Victim Assistance Specialist

If selected for this position, you will serve as the Lead Victim Witness Specialist in the Criminal Section of the United States Attorney's Office . Typical work assignments will include:

• Orients and trains new and/or developmental victim assistance staff. Acts as mentor to victim assistance staff. Provides technical advice and guidance to other victim assistance staff, managers.
• Independently develops and maintains relationships with a network of Federal, state and local law enforcement personnel, investigative victim specialists and social service organizations to increase resources and services that more comprehensively serve crime victims.
• Interviews victims and assesses their immediate assistance needs. Identifies resources and provides referrals to crime victims, their families and witnesses.
• Assisting staff by securing a wide variety of specialized victim and witness services.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

GS-12: To be eligible at the GS 12 level, you must meet one full year of specialized experience as defined below.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience performing the following types of duties:analyzing victim-witness communication needs in order to develop and administer a comprehensive victim-witness program; developing program protocols, policies and operating procedures for the victim-witness assistance program; conducting workshops, seminars and meetings with victim-witness subject-matter specialist, state and local officials, and the news media; assisting crime victims with obtaining services such as interpreters, transportation, federal programs and funds,(i.e. Emergency Witness Assistance Program, Federal Crime Victim Assistance Fund, Trafficking Victims Protection Act, etc.); Provides victims with information pertaining to the criminal justice process, and the State Crime Victim Compensation Program application requirements. Responds to victims concerning the specific difficulties they may experience as a result of a crime; Provides information to victims on schedule changes, status of defendant's pleas, results of trial, whether a defendant is incarcerated and for how long, opportunities to address the court, and post-sentencing notification; Ensures Victim Notification System is current and up to date. Collects and inputs contact information and generates notifications as necessary.


Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.