Summary For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 26-WAW-12921241-DE. Responsibilities If selected, you will serve as a Docketing Technician (Office Automation) for the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Western District of Washington providing procedural and systemic information on all aspects of docketing systems for Civil Division Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) and legal support staff. At the full performance level, typical work assignments will include: Inputting information into databases and systems, updating records, and routing to appropriate USAO employee; Developing and maintaining automated records from initial referral to final disposition and case file closure; Developing or requesting new or modified reports and internal processing procedures to meet changes in USAO needs or to improve docketing efficiency and effectiveness; Determining incoming cases or legal actions requiring special handling and making appropriate referral prior to coding and data entry; Accepting service of legal documents from opposing counsel or representatives; Conducting periodic case certification process and working with AUSAs to verify case information; and Receiving inquiries on case status from client agencies, the Court, USAO staff, defense counsel, and other individuals and exercising confidentiality, tact, discretion, and judgment in determining what information may be properly released. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications GS-5: To be qualified at the GS-5 level, you must have: at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in Federal service; OR four (4) years of education above the high school level; OR a combination of both specialized experience and education as defined below. Specialized Experience is defined as performing various clerical/administrative duties in support of the operation of an office. Examples include reviewing documents with basic legal implications for accuracy and completeness; receiving and routing incoming mail; responding to inquiries; typing and formatting correspondence and forms; maintaining filing systems; and performing data entry within an electronic automated database system. Combining Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience (as defined above) and post-high school education may be used to meet the total experience requirements for the GS-5 grade level. Only post-high school education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the qualification requirements. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. GS-6: To be qualified at the GS-6 level, you must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level. Specialized Experience is defined as utilizing a variety of electronic case management systems and office automation programs for the purpose of developing or maintaining docketing and record-keeping. Examples include receiving and reviewing incoming case files and documents and routing to appropriate employee; inputting information into databases and systems and updating records; researching a variety of legal sources to obtain and/or verify information; and using automated software to produce legal reports, documents, correspondence and related materials. GS-7: To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level. Specialized Experience is defined as performing docketing functions and developing legal reports by using computerized case tracking and record-keeping systems for a law or legal office (or equivalent). Examples of specialized experience include maintaining and extracting data from automated docketing databases and systems from initial referral to final disposition and case file closure; extracting requested program and/or statistical data on a regularly scheduled or ad hoc basis; reviewing reports to identify recurring errors; recognizing data elements that are missing and locating as necessary; performing necessary research to correct and update case records; and determining when a case may be closed out of the system and reviewing case files to ensure all information is correct. To be qualified, you must @type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors. A typing test may later be required. This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-07. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and funding availability. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)- The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement. Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below . You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov OR Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional Information Recruitment incentives may be authorized if this position is determined to be difficult to fill, if supported by the skills of the selected candidate, and subject to the availability of funds. A relocation incentive may be considered as appropriate based on qualifications. Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
