Office Automation Assistant (OA) Job in Jeffersonville, IN

Vacancy No. 25-DSB-12608520-DE-MP Department U.S. Census Bureau
Salary $39,576.00 to $51,446.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/15/2024 Close Date 11/22/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Jeffersonville, IN


Summary

Applications under this job opportunity announcement will be considered under external competitive procedures only. This vacancy is also being advertised under merit promotion procedures as 25-DSB-12608519-ST-MP which can be accessed at http://jobsearch.USAJOBS.gov/

Duties

This job opportunity is located in the Document Services Branch (DSB), National Processing Center (NPC), Jeffersonville, IN. This position performs office automation assignments to provide general office clerical support. This position is included in the bargaining unit. The individual selected for this position will:

  • Perform duties as timekeeper for the branch, establishing time keeping codes and assisting units with proper codes needed to charge time;
  • Assist supervisors in keying time for their employees when needed; prepare, review and modify the time entry report and maintain the time and attendance reports for the branch;
  • Assist employees and supervisor in preparing the document for leave without pay (LWOP), family medical leave (FMLA), request for advance sick leave, reports, donor leave programs, etc for the branch;
  • Edit and reformat electronic drafts of documents that often require graphics and tables; transmit and receive documents electronically; proofread materials to ensure conformance with office standards;
  • Develop training aids for use by office members and provides them with hands-on-training;
  • Perform simple troubleshooting of systems and/or software problems encountered by coworkers.

Tour of Duty: Hours will range between 6:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Alternate Work Schedule is available. Alternate Work Schedule is an 80-hour biweekly basic work requirement that is scheduled in less than 10 days; i.e., eight 9-hour days/nights, one 8-hour day/night, and one day off. Various flexible work schedules are available.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Candidates must clear the fingerprint process and initiate the required background investigation prior to final selection.

A one-year probationary period will be required.

Qualifications

Minimum qualification requirements: Applicants MUST have a typing proficiency of at least 40 words per minute with 3 or fewer errors based on a five-minute sample and the experience or education as listed below or a combination of both experience and education beyond high school. Applicants may meet the typing requirement by answering Yes to the typing ability question in the online job assessment questionnaire.

Specialized Experience: You qualify at the grade 05 level if you possess one year of specialized experience that equips you with the skills needed to perform the job duties. This specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the grade 04 level to meet the qualification requirements in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as experience in clerical support work with general office automation software, including word processing and spreadsheets and using a computer-based data system to prepare reports and process time and attendance.

Education Substitution: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited business, secretarial, or technical school, junior college, college or university may be substituted for the required experience for the grade 05.Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet qualification.

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.

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Special Hiring Authorities

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining a rating of at least 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: USAJOBS Help Center | Unique Hiring PathsUSAJOBS Help Center | Unique Hiring Paths

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your Reduction In Force (RIF) separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", - noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your last performance appraisal including rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
  1. A copy of your Reduction In Force (RIF) separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement.
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, notify the Human Resources Branch. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Branch via the Federal Relay Service, 1-812-218-3610.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factor.

Employees who receive a buyout and subsequently return to positions in a Federal agency within 5 years after the date of separation, on which the payment is based, whether by reemployment or contracts for personal service, are generally obligated to repay the full amount of the buyout to the agency that paid it before the individual's first day of reemployment.

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.

We will review your resume, optional cover letter, supporting documentation, and dates of employment (mm/dd/yyyy) on the resume to determine if you meet the qualifications for the position. If you meet the qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational assessment (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) that you completed as part of the application and place you in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "gold", "silver", and "bronze". Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational assessment or your score will be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How applicants will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed. Preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold).

The scored occupational assessment will evaluate the applicant on the following competencies; do not provide a separate written response:

  • Clerical - Knowledge of time and attendance systems and tracking leave.
  • Writing - Skill in the use of office automation systems to complete various clerical tasks without spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization errors.
  • Customer Service - Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and in writing, especially in regards to problem solving or research.
  • Organizational Awareness - Knowledge of the organizational structures within the Branch, National Processing Center, etc. and functions to answer routine and non-routine inquiries.

Required Documents

A complete application consists of the following:

Resume showing relevant experience, optional cover letter, and the online questionnaire.Your resume must indicate country of citizenship and if you are registered for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/59. Your resume should also list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week, annual salary, and specify the job duties related to the advertised position. For work in the Federal service, include the grade level of the position(s). Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the occupational questionnaire.

Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable. Indicate on resume the type of veterans' preference claiming and provide the appropriate supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service to validate claim of veterans' preference and, if applicable, VA letter). If a compensable veteran is selected, an SF-15 will be required prior to appointment. Active duty service members must submit certification from the armed forces that the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, go to: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/index.aspx. For a fillable copy of the SF-15, co to: SF15.pdf (opm.gov).

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable. See the "Additional Information" section.

Education: If using education substitution, a combination of experience and education, or the position requires higher education, you must submit a transcript (official or unofficial) or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies (opm.gov) for more information.

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - International Affairs Office | U.S. Department of Education. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation will result in lost consideration.

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 online, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site. Enter the job announcement number in the left hand box titled "Keywords" and then click on the SEARCH button. To begin, click the "Apply" button in the middle of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. (After registering in your USAJOBS account and clicking "Submit", you will automatically transition to the Department of Commerce's specific site where you will complete your application. You must click "Submit" at the end of the application process to send your applications for consideration.)

To return to a saved application, log into your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Applications". Click on the position title and then select "UPDATE APPLICATION" to continue.

All online applications and supplemental materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the closing date of the vacancy. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications online using the application process outlined at www.usajobs.gov. While electronic applications are strongly encouraged, paper applications will also be accepted. Please contact the Human Resources Specialist identified in the job opportunity announcement for details and instructions on the process for submitting your paper application. Paper applications and supplemental materials must be received by 4:30 p.m. (ET) on the closing date of the vacancy.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click on https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12608520

Agency contact information

Michelle Petty
Address
National Processing Center
1201 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding position. The four points of notification are:

  1. Application Received or Application Incomplete;
  2. Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
  3. Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Eligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and
  4. Selected or Not Selected
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after beginning work; or, may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).


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