Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

The primary purpose of this position is to perform research and finalize written materials, including executive correspondence, to ensure consistent and accurate representation of the Director's position on strategic program matters and operations.

Duties performed:

• Reviewing materials for appropriateness and determine if a rewrite is required for submissions to ensure clarity, accuracy, plain language, and consistent style.
• Preparing and organizing briefing materials and informational documents based on input from subject matter experts and multiple sources.
• Providing procedural and technical advice, interpretations, and guidance to staff regarding the preparation of written materials and workflow.
• Coordinating with internal offices to route requests for information, ensuring proper review and tracking.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• This Position requires a pre-employment drug test, and a negative drug test result prior to appointment into the position must be achieved.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• License required: No
• Pre-employment physical required: No
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
• Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
• Essential Personnel Designation: This Position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of unscheduled leave or government closures due to weather, protests, acts of terrorism, or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 USC § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as appropriate).

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification/Specialized Experience

Minimum Qualifications:

GS-11: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

1. Researching information from multiple sources to support policy objectives and operational activities;
2. Preparing documentation by organizing content from subject matter experts to ensure there is clarity and accuracy;
3. Communicating with staff on document preparation procedures to assist with monitoring correspondence deadlines that ensure timely responses; and
4. Generating documentation on policy-related issues in accordance with established clearance guidelines.

OR

You have a Ph.D or equivalent graduate degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.M., if related, at an accredited college or university in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

You have one year of specialized experience as described above and less than 3 years of graduate level education as described that, when combined, equal 100% of the qualification requirement. Note: Only graduate education in excess of the master's level [generally 36 semester hours] may be used in this calculation.

Specialized Experience:

GS-12: Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

1. Developing background materials to support timely and accurate responses to correspondence;
2. Researching programs and policies to prepare content for briefings, testimony, or other written documents for managers and senior leadership;
3. Coordinating with program managers and administrative staff to ensure information reflects current trends and accurate data;
4. Editing written input from multiple contributors into cohesive documents for senior leadership; and
5. Analyzing correspondence data to track timelines, workflow, and quality of responses.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Limit your resume to two pages. Only resumes 2 pages in length will be accepted to determine eligibility and qualifications.

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

NOTE: 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.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

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.

Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following quality 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.

The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). Veteran preference eligibles will receive selection consideration before non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

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

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12929951

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume showing a detailed description of your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates with the month and year and hours worked per week (if less than 40) for each paid and non-paid work experience job title listed. Limit your resume to two pages. Only resumes 2 pages in length will be accepted to determine eligibility and qualifications.

2. Other supporting documents (only submit if applicable to you):

• Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or a list of coursework with hours completed.
• Are you claiming veterans' preference?
  • Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other notice form
  • If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) and provide an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other required documentation based on your preference.
  • If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date you submit your application. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
  • For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP)? If so, submit the documents applicable to you:
  • A copy of the documentation demonstrating your status as a surplus or displaced employee (See OPM's Career Transition Guide for additional information regarding these statuses);
  • A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action," noting your position, grade level, and duty location. If you have already separated, submit a copy of your SF-50 documenting your separation;
  • A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating (if your separation notice does not have this information included); and
  • Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? 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. 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.

Next steps