Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 25-01 Department U. S. Sentencing Commission
Salary $99,200.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/6/2024 Close Date 12/4/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The United States Sentencing Commission is looking for an Education and Sentencing Practice Specialist. The incumbent is responsible for developing and delivering training programs for probation officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges on the federal sentencing guidelines and related sentencing issues. This position requires relocation to the Washington D.C. metro area and requires moderate to frequent travel within the 50 states and territories of the United States.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Delivering online and in-person training of federal probation officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and federal judges on federal sentencing guidelines.
  • Developing visual training materials on federal sentencing.
  • Provide guideline application assistance to federal probation officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and federal judges through the Commission's "Helpline."
  • Work collaboratively with all Commission staff to create effective training programs.
  • Represent the Commission at professional conferences.
  • Participating with multi-disciplinary staff policy teams that focus on developing proposed sentencing guideline amendments.
  • Completing other duties as assigned by the Deputy Director of ESP, the Director of ESP, or by the Staff Director.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
  • Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college in criminal justice or a related field.
  • Applicants must have a minimum of four years' experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.
  • Applicants must have at least one year of specialized work experience equivalent to the previous level in the federal service. For example, one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level is required to qualify for appointment at the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as progressively responsible work experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable the individual to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position.
  • Applicants must possess excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact successfully with outside constituents and agency staff at all levels.
Applicants must have demonstrated work experience related to the mandatory requirements listed below and must address the qualification requirements in an attached cover letter.
  • Knowledge of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 and the functions of the Commission.
  • Expertise in federal sentencing guideline application.
  • Demonstrated aptitude as a trainer or instructor.
  • Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
  • Ability to work well as a member of a team and independently.
  • Ability to maintain effective working relationships with agency staff at all levels as well as with key individuals in a variety of other federal organizations and interest groups, including the United States Probation Office and Pretrial Services, Federal Judicial Center, Defender Services, and Department of Justice, among others.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preference will be given to applicants with one or more of the following areas of experience:
  • Experience as a federal probation officer, prosecutor, or defense attorney.
  • Experience as a trainer or instructor.
  • Experience in developing instructor-led training programs and materials.
  • Experience with techniques of assessing training needs for training programs.

BENEFITS
The Commission participates in the following federal benefits:

  • The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program
  • The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
  • The Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program
  • Federal Retirement
  • Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
  • The Federal Leave Program
In addition, the Commission participates in the Judiciary's Flexible Spending Program for dependent care, health care, and commuter reimbursement, the government-wide Long Term Care Insurance Program, unemployment, and workers' compensation benefits.

The Commission is conveniently located next to Union Station on Capitol Hill, and is easily accessible by public transportation, including the Metro, and the MARC and VRE commuter trains. In addition to the federal benefits package, the Commission's location in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building offers various amenities such as a health unit, credit union, day care center, food services, and free on-site fitness center.

The Commission offers a monthly transit subsidy to employees who use mass transit to commute to and from work, subject to the availability of funds.

The Commission offers alternative work schedules (AWS), which are fixed work schedules that enable full-time employees to complete the basic 80-hour biweekly work requirement in less than 10 workdays.

The Commission offers regular telework (not full-time) to employees in positions deemed eligible by the staff director and who meet the requirements of an approved telework arrangement in which an employee performs official duties at home or at an approved telework site. The current policy allows this position to regularly telework up to three days per week.

The Commission also offers training opportunities to employees through LinkedIn Learning, and the Judiciary's Online University, which offers academic credit and professional credit programs through web-based learning. These training tools assist Commission employees with taking online courses in a flexible way, by offering training courses in the areas of: staff training and development; credit toward undergraduate degree programs; continuing education and non-credit certificate programs; executive education; contract training; credit credentials courses for continuing professional education and credit for individuals who hold credentials and achieve certifications associated with several globally-recognized sponsored organizations.

Education

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college in criminal justice or a related field.

Additional information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

  • This position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of positions in the competitive Civil Service.
  • All information is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false answers or omissions of information on application materials or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
  • Selection for this position is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment during the pre-employment process and proof of U.S. citizenship or, for noncitizens, proof of authorization to work in the United States and proof of entitlement to receive compensation. Additional information on the employment of non-citizens can be found at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/. For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, please refer to http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf.
  • The Commission participates in E-Verify and will confirm your authorization to work in the United States.
  • A background security investigation is required for all selectees. Appointment will be subject to a selectee's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. A background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.
  • All new Commission employees must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay before appointment, mandated by the Federal Compensation Act.
  • All new Commission employees, those converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent appointment, and all rehired former Commission employees are required to serve a one-year probationary period. The probationary period begins on the effective date of the employee's appointment, conversion, or rehire.
  • Applicant must relocate to the Washington DC Metropolitan area.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Commission evaluates applicants through a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary virtual interview. Applicants who do not address the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) in his or her application materials as stated in the vacancy announcement are automatically disqualified from consideration and must re-apply before the closing date to be considered for employment.

Required Documents

  • Resume
  • Cover letter that addresses all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement
  • If available, please provide a recent job performance evaluation
  • If available, please provide college transcripts

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

In order to be considered, all applicants must submit an electronic resume and cover letter that address all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and if available, provide a recent job performance evaluation and college transcripts. Applicants will also need to complete the online occupational questionnaire. All applications must be submitted at www.usajobs.gov.

Agency contact information

Corinne Smith
Address
United States Sentencing Commission
One Columbus Circle NE Suite 2-500
Washington, DC 20002
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

The Office of Human Resources:

  • Reviews the applicant's application to ensure the proper materials are submitted.
  • Ensures that the application addresses all of the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) as stated in the vacancy announcement.
  • Determines whether the applicant meets the qualification requirements for the particular position and notifies the applicant about the status of his or her application.
Applicants who meet the mandatory qualification requirements will be considered and their application materials will be forwarded to the screening panel for review. Applicants who do not meet the mandatory qualification requirements for the position are automatically disqualified from consideration. In addition, some applicants may be tested using various assessment tools not listed on the vacancy announcement to verify an applicant's experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for consideration and selection.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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