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Law Enforcement Assistant (OA)

Department of the Interior
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Office of Justice Services

Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, District 1-Great Plains and Midwest Regions in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Billings, Montana; Fort Washakie, Wyoming; Fort Yates, North Dakota; Lower Brule, South Dakota; Nett Lake, Minnesota; Owyhee, Nevada; San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico; Towaoc, Colorado.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$40,736 - $53,531 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Promotion potential
8
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
ST-26-13040671-CAWV-SM
Control number
883397700

Duties

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As Law Enforcement Assistant (OA), GS-0303, your typical work assignments may include, but not limited to:

  • Perform program support functions for the Agency office programs and activities. Serve as a technical lead for lower graded assistants and clerks and is responsible for ensuring continuity and uniformity of clerical procedures.
  • Perform work involving the collection, compilation, and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of the Agency's program operation.
  • Maintain automated system of program specific-data to track items such as progress reports, funding accomplishments, compliance strategies, etc.
  • Coordinate the receipt and processing of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, refers requests to proper personnel and follows up with the status of the request.
  • Track and monitor grants, service contracts, purchasing agreements with vendors and interagency cooperative agreements.
  • Order and purchase supplies and equipment for the Agency office and process supply transactions such as receipt, shipment, and/or adjustment documents.
  • Maintain the Agency budget and serve as a liaison to the budget office. Review the Agency's budget submissions for technical accuracy, completeness, and adequacy of funds.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated
  • A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
  • Incumbent is required to operate a government motor vehicle, must possess a valid driver's license, and have a safe driving record within the 4 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards)

GS-05:
To qualify at the GS-05 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A. Specialized Experience - To qualify at the GS-05 grade level, you must have one year specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-04 grade level performing office automation work for an office. Experience at this level may include reviewing correspondence, reports and similar documents ensuring proper grammar, spelling, punctuation and format is used; answering telephones and greeting visitors; utilizing standard office equipment, such as a fax machine, copier and computer; and maintaining office files and/or records.
OR
B. Education - Four full academic years (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) beyond high school at an accredited institution.
OR
C. A combination of education and specialized experience that totals 100% of the requirement.

Typing Proficiency Requirement: 40 words per minute.

Physical Demands
The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Work Environment
Work is performed in an office setting, which Is adequately light. heated and ventilated, with some travel to other locations to attend meetings/conferences as requested.

OTHER
This position may require travel or periods away from the normal duty station and may include remote or isolated sites. Based on operational necessity, TDY away from duty station in support of other OLES units requires travel by air. The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and or overtime.

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 announcement closing date.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Additional information

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2026 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Albuquerque, New Mexico; Billings, Montana; Fort Washakie, Wyoming; Fort Yates, North Dakota; Lower Brule, South Dakota; Nett Lake, Minnesota; Owyhee, Nevada; San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico; Towaoc, Colorado. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart.

The full performance level of this position is GS-8. 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. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed.

The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. 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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application package will be evaluated against the minimum qualification requirements specified above. In order to qualify, your resume must specifically describe your work history and the duties you performed in each position.

Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date of 09/17/2026 to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position.

Please follow all instructions carefully, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including USA Hire. These assessments measure the critical competencies required to successfully perform the job.

  • Accountability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Clerical
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles. For more information, please visit: https://www.bia.gov/jobs.

DUE WEIGHT FOR PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS AND AWARDS. For Current and Former Federal Employees, due weight will be given for performance and awards. 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.

REVIEW BEFORE YOU SUBMIT: You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13040671.

Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs

BIA's mission is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives.

Indian Affairs (IA) provides services to 575 federally recognized tribes with a population of about 2.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. While the role of IA has changed significantly in the last three decades in response to a greater emphasis on Indian self-governance and self-determination, Tribes still look to IA for a broad spectrum of programs such as social services, law enforcement and detention services, administration of Tribal courts, natural resources management, economic development, implementation of land and water claim settlements, housing improvement, disaster relief, and the replacement and maintenance of schools, roads, and bridges.

Agency contact information

Sandra Medina-Avalos
Phone
602-842-9167
Email
sandra.medina-avalos@bia.gov
Address
AS-IA Human Resources
12220 Sunrise Valley Dr., Room 4047
Reston, VA 20191
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.bia.gov/

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