal acquisition regulations," your resume should contain the phrase "federal acquisition regulations," not "procurement policies" or "buying processes"
• This is not gaming the system. OPM guidance explicitly instructs applicants to "use similar terms and address every required qualification"

Under the two-page limit, you cannot give equal space to every role. Allocate 60% of your work experience space to your most recent and most relevant position, 25% to your second most relevant, and condense everything else to two to three lines each. Positions older than 10 to 15 years should include only the required data fields and a single sentence summarizing scope, unless they contain uniquely relevant experience.

Your private sector resume probably lists just your degree and institution. Federal resumes require graduation date (month/year), GPA, and credits earned. For positions with positive education requirements (common in GS-5 through GS-7 and specialized series like 1102 Contracting or 0110 Economist), list specific coursework that satisfies the OPM qualification standard. Check the job announcement's "Education" section for exact requirements.

• Set your document to 11pt Calibri or Lato, 0.5-inch margins, single spacing with 6pt paragraph spacing
• Save as PDF and confirm it is exactly 2 pages (not 2.5, not 3)
• Check file size is under 5 MB
• If over two pages, cut the oldest or least relevant position first, then reduce descriptions of mid-career roles
• As a last resort, reduce font to 10.5pt, but never go below 10pt

• Workforce size: As of December 2025, the federal civilian workforce stands at approximately 2.07 million employees across 128 agencies, a decade low (OPM FedScope).
• Recent reductions: Since January 2025, a net loss of nearly 220,000 positions occurred through a combination of a government-wide hiring freeze, deferred resignation programs (144,000 approved), and restructuring. In the first half of 2025 alone, about 134,000 employees separated while only 66,000 were hired (GAO-26-108719).
• Competition: The average federal job posting attracts over 250 applicants. USAJOBS processes approximately 18 million applications for 350,000 openings annually, a 3% selection rate (OPM).
• Hiring freeze exceptions: National security, public safety, and essential support roles remained exempt from the January 2025 hiring freeze. The VA, DoD, and DHS continued hiring for critical positions throughout.
• What this means for applicants: Fewer openings and high competition make resume quality more important than ever. A correctly formatted, keyword-optimized federal resume is your only reliable differentiator when 250 other applicants are submitting for the same GS-12 position.

1. Specialized Experience section: This is the most important section of the job announcement. Every requirement listed here should appear almost verbatim in your resume.
2. Duties section: Secondary keyword source. Use the exact verbs and nouns from the duties list.
3. Qualifications section: Note specific certifications, clearances, degree types, and software mentioned.
4. KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities): Some announcements still list KSAs separately. Address each one in your resume text, even if a separate KSA narrative is not required.
5. OPM qualification standards: Search opm.gov for the qualification standard for the specific series (e.g., GS-0343 Management Analyst). This tells you what OPM considers qualifying experience for the grade level.

1. Required-field completeness. Hours per week, supervisor name and phone, salary or GS grade and step, full employer address, and citizenship on every position. A single missing field is the most common reason a federal resume is scored ineligible before a human reads it.
2. Specialized Experience proximity match. How closely your wording mirrors the exact strings in the announcement's Specialized Experience block. Verbatim phrasing scores at threshold; synonyms and paraphrases score below it on the 2026 AI models.
3. CCAR quantification density. Whether each accomplishment carries a Challenge, Context, Action, and Result with a number attached, which is what turns a keyword hit into a competitive record for the human reviewer.
4. Two-page fit. Whether the file stays within the OPM two-page cap without dropping any required field; over two pages is an automatic disqualification as of September 27, 2025.
5. Format safety. Single column, sans-serif, no tables, text boxes, or graphics that break the USAJOBS and USA Staffing parsers.

• Translate military rank to civilian equivalents (e.g., O-3 Captain managed a 120-person company, equivalent to a GS-12/13 supervisory role)
• Replace military acronyms with civilian language (MOS becomes "occupational specialty," PCS becomes "permanent relocation")
• Claim veterans' preference: 5-point (TP) for honorable discharge, 10-point (CP/CPS/XP) for disability or Purple Heart
• Use the VetSuccess or Transition Assistance Program to help with resume conversion

• List your current GS grade, step, and series code prominently
• Demonstrate one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (e.g., one year at GS-11 to qualify for GS-12)
• Include your performance rating if it is "Fully Successful" or higher
• Reference specific agency programs, systems, and initiatives by name

• The Recent Graduates pathway targets those who completed a degree within the past two years
• Emphasize education heavily: GPA, relevant coursework, thesis or capstone projects, academic honors
• Include internships, co-ops, and volunteer work with the same required data fields as paid positions
• List campus leadership roles and relevant extracurricular activities that demonstrate competencies

Qualification anchor: no positive education requirement. You qualify on one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade, or, at GS-07 and GS-09, on graduate education under OPM's Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions.

Specialized Experience phrasings

• applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations
• conducting program evaluations, management studies, and business process improvement reviews
• developing and implementing performance measures, metrics, and data quality standards
• developing and implementing enterprise-level information management policies
• gathering, analyzing, and presenting data to support management decision making
• preparing written reports, decision papers, and briefings for senior leadership
• advising managers on the allocation and utilization of financial, human, and information resources
• identifying program deficiencies and recommending corrective actions
• coordinating agency responses to audit findings from the Office of Inspector General and GAO
• serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative on analytical support contracts

Systems and tools named in announcements

Excel, Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, SAS, R, Python, SharePoint, Microsoft Project, Grants.gov, SAM.gov, USAspending.gov, Max.gov

Credentials worth listing

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, PMP, Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), FAC-COR Level II, Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM)

Qualification anchor: OPM's Alternative A standard requires IT-related experience demonstrating four competencies at every grade from GS-05 through GS-15: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Oral Communication, and Problem Solving. At GS-07 and above you also need one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade. Announcements name a parenthetical specialty, and that parenthetical is itself a keyword: INFOSEC, SYSADMIN, NETWORK, APPSW, SYSANALYSIS, DATAMGT, PLCYPLN, CUSTSPT, ENTARCH, INTERNET, OS.

Specialized Experience phrasings

• IT-related experience demonstrating attention to detail, customer service, oral communication, and problem solving
• planning, managing, and evaluating the implementation of information technology systems
• applying information security principles and practices to protect systems, networks, information, and applications
• developing, implementing, and interpreting IT policy, standards, and procedures
• managing information technology projects across the system development life cycle
• conducting security assessments and authorizations under the NIST Risk Management Framework
• developing and maintaining system security plans, plans of action and milestones, and continuous monitoring documentation
• providing technical advice and guidance to customers on IT products and services
• serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative on information technology contracts

Frameworks and authorities to name

FISMA, FedRAMP, FITARA, Section 508, NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-37 (Risk Management Framework), NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Trusted Internet Connections, Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation, Zero Trust Architecture

Credentials worth listing

CompTIA Security+ and the DoD 8140 work role and proficiency level it supports (8140 replaced the older 8570 baseline certification tables), CISSP, CISM, CAP, CCSP, AWS or Azure architect certifications, ITIL, PMP

Qualification anchor: no positive education requirement. Announcements almost always name a subspecialty in the position title, and that subspecialty is your first keyword: Recruitment and Placement, Classification, Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Employee Benefits, Human Resources Development, or Information Systems.

Specialized Experience phrasings

• providing advisory services to management on recruitment, staffing, and placement
• applying OPM qualification standards to determine applicant eligibility and minimum qualifications
• conducting rating and ranking, issuing certificates of eligibles, and auditing certificates
• administering Delegated Examining and Merit Promotion procedures
• applying position classification standards to determine series, title, and grade
• advising managers on performance management, conduct, and disciplinary actions
• administering the labor relations program and participating in collective bargaining
• processing personnel actions in accordance with the Guide to Processing Personnel Actions
• applying veterans' preference, including 5-point and 10-point preference and pass over procedures

Systems and authorities to name

USA Staffing, USA Hire, Monster Government Solutions, DCPDS, eOPF, EHRI, National Finance Center, FPPS; Title 5 U.S.C., 5 CFR Parts 300, 315, 330, 335, 511, and 531, the Delegated Examining Operations Handbook, Merit System Principles, Prohibited Personnel Practices

Credentials worth listing

Delegated Examining Certification with its issuing agency, IPMA-HR CP or SCP, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP

Qualification anchor: 0510 Accounting carries a positive education requirement. Option A is a degree in accounting, or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting, up to 6 of which may be business law. Option B is 4 years of accounting experience combined with education, plus 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing, or a CPA or CIA certificate obtained by examination. The 0501 Financial Administration and Program series carries no positive education requirement, which is why career changers usually enter federal finance through 0501 rather than 0510.

Specialized Experience phrasings

• performing financial management functions including budget formulation, execution, and reporting
• reconciling general ledger accounts and preparing financial statements under federal accounting standards
• applying FASAB standards, OMB Circular A-11, and the Treasury Financial Manual
• conducting internal control assessments under OMB Circular A-123 and the GAO Green Book
• preparing and defending budget submissions to agency leadership, OMB, and congressional staff
• analyzing obligations, expenditures, and unliquidated obligations
• supporting audit readiness and resolving notices of findings and recommendations
• performing funds control and certifying the availability of funds

Systems to name

Momentum, Oracle Federal Financials, SAP and GFEBS, DELPHI, PRISM, G-Invoicing, Invoice Processing Platform, Treasury GTAS, Concur Government Edition

Credentials worth listing

CPA with state and license number, CGFM, CDFM, CIA, CFE, FAC-COR

Qualification anchor: for GS-13 and above, OPM requires a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management, plus completion of the mandatory training the agency head prescribes and at least 4 years of contracting experience. Employees occupying a GS-1102 position on January 1, 2000 met the standard for that position, but promotion to a higher grade still requires the basic and specialized experience requirements unless the senior procurement executive waives them.

Specialized Experience phrasings

• performing pre-award and post-award contracting functions
• conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10
• developing acquisition plans, statements of work, and solicitation documents
• performing cost and price analysis and preparing independent government cost estimates
• negotiating contract terms, pricing, and modifications
• administering contracts including performance monitoring, modifications, claims, and closeout
• applying the Federal Acquisition Regulation and agency supplements
• serving as a warranted Contracting Officer, stating the warrant level and issuing agency

Systems and authorities to name

SAM.gov, FPDS-NG, GSA eBuy, GSA Advantage, PIEE and WAWF, PRISM, Unison Marketplace; FAR, DFARS, GSAM, VAAR, HHSAR, Competition in Contracting Act, Small Business Act set-asides, Buy American Act, Service Contract Labor Standards

Credentials worth listing

FAC-C (Professional), DAWIA Contracting at the Foundational, Practitioner, or Advanced level, your warrant level and issuing agency, FAC-COR Level II or III, CFCM or CPCM from NCMA

Qualification anchor: positive education requirement. Option A is a degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program. Option B is a combination of education and experience supported by current professional registration as a Professional Engineer, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (EIT) examination, or completing 60 semester hours of engineering coursework. State which option you meet, in those words, near the top of your education block.

Specialized Experience phrasings

• applying professional engineering principles, theories, and methods to the design, construction, or evaluation of systems and facilities
• reviewing and approving engineering designs, drawings, calculations, and specifications
• serving as the technical authority or engineer of record on assigned projects
• preparing independent government estimates and technical evaluations of proposals
• performing construction quality assurance and conducting site inspections
• applying codes and standards including the Unified Facilities Criteria, NFPA, ASME, IEEE, and ASCE
• performing systems engineering across the acquisition life cycle
• serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative on design and construction contracts

Tools to name

AutoCAD, Revit, MicroStation, Bentley OpenRoads, SolidWorks, Navisworks, Primavera P6, MATLAB, ANSYS, ArcGIS

Credentials worth listing

PE license with state and license number, FE or EIT certification, PMP, LEED AP, Certified Energy Manager, DAWIA Engineering and Technical Management

Qualification anchor: 0602 requires a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or equivalent degree from an accredited school, at least one year of supervised clinical experience (a one-year internship or the first year of a residency), and a current, active, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine. 0610 requires a graduate degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing program, passage of the National Council Licensure Examination, and a current, active, full, and unrestricted registered nurse license. One planning note: most VA clinical positions are hired under Title 38 rather than Title 5, and VA nurses are graded on Nurse Professional Standards Board levels rather than the GS scale, so a VA announcement asks for Title 38 fields instead of a GS grade.

Specialized Experience phrasings

• providing direct patient care in an inpatient, ambulatory, or community-based outpatient setting
• developing, implementing, and evaluating patient care plans based on evidence-based practice
• documenting care in the electronic health record in accordance with facility policy
• participating in quality improvement, patient safety, and infection prevention initiatives
• precepting, orienting, and mentoring clinical staff and students
• serving on interdisciplinary treatment teams and clinical committees
• maintaining compliance with Joint Commission and facility accreditation standards

Systems to name

VistA and CPRS, the Oracle Health (Cerner) platform deployed under VA Electronic Health Record Modernization, MHS GENESIS in the Military Health System, Bed Management Solution

Credentials worth listing

License with state, number, and expiration date; board certification and certifying board; BLS, ACLS, and PALS with expiration dates; specialty certifications such as CCRN, CEN, OCN, or CNOR; DEA registration and NPI number where applicable

PRIYA N. RAGHAVAN

3312 Wilson Boulevard, Apt 4B, Arlington, VA 22201

(571) 555-0143 | priya.raghavan.mpa@email.com

U.S. Citizen | Veterans' Preference: None | Highest Federal Grade Held: None | Qualifying basis: GS-09 via completed master's degree

Professional Summary

Management analyst with a Master of Public Administration and 3 years of combined program coordination, budget, and evaluation experience in county government and university research settings. Qualifies for GS-09 on the basis of a completed master's degree in a directly related field. Experience applying analytical and evaluative methods to program operations, developing and tracking performance measures, and preparing written reports and recommendations for senior management.

Education

Master of Public Administration, concentration in Public Financial Management

George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government, Arlington, VA

Graduated: 05/2025 | GPA: 3.71/4.0 | Credits earned: 39 semester hours

Relevant coursework: Program Evaluation, Public Budgeting and Finance, Applied Quantitative Methods, Public Sector Data Analysis

Capstone: evaluated on-time performance of a county workforce development grant across 4 subrecipients; findings adopted into the FY2025 subrecipient monitoring plan

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, minor in Statistics

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Graduated: 05/2022 | GPA: 3.42/4.0 | Credits earned: 122 semester hours

Superior Academic Achievement: upper third of graduating class, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Work Experience

Program Coordinator

Arlington County Department of Human Services, 2100 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22204

Salary: $61,400/year | 06/2025 to Present | 40 hours/week

Supervisor: Ana Delgado, (703) 555-0176 | May contact: Yes

Apply analytical and evaluative methods to the operations of a 4-program workforce services portfolio serving approximately 1,900 residents per year. Develop and track performance measures, prepare quarterly written reports and recommendations for the division chief, and coordinate with 3 community-based subrecipients on data reporting and corrective actions.

• (Context) Quarterly performance reporting was assembled by hand from 4 separate spreadsheets. (Challenge) The division chief needed the report 10 business days after quarter close and it was averaging 19. (Action) Rebuilt the reporting workbook around standardized intake fields and a single validated data extract, then wrote a 6-page procedure so any coordinator could run it. (Result) Cut turnaround from 19 to 6 business days and eliminated 3 recurring data quality errors.
• (Context) One subrecipient's participant completion rate had fallen to 54% against a 70% contract target. (Challenge) The contract was up for renewal in 5 months. (Action) Analyzed exit data by cohort, identified transportation as the leading exit reason, and drafted a corrective action plan with monthly milestones. (Result) Completion rate reached 71% within 2 quarters and the corrective action plan template was adopted for all 3 subrecipients.

Graduate Research Assistant

George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201

Salary: $22,500/year stipend | 08/2023 to 05/2025 | 20 hours/week

Supervisor: Dr. Kevin Osei, (703) 555-0134 | May contact: Yes

Gathered, cleaned, and analyzed program data for 2 federally funded evaluation studies. Built analysis files in R and Excel, prepared written summaries and briefing slides for the principal investigator, and drafted 2 sections of a final report delivered to the funding agency. Coauthored the methods section of an evaluation report later cited in a state legislative budget hearing.

Budget Intern

Prince William County Office of Management and Budget, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192

Salary: $18.50/hour | 05/2022 to 07/2023 | 40 hours/week

Supervisor: Marcus Bell, (571) 555-0198 | May contact: Yes

Supported formulation of a $1.4B county operating budget. Reconciled departmental submissions, built variance analyses for 6 departments, and drafted budget narrative sections for the adopted budget document.

ALLISON R. KEMP

1147 Chesapeake Landing, Annapolis, MD 21403

(410) 555-0127 | allison.kemp.fed@email.com

U.S. Citizen | Veterans' Preference: None | Highest Federal Grade Held: GS-14, Series 2210, 05/2019 to Present

Professional Summary

Supervisory IT Specialist (INFOSEC/PLCYPLN) with 15 years of federal information security experience, currently directing a 14-person federal branch and 22 contractor personnel against a $9.6M annual operating budget. Plan, manage, and evaluate the implementation of enterprise information security programs; develop and interpret agency-level IT policy and standards; serve as Contracting Officer's Representative on a $28.4M task order. IT-related experience demonstrating attention to detail, customer service, oral communication, and problem solving.

Work Experience

Supervisory IT Specialist (INFOSEC/PLCYPLN), GS-2210-14, Step 5

Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 1110 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201

Salary: $163,104/year | 05/2019 to Present | 40 hours/week

Supervisor: Raymond Ortiz, (703) 555-0165 | May contact: Yes

Supervise a branch of 14 federal employees (GS-09 through GS-13) and 22 contractor personnel across 3 teams. Hold delegated authority to approve performance plans, ratings, awards, and hiring selections for the branch. Manage a $9.6M annual operating budget and serve as Contracting Officer's Representative (FAC-COR Level III) on a $28.4M cybersecurity support task order. Develop and interpret agency-level information security policy and represent the agency at interagency working groups.

• (Context) The branch carried 214 open plan of action and milestones items across 9 systems, 61 of them past their scheduled completion date. (Challenge) A FISMA review was scheduled in 7 months and overdue milestones were the leading prior-year finding. (Action) Reorganized the branch into system-aligned teams, set a weekly remediation cadence with named owners, and negotiated 3 contract modifications shifting $1.4M from reporting support to remediation labor. (Result) Closed 58 of 61 overdue items in 5 months and cleared the prior-year FISMA finding.
• (Context) 9 systems were being assessed and authorized on independent schedules by 3 different assessors. (Challenge) Duplicated control testing consumed roughly 4,200 contractor hours per year. (Action) Consolidated the systems under a common control provider, rewrote the system security plans against inherited NIST SP 800-53 controls, and negotiated a single assessment schedule. (Result) Reduced assessed controls per system by 38% and returned an estimated $610K in contractor hours to remediation work.
• (Context) Directed to stand up continuous monitoring for a newly acquired mission system on a 90-day deadline. (Challenge) The system had no authorization to operate and no funded support. (Action) Wrote the funding justification, competed and awarded a task order through an existing vehicle as COR, and led the risk acceptance briefing to the Authorizing Official. (Result) Achieved authorization to operate in 84 days; the reporting package became the agency template for 4 subsequent system onboardings.

IT Specialist (INFOSEC), GS-2210-13, Step 6

Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 245 Murray Lane SW, Washington, DC 20528

Salary: $115,699/year at separation | 07/2011 to 04/2019 | 40 hours/week

Supervisor: Denise Whitaker, (202) 555-0121 | May contact: Yes

Served as information system security officer for 4 major applications. Conducted security assessments and authorizations under the NIST Risk Management Framework, maintained system security plans and continuous monitoring documentation, and led the agency response to 2 congressional data protection inquiries. Acted as team lead for 5 analysts for 14 months during a supervisory vacancy.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Information Systems

University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD

Graduated: 05/2010 | GPA: 3.28/4.0 | Credits earned: 121 semester hours

Certifications

CISSP, ISC2, obtained 09/2015, current through 09/2027

FAC-COR Level III, Department of Homeland Security, obtained 06/2019, current

CompTIA Security+ ce, obtained 04/2012, current through 04/2027

Security Clearance

Top Secret with SCI eligibility, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, investigation completed 03/2022