Summary This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky Mountain Region in Box Elder, Montana; Browning, Montana; Crow Agency, Montana; Fort Washakie, Wyoming; Harlem, Montana; Lame Deer, Montana; Poplar, Montana. This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units? Responsibilities As Contact Representative (OA), GS-0962, your typical work assignments may include, but not limited to: Provides probate support by preparing estate planning guidance and drafting wills, life estates, codicils, revocations, and related documents. Maintains and updates automated probate tracking systems through final distribution of trust assets, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Reviews and updates manual and automated records based on Orders issued by Administrative Law Judges or Attorney Decision Makers. Prepares documentation to support distribution of trust assets, closing estate accounts, and assembling heirship and probate materials for case processing. Prepares and submits documents of record to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals and ensures proper assembly and transmittal of required probate documentation. Responds to inquiries from landowners regarding probate rules and provides clear, accurate procedural information. Drafts correspondence, reports, and memoranda, and files and maintains probate records in accordance with the Indian Affairs Manual and established procedures. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards) In addition to the qualification requirements below, candidates must possess a typing ability of 40 words per minute. You are permitted to self- certify as information on your application/resume and by responding to TYPING PROFICIENCY in the occupational questionnaire. GS-04: To qualify at the GS-4 you must have one year of general experience performing the following: Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. OR Successful completion of 2 years of education above the high school level. OR A combination of education and experience described above meets 100% of the qualification requirements. GS-05: To qualify at the GS-5 you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include assisting probate specialists by providing technical and assistance work in support of probate processes; maintaining data tracking system(s) for probate processes using automated systems; assisting with incoming and outgoing mail for a probate organization ensuring timeframes are adhered to when applicable. OR Successful completion of 4 years of progressively higher-level education leading to a bachelor's degree in an accredited business or technical school, college or university above high school in any field for which high school graduation or equivalent is a prerequisite. OR A combination of education and experience described above meets 100% of the qualification requirements. GS-06: To qualify at the GS-6 you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include assisting probate specialists by providing technical assistance work in support of probate processes; maintaining data tracking system (s); preparing necessary and proper documentation for distribution of trust assets to close estate accounts; assembling outgoing material according to policy procedures; filing and maintaining probate records; and assisting with incoming and outgoing mail. GS-07: To qualify at the GS-7 you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include assisting probate specialists in the preparation of guidance in estate planning; evaluating probate records in relation to legal documents; changing appropriate probate records to reflect changes as a result of legal decisions; interviewing callers to evaluate extent of client's probate knowledge to advise them of probate options; preparing necessary and proper documentation for distribution of trust assets to close estate accounts; assembling outgoing material according to policy procedures; and filing and maintaining probate records. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date. Education If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows 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 an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional Information All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2026 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Box Elder, Montana; Browning, Montana; Crow Agency, Montana; Fort Washakie, Wyoming; Harlem, Montana; Lame Deer, Montana; Poplar, Montana. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart. The full performance level of this position is GS-7. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed. The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your [probationary period -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
