Passport Support Associate IV - All Shifts

Passport Support Associate IV - All Shifts

Under the direct supervision of the Contract Management Team, perform various clerical and repetitive manual functions to support the customer service and adjudication departments. Additionally, perform various processing functions, utilizing office equipment and machinery in the preparation, processing, and mailing of passports and passport related documents. Utilize the current TDIS-PD and PRISM computer operating system to include creation of document batches, document imaging (scanning) and reviewing, retrieval of individual application information, data entry, book printing, the generation of mailing labels, and sorting and affixing postage to sealed envelopes. Must be able to perform quality checks for standard fee information on individual applications. Due to the nature of the government contract requirements and/or clearance requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required. This position is located in Charleston, SC with work performed at our Client Site in Charleston, SC.

Your Future Duties And Responsibilities:

The Support Associate Level IV provides support to the Government staff and performs accounting functions, prepares letters, reports and specialized correspondence. Anticipated tasks include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receive undeliverable Passports, requesting issued applications from QC, and researching mailing problems, assist in researching questions with applicants, and other issues requiring more senior-level expertise
• Assist the Government Customer Service Manager (CSM) with inquiries from Congress, Headquarters, White House, and other Government agencies
• Assist in maintaining applications with applicants who provided Potentially Fraudulent Birth Documents (PFBD). Provide research and preliminary recommendations concerning PFBD. Maintain various PFBD data bases PFBD CPC data base, PFBD SharePoint site
• Assist in training lower level Support Associates in the essential job functions, helping to constantly improve the training processes and procedures
• Operate various equipment for high speed scanning, mail out, and metering mail
• Generate mailing labels, ensure that mail labels match the applicant identification, fill and seal envelopes with correct passport and corresponding supporting documents
• Box and archive files for storage purposes
• Receive and assemble third-party mail
• Follow a pre-set pattern for document sequencing
• Perform searching and filing functions, file and/or retrieve application packages from file cabinets
• Operate scanning equipment and biological hood HEPPA filter to open mail
• Interface with Passport applicants at Agency/Center information and will-call counters. At the Information Station, ensure appointment is scheduled; review Passport application, photograph, identification and supporting documentation for completeness prior to adjudication. Ensure the application and documents complies with passport requirements, photograph meets passport standards, and customer is provided fee information. Copy customer identification. At the will call station, distribute passports to the correct applicant, comparing customer to passport image or accepting proper documents and identification for third party pick up.
• Perform data entry.
• Operate various equipment for high speed scanning, image review, book print, quality control, mail out and metering mail.
• When operating a four-printer pod, prints passports at a rate of 50 to 65 passports per hour and reviews printed books for data accuracy and product quality.
• Review passport product against data system information for completeness and accuracy constantly applying laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the issuance of a U.S. Passport.
• Use TDIS and determine quality and correctness of prepared Passports, maintain issued applications in an orderly and traceable fashion, ensure Passport chips are activated, and accurately scan images into DOS data systems.
• Perform searches as requested for customer applications and use troubleshooting skills in connection with information given by the TDIS inquiry screens; contact customers by phone for verification of mailing address and/or data information.
• Create routine and expedited batches in TDIS.
• Prepare Informational Request Letters (IRLs) both electronic and written.
• Prepare Final Notice letters.
• Process refund/reimbursement requests.
• Generate a credit card payment from the applicant and distributing completed batches to the cashier's office. Verify all completed transactions and run designated reports. Troubleshoot information retrieved from the computer screen and manually searching to locate applications and documents within the Passport process. Update text in appropriate TDIS screen. Update Passport application information from the computer system.
• Use a purging application for mature files.
• Participate in customer service outreach activities including, but not limited to: naturalization ceremonies, travel shows, college and university events.
• Serve as customer interface in providing Passport information to customers (general public, acceptance facilities, town clerks, law enforcement, applicants, other Government agencies, postal service, couriers, lock box vendors).
• Assist with acceptance agent training: prepare training materials, conduct "meet-and- greets," set-up training sessions, conduct office tours, etc.
• Photocopy Acceptance Agent and Congressional newsletters and coordinate folding/stuffing/sealing/mail out.
• Photocopy materials as needed and coordinate preparation of training packets for acceptance agent seminars. Assist CSM with passport acceptance facility certification and update corresponding acceptance facility databases.
• Assist CSM in maintaining and cataloging electronic records of passport acceptance facilities.
• Prepare and mail Certificates of Attendance for those acceptance agents who attend DOS training classes.
• Distribute newsletters and any other correspondence to staff.
• Prepare application for issuance of a non-receipt of a Passport and corrections of the issued Passport.
• Contact applicants to request necessary documents.
• Return applicant's personal documentation.
• Resolve undeliverable mail items by contacting the customer and appropriately document all actions taken in a SharePoint application.
• Communicate with the cashiers office and coordination with Passport Specialist assigned to special task of re-issuance of applications.
• Per the guidance of DOS Passport Specialists, generate correspondence to resolve application discrepancies, including: Return to Sender (RTS), Rewrites and Re-issues, and re-batch into the system.
• Assist with various special projects as requested by the Government.
• When required, relieve receptionist at lunch/breaks to answer administrative telephones
• Review all types of Passport application (i.e. DS-82, DS-11, DS 5504, DS 4085, and re- entry applications) data to ensure completed basic information is recorded accurately into DOS systems.
• Assist DOS Passport Specialists with Holds removal cases. Duties include reviewing documentation, faxing information, and maintaining a file system.
• Handle complaint letters/phone calls.
• Deal with urgent requests by applicants, under the direction of a DOS Passport Specialist
• Perform an administrative review on suspended applications. Attach proper paperwork to application to continue the EF/AR process Insuring TDIS-PD screen is updated with the correct suspense information.
• Generate Informational Request Letters (IRLs) and emails that clearly convey requests for additional documentation or information to passport applicants.
• Access Passport information forms to prepare Lookouts for the CLASS system as directed by the designated Passport Specialist.
• Prepare correspondence for applications not issued.
• Generate corrective correspondence for acceptance agents.
• Interface with the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) to resolve cases.
• Perform an administrative review on suspended applications. Filling out and affixing a suspense tag indicating DOS letters to be sent to applicant. Insuring TDIS-PD screen is updated with the correct suspense information.
• Deal with urgent requests by applicants, under the direction of a DOS Passport Specialist.
• Verify all applications to determine the proper payment for expedite service.
• Attach the proper paperwork to application to continue the EF/AR process.
• Generate IRLs and email or call Expedite Fee (EF)/Application Response (AR) applicants.
• Receive undeliverable Passports, requesting issued applications from QC, and resolving mailing problems.
• Perform Quality Control in verifying that application data matches Passport processing data.
• Assist in training lower level Support Associates in job functions, duties, and tasks.
• Contact those acceptance facilities that bypass the lockbox provider without authorization.
• Assist with "not issued cases" (also called "abandoned cases"), including, photocopy application and attachments, fax/scan, set up application to be abandoned and forward hard copies to requesting Agency.
• Communicate with passport acceptance facility program managers under the direction of the CSM.
• Communicate with stakeholders, such as: Congressional offices, community-based organizations, USPS, Lockbox, and other Government Agencies (except for law- enforcement) under the direction of the CSM.
• Collect and record survey responses.
• Identify and take initiative to report trends or patterns in the volume or nature of inquiries handled.
• When not directly