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Staff Assistant

Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice, counsel, and representation to support DOT’s safety responsibilities & transformative investments that modernizes our infrastructure & deliver cleaner & more equitable transportation systems. The Office assists in developing effective statutory & regulatory solutions to confront transportation challenges. The Office coordinates DOT’s legislative efforts, litigation, and international legal matters.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/10/2024 to 06/19/2024
Salary
$68,405 to - $107,590 per year

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule

Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OST.C-2024-0009
Control number
795028400

Duties

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As a Staff Assistant, you will:

  • Serves as Staff Assistant to the Deputy General Counsels and provides a variety of office management and administrative services to conserve the time of the Deputy General Counsels. Expedites time sensitive matters in a fast-paced environment, balancing competing priorities. Serves as a liaison between the Deputy General Counsels, immediate office staff and other organizations within the Department. Collaborates with other administrative personnel to ensure proper coordination.
  • Manages calendar and other engagements for the Deputy General Counsels. Schedules and deconflicts meetings consistent with the priorities of the Deputy General Counsels. Ensures that calendar invites include locations/hybrid access as appropriate, agendas or other information necessary for the meeting.
  • Assists in handling delicate and complicated inquiries, which may be verbal or written, by gathering background information and data on a wide variety of subjects in order to provide the Deputy General Counsels with authoritative information and material which is utilized in preparation of correspondence, reports, and other documents. Keeps informed of the current status of various general or special projects throughout the organization in which the Deputy General Counsels are especially interested.
  • Serves as the property custodian and point of contact for office technology issues (IT, computers, copier, and phones) for the front office and serves as a Records Liaison for the office and oversees records management, archiving, and disposal as outlined by the OGC records management schedule.
  • Arranges domestic and international travel by securing transportation and hotel reservations, prepares travel authorizations and vouchers, and prepares itinerary, ensuring that each traveler is aware of the documents necessary for approved travel and Government travel regulations.

The Office of the General Counsel is looking for a skilled professional with experience working in a fast paced and collaborative environment, with exceptional judgment, administrative skills (including MS Word, Power Point) and Excel), and attention to detail; excellent written and oral communication skills, strong analytical skills, an energetic and engaging personality, and a strength in displaying tact and diplomacy.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
  • You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 it must include:

  • Experience performing specialized office tasks in administrative and clerical support functions that include customer service; correspondence management, tracking information and documents; records management; managing calendars and meeting schedules for supervisor and managerial staff; and coordinating travel.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include:

  • Experience performing specialized office tasks in administrative and clerical support functions that include correspondence management, tracking information and documents; records management; managing calendars and meeting schedules for supervisor and managerial staff; and coordinating domestic and international travel.
  • Experience implementing administrative support procedures;
  • Experience researching and organizing factual information and preparing informational briefings, reports, and graphics based on findings from your research.


To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  1. Clerical - Knowledge of filing, typing, entering data, maintaining records, taking shorthand, and using and completing forms.
  2. Computer Skills - Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
  3. Administration and Management - Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production.
  4. Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.


For all types of consideration, 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

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

FOREIGN EDUCATION must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 

To compete with U.S. Citizens:  If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of two categories: Qualified and Well Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

To compete with other competitive status government employees: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

All applicants:  Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


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