Duties
Position subject to a 5-day minimum on-site work requirement per two-week pay period.
This position is outside the bargaining unit.
Appellate Reviews
Oversees all activities and procedures involving appeals and associated legal filings submitted to the Boards. Ensures case records meet legal and procedural requirements before submission to the legal staff for further review and consideration. Liaises with other DOL agencies to settle questions of jurisdiction and acquire additional legal documents essential for processing and deciding appeals.
Oversees the drafting of orders in response to motions, petitions, and drafting legal memoranda summarizing motions and petitions, and recommending suitable actions. Exercises signatory authority to certify the Boards' official documents and records.
Boards' Docket and Case Management
Oversees and manages the Boards' docket, ensuring all case filings, orders, motions, and proceedings are accurately processed, updated, recorded, and accessible for adjudication. Provides leadership and direction for case coordination with appropriate Judges, staff, and other legal professionals that facilitates the smooth progression of cases in accordance with legal procedural timelines and court orders. Ensures all docket entries and case management activities comply with applicable federal rules, court procedures, and statutory and regulatory requirements. Maintains the integrity of the Boards' dockets through regular audits and quality assurance. Generates and analyzes specialized reports on docket activities and case status for management and judicial review, supporting strategic decision-making and efficient appellate operations.
Collaborates with the Boards' external stakeholders, which includes parties and their attorneys, IT Manager, and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, along with other relevant agencies, manages the Boards' electronic case management and electronic filing/service systems. Develops new or revised methods and procedures to protect, control, maintain, and retrieve case records and related legal documents the Boards receive.
Ensures the continuity of OCAB operations during a government shutdown or other emergency situation.
Strategic Planning/Policy Development
Participates with the Boards' Chief Judges, Judges, and leadership teams and staff to develop short- and long-term vision, mission, and strategic goals to achieve organizational efficiencies. Conducts legal research and assesses emerging legal trends to inform strategic decisions and policy development. Collaborates with the Boards' leadership, members of the Bar, the public, and other key stakeholders to gather input, build consensus, and ensure that the strategic plan reflects the Boards' priorities and enables OCAB to efficiently deliver its services. Establishes or amends quality standards and production goals for the Boards.
Reviews amendments to controlling law and regulations, consolidates cases with identical issues, and applies higher courts' decisions that depart from past practice or reasoning. Leads the communication of strategic initiatives and policy changes to senior leadership and relevant staff.
Supervisory/Managerial
Directs and coordinates a major legal organization with significant resources and impact at the multimillion-dollar level. Supervises professional and legal administrative staff performing legal work related to processing appeals, case reviews, legal research, and disposition. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: manages and monitors day-to-day operations and work to ensure that OCAB's objectives are being met; plans the work, schedules projects and activities, establishes priorities, and discusses goals and objectives with the Boards' leadership and staff; assigns work to OCAB staff; interviews and participates in the selection of personnel within the Office and the BRB; assesses OCAB staff's quality of work; conducts performance evaluations and maintains a record of performance of individual staff; makes recommendations for promotions; resolves employee grievances within the office environment or formally filed with the local union; inspires, motivates, and guides staff towards goal accomplishments; addresses staff development needs and training program requirements.
Customer-Facing Responsibilities
The Clerk of the Appellate Boards serves as the public-facing officer for the Boards and is the primary point of contact between the Boards and external stakeholders, which includes parties and their attorneys. The incumbent responds, in writing, by phone or email, to inquiries on case status, procedural requirements, and case schedules. Ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts and other applicable laws and regulations.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
This is an Excepted Service position and is open as well to Non-Citizens as allowed by law. This position will be filled through an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.
Applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements for this position will be further evaluated against the following evaluation factors. Current and/or past supervisors may be contacted unless specified otherwise. A panel and/or the selecting official or his/her designee may interview applicants.
Evaluation Factors:
- Demonstrated skill in researching and preparing well-written, organized, and persuasive legal documents.
- Ability to make effective oral presentations in a clear and concise manner.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective liaison with supervisors, as well as other Departmental and Boards staff.
- Ability to multi-task in a complex inter-disciplinary legal environment by timely reviewing facts, identifying and resolving issues, enumerating options, and formulating recommendations.
- Skill in leading subordinate staff, developing performance standards, evaluating work, and determining training needs.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to supply sufficient information to provide a basis for rating each of the evaluation factors listed above.
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, and other lived experience, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings.
How to Apply
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration.
Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.
STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.