Special Assistant

Summary

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, in Washington, District of Columbia.

These are non-bargaining unit positions.

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Duties

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As a Special Assistant, GS-13 you will perform the following duties:

• Serves as the principal executive staff expert, operational analyst, and advisor to the Principal Legal Advisor (SES), other SES level manager(s), or either division/office chiefs, on a wide range of issues related to organizational and managerial directives, theory, practices, and guidelines governing administrative OPLA programs.
• Executes detailed assessments and evaluations of issues related to administration, human resources and/or other programmatic reviews and evaluations associated with work unit core mission functions.
• Handles the planning and logistics of special initiatives and programs initiated by senior leadership.
• Perform a full range of executive and management support, administrative support, research and program assessment and evaluation duties, a variety of liaison activities, and special assignments related to the sensitive missions and functions of the office.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Ensuring documents incorporate and consider most recent and operational guidance; AND
• Reviewing and assessing materials to ensure submissions meet standards for content, clarity, and conciseness; AND
• Planning, scheduling, and logistics for reoccurring events or special events, training, or conferences for multiple senior leaders or executives.

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Designing, developing, and implementing new projects to improve program efficiencies and general operations; AND
• Performing operational research, document reviews, creating reports, submitting written proposals, briefings, or other working documents for managers; AND
• Serving as an advisor to a member of a senior leadership team or division or office chief manager in support of a program related to administration, organizational and managerial directives, theory, practices, program oversight and analysis, or procedures governing administrative programs; AND
• Performing detailed assessments of issues related to administration, human resources or other programmatic reviews and evaluations.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

If selected, you will be assigned to provide administrative support to one of the following key OPLA executive- and senior-leadership positions:

The Executive Deputy Principal Legal Advisor (EDPLA) serves as the senior advisor to the Principal Legal Advisor on all matters affecting OPLA's operations. The EDPLA, along with the Deputy Principal Legal Advisors (DPLAs), is a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), and oversees the DPLAs and the Chief of Staff (COS).

The DPLA for Legal Operations is responsible for OPLA's largest directorate, overseeing OPLA's 25 field locations across the United States. Staffed by over 1,500 attorneys and nearly 200 support staff, FLO is responsible for the litigation of the nearly four million immigration-related cases pending before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), including contested removals, custody redeterminations, and applications for relief from removal, as well as the provision of legal advice and counsel to ICE's operational clients in the field.

The DPLA for General and Administrative Law (GAL) oversees four OPLA headquarters divisions responsible for all general law advice and litigation within OPLA, counseling ICE leadership, operational directorates, and other OPLA divisions on matters ranging from commercial and administrative law, ethics and professional conduct, information law, and labor and employment law.

The DPLA for Enforcement and Litigation (E&L) oversees six OPLA headquarters divisions that focus on close client engagement and specialized legal advice and counsel to enforce our nation's immigration, customs, and criminal laws and policies, defending the operational authorities and decisions of ICE officers and agents in the federal courts, and guiding and supporting the advocacy of ICE attorneys before the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals, with special emphasis on cases involving criminal noncitizens, human rights violators, and noncitizens who threaten our national security.

OPLA's Chief of Staff (COS) advances OPLA's mission through strategic initiatives and collaboration, and by overseeing four divisions charged with ensuring that all members of OPLA's workforce have the information, training, administrative support, and resources they require to successfully carry out their duties and responsibilities.

Additional information

This announcement is to create an inventory of qualified applicants. The first 150 applicants will receive first consideration. Additional applicants, beyond the first 150, may be considered, upon management 's request. Due to high volume of applicants, not all applicants will be considered.

Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

This position is at the full performance level.

E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (

A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.

Note: One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

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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.