This vacancy is for a Clerk position in the Philadelphia, Regional Census Center located at the U.S. Census Bureau Philadelphia, PA.
This is a temporary promotion opportunity not-to-exceed (NTE) 2 years. This position may be extended or terminated earlier at management's discretion. At the conclusion of the temporary promotion, the employee will return to their position of record (please refer to the "Note" in Who May Apply regarding return rights).
This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.
A trial period may be required.
Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.
The work schedule for this position is Mixed Tour. With a Mixed Tour work schedule, an employee may be changed between full-time, part-time and intermittent work schedules to accommodate fluctuating workloads and is subject to a signed agreement.
Summary
This vacancy is for a Clerk position in the Philadelphia, Regional Census Center located at the U.S. Census Bureau Philadelphia, PA.
This is a temporary promotion opportunity not-to-exceed (NTE) 2 years. This position may be extended or terminated earlier at management's discretion. At the conclusion of the temporary promotion, the employee will return to their position of record (please refer to the "Note" in Who May Apply regarding return rights).
This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.
A trial period may be required.
Relocation expenses will NOT be paid.
The work schedule for this position is Mixed Tour. With a Mixed Tour work schedule, an employee may be changed between full-time, part-time and intermittent work schedules to accommodate fluctuating workloads and is subject to a signed agreement.
Performs a combination of administrative or clerical duties designed to support the responsibilities of the office assigned.
Assists employees by answering and resolving automated personnel/payroll system and other administrative problems.
Assists in the orientation of new employees by explaining clerical procedures in general and assists with on-the-job training.
Maintains a variety of logs and suspense files relating the reports, correspondence, or any other clerical matter.
Coordinates and implements an official personnel folder (OPF) filing system for the ACOs and a payroll filing system for the RO/RCC to which assigned.
From rough drafts or verbal instructions, types forms, memoranda and correspondence and any other clerical matter required.
Receives and reviews for accuracy and procedural compliance, weekly and biweekly payroll documents, and other forms related to timekeeping and payrolling for both the National Finance Center (NFC) system and Decennial Applicant Personnel & Payroll System (DAPPS).
Checks for completion and accuracy of personnel and time and attendance forms.
Receives, sorts, opens, and controls incoming mail. Maintains correspondence files. Reviews previously edited Census forms to assure their accuracy and verifies their receipt is recorded correctly in the office.
Assists with the workload distribution of the clerks to maintain flow and quality of work to ensure that work is completed on time and meets established Bureau standards.
Keeps supervisor apprised of work status and coordinates adjustments to accommodate priorities.
Registered for Selective Service if applicable (www.sss.gov)
Time-in-grade requirements must be met by announcement closing date.
Must be 18 years of age or older to be hired.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifications
Minimum Education Requirement: To be minimally qualified for this position applicants MUST have a typing proficiency of at least 40 words per minute with 3 or fewer errors based on a five-minute sample.
AND
Specialized Experience: For the GS-05, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-04 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes:
Experience in using computers for word processing, databases and automated systems for programmatic information, action item tracking, and document control.
OR
Education Substitution: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited business, secretarial, or technicial school, junior college, college or university may be substituted for the required experience for the grade 05. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet qualifications.
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Additional information
The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office at 301-763-4060. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED
Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager.
The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:
Knowledge of administrative support components, operations, and duties.
Ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing.
Skill in utilizing various office automation and tracking systems.
We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position(s). Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• Copies of applicable SF-50s "Notification of Personnel Action", to support claimed time in grade which shows grade/band levels to establish eligibility. If you are a former Census Bureau employee and no longer on the roster, you are responsible for submitting a copy of your SF-50. If you do not have a copy of your SF-50, please contact the National Archives and Records Administration at 314-801-9250 Option 2 and/or https://www.archives.gov/ to obtain instructions on how to obtain a copy.
• Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment, (Schedule A disability, 30 percent disabled veteran, certain military spouses, etc). Show proof of your disability. Documentation may be from any licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory to practice medicine), a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., State or private), or any Federal or State agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits;
• Your medical documentation should distinguish between disabilities that are temporary, or transient, versus disabilities, which are chronic, permanent, on-going, or unresolved with no end in sight.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
• Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
• Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/us/workrecogdoc. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.
• CTAP Eligibles
CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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 http://www.usajobs.gov/. To begin, click the "Apply" button and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. (After registering in your USAJOBS account and clicking "Submit," you will automatically transition to the Department of Commerce's specific site where you will complete your application. You must click "Submit" at the end of the application process to send your application for consideration.)
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov/ and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application."
If you have problems completing your online application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by email at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at 866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday—Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Philadelphia Regional Census Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
United States
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:
Application Received or Application Incomplete;
Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
Referred or Not Referred; and
Selected or Not Selected
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position(s). Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• Copies of applicable SF-50s "Notification of Personnel Action", to support claimed time in grade which shows grade/band levels to establish eligibility. If you are a former Census Bureau employee and no longer on the roster, you are responsible for submitting a copy of your SF-50. If you do not have a copy of your SF-50, please contact the National Archives and Records Administration at 314-801-9250 Option 2 and/or https://www.archives.gov/ to obtain instructions on how to obtain a copy.
• Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment, (Schedule A disability, 30 percent disabled veteran, certain military spouses, etc). Show proof of your disability. Documentation may be from any licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory to practice medicine), a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., State or private), or any Federal or State agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits;
• Your medical documentation should distinguish between disabilities that are temporary, or transient, versus disabilities, which are chronic, permanent, on-going, or unresolved with no end in sight.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
• Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
• Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/us/workrecogdoc. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.
• CTAP Eligibles
CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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 http://www.usajobs.gov/. To begin, click the "Apply" button and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. (After registering in your USAJOBS account and clicking "Submit," you will automatically transition to the Department of Commerce's specific site where you will complete your application. You must click "Submit" at the end of the application process to send your application for consideration.)
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov/ and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application."
If you have problems completing your online application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by email at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at 866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday—Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Philadelphia Regional Census Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
United States
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:
Application Received or Application Incomplete;
Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
Referred or Not Referred; and
Selected or Not Selected
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
