Legal Assistant

The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders.

Duties

These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, DAS-Administrative Services, Office of Hearings and Appeals, Probate Hearings Division, Albuquerque Field Office, duty stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

At the full performance level (GS-07) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Receive and transfer phone calls, take and timely communicate phone messages in a professional manner; answer basic and routine questions and inquiries from interested parties; prepare and send faxes and emails; prepare and review time and attendance records.

2. Process all incoming mail, including correspondence from parties or attorneys, returned mail from notices and decisions, additional document submissions from agencies or other parties. Copy, mail, and scan documents.

3. Review incoming probate case material to ensure it is current and complete; maintain case files from initial filing to completion, correctly input data into docketing system on a timely basis, and search various system records when additional information is required. Maintain complete and orderly files in a manner that expedites retrieval; understand and ensure record and privacy requirements are followed.

4. Use online legal, tracking, or other resources and databases to obtain information. Retrieve and input data into electronic docketing systems; perform administrative duties using electronic databases, systems, and software.

5. Review outgoing decisions, notices, and other documents for grammatical and spelling errors.

6. Coordinate travel arrangements, prepare travel authorizations, and prepare vouchers in a timely manner.

7. Arrange facilities for conferences and hearings and prepare presentation material or background documentation.

8. Responsible for ordering and maintaining adequate supply inventories, tracking property, and ensuring equipment such as copiers, faxes, and shredders are maintained in good working order and in accordance with requirements.

Telework:
The Office of the Secretary has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for situational telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Salary Range Information (Per Annum):
GS-05:
$41,178 - $53,531 per annum

GS-06:$45,901 - $59,671 per annum
*First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as OS-6082-26-FS-003(DEU) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Competitive Examining procedures.

Salary

• $41,178 - $59,671/year

Conditions of Employment

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
5. 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 from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

To qualify for this position, you must meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements for the grade to which you are applying.

GS-05
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level you must meet the (A) Specialized Experience OR (B) Educational Requirement OR (C) Combination of Education and Experience for the grade to which you are applying.

NOTE: Applicants qualifying based in whole or part on education are required to provide transcripts (unofficial) as proof of meeting the requirements. Failure to provide the documents will result in you receiving an INELIGIBLE rating.

A. Specialized Experience
To qualify for the GS-05, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (MUST MEET ALL THREE)
1. Sorting, categorizing and distributing mail; AND
2. Using a paper AND electronic filing system; AND
3. Utilizing basic computer software skills to produce reports, correspondence, spreadsheets; and keeping calendars.

In addition to meeting ALL THREE statements defined above, applicants MUST MEET AT LEAST 2 of the following 5 specialized experience statements:
1. Performing data entry duties using a database, access or excel:
2. Utilizing customer service skills and phone etiquette;
3. Copying, mailing, and scanning;
4. Preparing travel authorizations, vouchers or making travel arrangements utilizing a computer online reservation system;
5. Acting as timekeeper for time and attendance purposes or in another payroll processing capacity.

-OR-

B. Education: Four full academic years (120 semester hours) beyond high school at an accredited institution.

-OR-

C. Combination of Education and Experience:
A combination of specialized experience and education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) that totals 100% of the requirement. For example, one full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.

NOTE: If qualifying in whole or in part on education you are REQUIRED to submit a copy of your unofficial or official transcript to verify education.

GS-06
To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level you must meet the Specialized Experience described below. NOTE: You may not substitute education for Specialized Experience at the GS-06 grade level.

Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-06, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience (MUST MEET ALL FOUR)
1. Sorting, categorizing and distributing mail; AND
2. Using a paper AND electronic filing system; AND
3. Copying, mailing, and scanning; AND
4. Utilizing basic computer software skills to produce reports, correspondence, spreadsheets; and keep calendars.

In addition, to meeting ALL FOUR statements defined above applicants MUST MEET AT LEAST 2 of the following 4 specialized experience statements:
1. Performing data entry duties using a database, access or excel;
2. Utilizing customer service skills and phone etiquette;
3. Preparing travel authorizations, vouchers or making travel arrangements utilizing a computer online reservation system;
4. Acting as timekeeper for time and attendance purposes or in another payroll processing capacity.

NOTE: A current and valid State Driver's License is required for both grade levels. Incumbent must be able to rent a car, and be available to travel periodically, by air or car, to remote locations within the United States.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements. Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 Other Information Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable) 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: - 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. 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. NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office. Required Documents

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume

Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words; (2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) SF-50's showing (1) your highest FPL, and (2) most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station. Please note that all SF-50's submitted must show that you are a status candidate or eligible under this announcement. Please refer to the eligibility in the online questionnaire for more information; (3) College transcript (if applicable) for verification of qualifying education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; (4) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable); (5) Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15, if eligible under VEOA or VRA; (6) Proof of eligibility if applying under a special appointing authority; (7) Current or former Government employees are strongly encouraged to submit a recent performance appraisal.

NOTE: Applicants claiming eligibility under VEOA or VRA, must submit a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy is preferred), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service (must be honorable); OR acceptable proof of verification of your preference (i.e., official document, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that the veterans total combined serviced-connected disability rating is 10% or more).

NOTE: Applicants claiming eligibility based on 30% or more service connected disability, you are required to submit documentation that is indicated on the SF-15 as acceptable proof of verification of your preference (i.e., official document, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying that the veterans total combined serviced-connected disability rating is 30% or more.
You will find additional information on the following topics: (1) e-Verify; (2) Selective Service; (3) CTAP/ICTAP; (4) Education - accreditation; (5) Foreign education; (6) Veterans preference; (7) Special appointing authority documentation; and more can be found on our web site: https://www.bsee.gov/careers/usajobs-assistance OR https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/boem-employment.

If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 or above (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.

DUE WEIGHT
Due Weight Consideration is a review process used to provide consideration to performance appraisals and awards submitted with each application on a used merit promotion certificate and factoring the results into the merit promotion selection process.

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

It is your responsibility to obtain and upload your performance appraisal/evaluation and/or list of awards prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement.

How to Apply

Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.

To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.