Clarification from the agency

This job announcement opportunity is open to all U.S. citizens.

The incumbent must be a customer service professional who can work in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. Things happen quickly and continuously in this position, and the incumbent will find the need to move from one task to another without much time in between or juggling multiple duties at the same time.

As a Civilian Pay Technician (Office Automation), at the full performance level, you will perform the following duties:

• Coordinate and provide technical assistance and training for timekeeping and related payroll activities;
• Provide guidance and assistance to employees on various payroll programs and actions;
• Review and reconcile a variety of bi-weekly payroll reports;
• Respond to pay and leave inquiries;
• Audit payroll and leave accounts to determine accuracy and, if required, initiate action to process an adjustment; and
• Research, analyze and prepare reports.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment.

Qualifications

GS-05: You qualify for the GS-05 grade level if you possess one of the following:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service, performing duties such as:

• Providing courteous and timely customer service by phone and email;
• Maintaining files to include uploading documentation electronically in an organized format for specialist or supervisory reference and review; and
• Monitoring workload to ensure statuses are accurate and up to date.

OR

Education: Four years of successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed education and experience maybe used to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-05 position. Combinations are computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable.

GS-06: You qualify for the GS-06 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service, performing duties such as:

• Processing basic payroll actions; and
• Using computers and software programs to extract, revise, or sort information from files, records, or databases.

GS-07: You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service, performing duties such as:

• Processing routine pay transactions;
• Reviewing, analyzing, and completing appropriate forms for input into automated payroll systems; and
• Generating and reviewing system output reports.

Typing Proficiency Requirement: In addition to meeting the qualifications listed above, applicants must be able to type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors. Applicants may meet these requirements by passing the appropriate performance test, presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certificates by the Office of Personnel Management local office, or by self-certifying their proficiency.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the POC listed below.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The assessment 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 the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Interviews may be required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligible and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligible within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

Federal Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP/RPL/ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not eligible for consideration as a CTAP, RPL, ICTAP candidate. Visit the OPM website for information on eligibility and how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP candidate. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements, specialized experience, all selective factors, and be placed in the well qualified category for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

1. Resume Note: For what to include in the resume, click the link.
   • Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
   • In describing your experience on your resume, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumption regarding your experience.
   • Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
2. Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or a list of coursework with hours completed. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
3. Are you a surplus or displaced employee claiming special priority selection rights under CTAP, RPL, ICTAP? You must submit a copy of your agency Reduction in Force (RIF) notice or Certification of Expected Separation; a copy of your RIF separation SF-50 or your most recent SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location; and a copy of your most recent performance rating. For RPL candidates eligible based on compensable injury, you must also submit documentation showing injury compensation benefits cease or the Department of Labor denies an appeal for continuation of injury compensation benefits.
4. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title, type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), agency and beginning and ending dates of appointment.

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