Interstate Compact Assistant (OA)

Clarification from the agency

Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligibles): Applications will be accepted from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities such as the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), Disabilities Program, etc.

The position is further assigned to the Interstate Branch, a division of OCSIS responsible for working closely with the criminal justice system and community leaders in providing the full range of comprehensive services to support the fair administration of justice, increase public safety, prevent crime, and reduce recidivism. The Division administers the community supervision program, and provides a variety of administrative, analysis, and program management services.

Interstate Compact Program Support

• Provides technical assistance affiliated with program assignments, such as maintaining and updating caseload information on supervisees who are transferred to other jurisdictions.
• Performs record checks and address/location searches of offenders' localities, including, but not limited to, tracking placement in custodial facilities. Document searches in the Agency automatic record systems. Reviews, routes and files incoming correspondence from interstate offices in other jurisdictions.
• Requests and reviews progress reports for offenders and notifies Community Supervisor Officers (CSO) of status changes.

Office Automation (Administrative & Clerical Support)

• Office automation refers to the use of computer systems and software to perform a variety of office tasks that were traditionally done manually. This includes collecting, storing, modifying, and sharing information digitally.
• Integrates several types of software, such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, desktop publishing, and graphics applications, to generate specific working documents and forms. Selects an appropriate system, application, and format for producing program support materials to meet specific requirements.
• Performs general administrative office and clerical duties and activities that includes managing files and records for various purposes such as client files. Maintaining, retrieving, and entering data or information using a database software program. Creates, designs, or prepares forms, reports, memos, letters, producing charts and graphs, spreadsheets, and other documents.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable
• Background security investigation, drug test, and favorable adjudication
• May be required to successfully complete a one year probationary period (unless already completed).
• Time-in-grade requirements must be met within 30 calendar day of the closing date of this announcement All
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments directly deposited into a financial institution of their choosing.
• This is not a virtual or remote position; you must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location which is Washington D.C. (District of Columbia).

Qualifications

Time-in-Grade: Current or former federal employees who have held a GS position in the preceding 52 weeks, must meet the time in grade requirement. To be eligible for the GS-05 position, applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-04 or higher in the Federal Service. To be eligible for the GS-06 position, applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-05 or higher in the Federal service.

To be minimally qualified at the GS-05 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have: One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade (GS-04 or equivalent in other pay scales) within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.
Specialized experience is defined as: Having administrative and clerical experience performing general administrative office and clerical duties and activities to include all the following:

• Customer Service: Answering telephones, providing information to callers, taking messages, or transferring calls to appropriate individuals. Handling inquiries and directing callers to the appropriate persons based on their needs.
• Experience providing customer service and technical support via telephone, email, instant messaging, and live chat software tools.
• Reviewing incoming mail and correspondence and distributing it to the appropriate office or individuals in a business environment.
• Scheduling and confirming appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors.
• Using computers to create, maintain, and enter data or information into a database software program.
• Managing files or records for an office, department, or organization using an electronic filing program or database.
• Creating and preparing forms, reports, memos, letters, spreadsheets, presentations, and other documents using computers and software applications like Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office, specifically MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel.
• Strong reading comprehension. Understands or comprehends written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents or instructional materials.

Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR GS-05 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed four (4) years of education above the high school level (bachelor's or undergraduate degree) in any field which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite? (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application).
OR
Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application). Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (more than the first 60 semester hours) and specialized experience.

To be minimally qualified at the GS-06 entry grade level, applicants must minimally have: One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade (GS-05 or equivalent in other pay scales) within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.
Specialized experience is defined as: Having administrative and clerical experience performing general administrative office and clerical duties and activities to include all the following:

• Customer Service: Answering telephones, providing information to callers, taking messages, or transferring calls to appropriate individuals. Handling inquiries and directing callers to the appropriate persons based on their needs.
• Experience providing customer service and technical support via telephone, email, instant messaging, and live chat software tools.
• Reviewing incoming mail and correspondence and distributing it to the appropriate office or individuals in a business environment.
• Maintaining and ordering supplies.
• Scheduling and confirming appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors.
• Maintaining and scheduling a work and/or office calendar.
• Using computers to create, maintain, and enter data or information into a database software program.
• Managing files or records for an office, department, or organization using an electronic filing program or database.
• Creating and preparing forms, reports, memos, letters, spreadsheets, presentations, and other documents using computers and software applications like Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office, specifically MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel.
• Conducting research to find needed information or data using sources as the Internet, organizational manuals, statistical data reports, miscellaneous related reports, or other available resources to obtain valid data or information to create research reports or findings.
• Creating, maintaining, updating, and documenting data or information in client or individual case files in accordance with company or organizational requirements and policies.
• Strong reading comprehension. Understands or comprehends written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents or instructional materials.

Education is not substitutable for specialized experience at the GS-06 grade level.

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.

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):

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

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.

You must submit a complete Application Package which includes: -Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process). To apply for this position, - Your 2 page resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. - Other supporting documents: - Cover Letter, optional - College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education - Most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service) - DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities. https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans. - Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable - Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and will not be considered any further.

Next steps