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Legal Assistant

Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Departmental Cases Hearings Division
This job announcement has closed

Summary

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.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/10/2023 to 06/30/2023
Salary
$37,696 to - $60,703 per year

First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Salt Lake City, UT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OS-6082-23-JB-156(DEU)
Control number
730906500

Duties

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This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Office of Hearings and Appeals, Departmental Cases Hearings Division, Salt Lake City, UT

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 communicate phone messages. Answer basic and routine questions and inquiries from interested parties.
2. Prepare time and attendance records. Coordinate travel arrangements and prepare travel authorizations and vouchers. Arrange facilities for meetings and hearings and prepare appropriate background documentation.
3. Pick up, sort, categorize and distribute incoming documents and mail. Copy, mail and scan documents and case files. Process and review outgoing orders, notices, decisions, and correspondence ensuring adherence to office policy and procedure, and for proper format, grammar and spelling.
4. Serve as a point person and coordinate with building management on maintenance issues related to the office space; coordinate service calls on or deliveries of office equipment; track receipt of property and disposal of property under the direction of management and in accordance with regulations.
5. Review and maintain case file materials. Assures files are complete, by obtaining additional documentation when required. Establish and maintain complete and orderly files in a manner that expedites retrieval. Assures files and records, including electronic, are in compliance with office and Departmental records management controls.
6. Monitor, order and maintain adequate supply inventories needed to maintain the office. Ensure office equipment (copiers, fax machines, postal machines, shredders, etc.) are maintained in good working order.
7. Perform administrative duties using Microsoft Office 365, Google and Adobe software, and specialized and/or Departmental electronic databases, systems, and software. Ability to use online databases to provide and obtain information as needed.
8. Utilize and develop expertise in OHA IT systems, such as the electronic filing and case docket management system. Provides assistance to all internal and external customers on the electronic filing and case docket management system. Monitors issues and performs adjustments as directed to the electronic filing and case docket management system.
9. Work in a professional environment maintaining secure and confidential information. Understand and ensure record and privacy requirements.

OS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework on a situational basis with supervisor approval. This position is not approved for 100% telework or virtual work and the employee would be expected to report to the duty station of Salt Lake City, UT

Salary Range Information:
GS-05: ($37,696 - $49,009) per annum.
GS-06: ($42,022 - $54,625) per annum.
GS-07: ($46,696 - $60,703) 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-6082-23-JB-157(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Requirements

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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 following for the grade to which you are applying

GS-05
ALL applicants must meet the requirements for the GS-05 grade level via A, B, or C below:

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 4)

1) Performing general office support functions. Examples: Utilizing customer service skills and phone etiquette; Using a paper and/or electronic filing system; Copying, mailing and scanning; Performing data entry duties.
2) Processing, reviewing, and proofreading documents.
3) Utilizing basic computer software skills such as Microsoft Word to produce correspondence.
4) Utilizing an electronic system to track work.

OR

B. Education: Four full years (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) beyond high school at an accredited institution.

OR

C. Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: A substitution of an appropriate combination of experience and education for experience. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

NOTE: If you are substituting education for specialized experience, you must provide transcripts in order to verify that the educational substitution requirement has been met. This information must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide this information will result in your receiving an "INELIGIBLE" rating

GS-06
To qualify for GS-06 you must meet the specialized experience below.

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 5)

1) Performing general office support functions. Examples: Utilizing customer service skills and phone etiquette; Using a paper and/or electronic filing system; Copying, mailing and scanning; Performing data entry duties.
2) Processing, reviewing, and proofreading standard legal documents.
3) Utilizing basic computer software skills such as Microsoft Word to produce correspondence.
4) Utilizing an electronic system to track work.
5) Reviewing case files and legal documents for completeness.

GS-07
To qualify for GS-07 you must meet the specialized experience below.

Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-07, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 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 6)

1) Performing general office support functions. Examples: Utilizing customer service skills and phone etiquette; Using a paper and/or electronic filing system; Copying, mailing and scanning; Performing data entry duties.
2) Processing, reviewing, and proofreading complex legal documents.
3) Utilizing computer software skills such as Microsoft Word to produce complex correspondence or legal documents which may require special formatting.
4) Making travel arrangements utilizing a computer online reservation system AND arranging facilities for meetings and hearings, to include preparing appropriate background documentation.
5) Utilizing an electronic system to track work.
6) Reviewing case files and legal documents for completeness and reaching out to appropriate parties to obtain additional information or documentation as needed.

NOTE: A valid and current State Driver's License is preferred, but not required.

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.

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

Additional 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.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "Platinum", "Gold", and "Silver". However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "Platinum" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

Technology Application - Knowledge of word processing and electronic storage and accessing of information. Uses case management, electronic filing, or other IT tracking systems. Knowledge of IT tracking systems. Uses machines, tools, or equipment effectively, including computers, copiers, fax machines and their associated software applications. Produces a variety of documents and materials using a wide range of office software applications.

Clerical - Ensures successful business operations by performing a variety of administrative and clerical duties on a daily basis.

Technical Competence - Knowledge of how to perform one's job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience. Knowledge and application of appropriate procedures or processes for completing work.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12002742

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