Summary
These positions are being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's delegated Direct Hire Authority, open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Three" do not apply.
NOTE: This IS NOT a remote or virtual position.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens
Duties
- This announcement serves as public notice. Applications submitted will be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available.
- Vacancies may be filled for up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement. Applicants may not receive notifications of referral status until the full 6-month eligibility period has elapsed.
- Applications may be gathered from additional recruitment sources. These will be added to the pool created by this announcement.
- The GS-986-05 PD #9F002Y is an entry-level developmental position description (PD) leading to the full performance PD: Legal Assistant, GS-986-08-#9F0020.
- The incumbent at the GS-05 level works in a trainee capacity towards the full performance position; designed to provide experience and technical competence in the methods, procedures, principles and techniques of the full performance level.
- The GS-986-06 PD #9F002X is a mid-level developmental position description (PD) leading to the full performance PD: Legal Assistant, GS-986-08-#9F0020. At this level, the incumbent continues to seek advice from the supervisor or manager.
- At the mid-level: Management devises structured training and development activities to provide experience and technical competence in the principles, methods, and procedures of the full performance level
- The GS-986-07 PD #9F002W is an advanced developmental position description (PD) leading to the full performance PD: Legal Assistant, GS-986-08-#9F0020. The duties at this level are characteristic of the full performance PD.
- At the advanced level: Management will gradually broaden work assignments so that the incumbent can perform all of the duties of the full performance level.
- The supervisor or manager may noncompetitively promote the incumbent to the next grade provided work at the higher level continues to exist,
- (cont'd) the incumbent has demonstrated the ability to perform it, and the incumbent meets time-in-grade and other administrative requirements.
- At the full performance level: The incumbent provides quasi-legal assistance support to administrative law judges (ALJs), other professionals, and technical staff members
- (cont'd) within the office on claims filed for entitlement to benefits pursuant to titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended (the Act), at the administrative appeals level.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
- Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
- Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
- Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
- Relocation expenses will not be paid
- All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
To qualify for the GS-5: Applicants must meet at least one of the qualifications below:
- At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-4 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes utilizing knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices that support legal activities; Applying laws, rules or regulations and written guidelines; Communicating orally in order to provide information, assistance, or instructions to members of the general public or their representatives; Performing administrative and clerical processes using a computer; Writing correspondence in response to inquiries and drafting a variety of other written products.
- Completed four (4) full years of education above high school level leading to a bachelor's degree.
- Have less than the amount of education or experience as described above; however, when combined, their education and experience total 100% of the requirements.
- NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate claimed education. You will not be considered if a transcript is not provided with your application.
To qualify for the GS-6: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: researching, interpreting and applying complex laws, regulations and written guidelines (e.g., Federal, State or County laws); reviewing legal or medical documents for accuracy in accordance with applicable rules and regulations; communicating orally and in writing with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds to provide advice/guidance on case processing procedures, program policies, benefits, and other program related matters; managing large volumes of work and prioritizing workloads; performing administrative and clerical processes using a computer and other automated management systems to retrieve data, prepare reports, monitor cases, and write correspondence.
To qualify for the GS-7: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-6 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: researching, interpreting and applying complex laws, regulations and written guidelines (e.g., Federal, State or County laws); reviewing legal or medical documents for accuracy in accordance with applicable rules and regulations; communicating orally and in writing with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds to provide advice/guidance on case processing procedures, program policies, benefits, and other program related matters; managing large volumes of work and prioritizing workloads; performing administrative and clerical processes using a computer and other automated management systems to retrieve data, prepare reports, monitor cases, and write correspondence; experience requesting and reviewing documentary medical evidence to be used in legal proceedings.
NOTE: Your resume must provide sufficient experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your experience, education, knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as they relate to this position. Your resume and supporting documents must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. Describe duties you perform (not just knowledge, skills and abilities) as they relate to the specialized experience required for this position. Be clear, accurate and specific when describing your experience; e.g., list all positions separately, include full start and stop dates for each position, your work schedule (number of hours per week), your grade (if your position is federal) and a comprehensive description of the relevant duties you performed in each position.
This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. Please submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position. If your application materials do not demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and/or education needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration.
Education
Providing Proof of Education or Substituting Education
For information on providing proof of education or substituting education for experience, visit:
General Schedule Qualification Standards (opm.gov)
If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.
Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
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.
Review our 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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12430141
Required Documents
You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.
INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:
- proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
- proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.
For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
Veteran's preference does not apply under this Direct Hire Authority.
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
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact OPE Staffing DCHO at OPE.Staffing.DCHO@ssa.gov or 410-965-1234.
Individuals with disabilities may also call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
Next steps
Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews; the announcement contact person is not involved in the interview process at all and will have no information to provide about interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
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