Paralegal Specialist

Summary This position is in the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) located in Washington, DC. The announcement will close when 75 applications have been received or on the closing date of the announcement, whichever occurs first. RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID. THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS. Responsibilities The incumbent of this position will serve as a Paralegal Specialist. Provides paralegal and administrative support to the OIG in connection with complex and highly sensitive investigations and criminal and civil legal proceedings. These investigations may involve program funding recipients and beneficiaries, contractors, senior career and appointed officials of the Commission or other agencies, senior professionals within industry, law enforcement personnel from various jurisdictions, and criminal and civil defendants and their counsel. The alleged violations investigated include, but are not limited to, fraud, false statements, conflict of interest, bribery, theft, kickbacks, antitrust, conspiracy, procurement integrity, and violations of the standards of ethical conducts. Prepares Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses. Incumbent is responsible for receipt of requests, performing a reasonable search for responsive documents, determining whether documents provided in response to a search request are responsive, determining the applicability of exemptions, preparing FOIA responses for signature and release, then releasing documents documenting each step internally and using appropriate applications to assist with the task. The incumbent also coordinates with requestors and other stakeholders on FOIA matters. This coordination includes, but is not limited to, working with requestors to clarify requests, and consulting with external Federal partners on documents. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service. US Citizenship. May serve a one year probationary period (if applicable). Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation. If selected, a financial disclosure statement may be required. Current/former federal employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade/status. Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status. Resume must not exceed two pages and must meet resume format criteria. Education-Transcripts Required Drug Testing Required. Top Secret security clearance required. See "Qualifications". Qualifications Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees asking to be considered under Merit Promotion procedures must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Candidates must meet the educational requirements in addition to the specialized experience in order to be deemed as qualified. Educational Requirements Possess one of the following types of education in a related field: a J.D. or LL.B; OR a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or higher; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR Combination of education and experience: A combination of education and specialized experience. AND Specialized Experience GS-09 IN ORDER TO BE DEEMED AS QUALIFIED, CANDIDATES MUST HAVE ONE YEAR OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO THE GS-07 GRADE LEVEL IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEFINED AS: • Performing Legal Research. • Reviewing and summarizing information in a prescribed form on case precedents and decisions. • Preparing written analysis of legal questions containing well-supported conclusions and citations. PART-TIME OR UNPAID 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. SME REVIEW At the time of application you are required to take an external skills-based assessment which is based upon government-wide recognized competencies and consistent with OPM Merit Hiring Plan requirements and the Chance to Compete Act. Should you receive a passing score of 70 or higher, your application will be reviewed by subject matter experts to determine if you meet the OPM qualification requirements for this position. Oral Communication Teamwork Writing Problem Solving Technology Orientation Customer Service Attention to detail Self-Management Education If applicable, see "Qualifications". Additional Information EEO Policy Statement Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement Veterans Information Legal and Regulatory Guidance Other: - Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job. - If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year. - In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.