Administrative Assistant

Summary With an emphasis on high ethical standards, excellence in public service and the delivery of superlative advice and counsel, our Office performs the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior, and manages the Departmental Ethics Office and Departmental FOIA Office. With more than five hundred total employees, more than four hundred of which are licensed attorneys, the Office strives to provide sound legal services to fulfill the Department's diverse and wide-ranging mission. Responsibilities This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Rocky Mountain Region, Billings Field Office, duty stationed in Billings, MT. At the full performance level (GS-8) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Serve as a contact for administrative matters in the Office along with greets visitors/callers; distributes incoming mail. 2. Assist in establishing internal procedures for administrative operations. 3. Respond to information requests; compiles and summarizes data; and identifies inaccuracies or anomalies in the records. 4. Track, verify, and certify time and attendance for staff, resolving discrepancies when necessary. 5. Prepare correspondence, reports, briefings, documents, etc., for staff, ensuring compliance with applicable signatures, procedures, and protocol. 6. Advise staff on travel rules, regulations, and procedures; prepares travel authorizations; makes travel arrangements; prepares or reviews travel vouchers. 7. Develop and maintain accountability and security procedures for property and equipment; and purchases supplies, equipment, and services using appropriate methods. 8. Screen publications, including advance reports, for items of special interest to either the staff attorneys, calling such items to their attention, especially current decisions, publications, and press releases dealing with their area of responsibility. 9. Maintain electronic case filing system to store and retrieve records. Telework This is not a remote position, and the incumbent will be required to report to the duty location in Billings, MT (non-negotiable). SOL has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Travel You may be expected to travel for meetings, training, or site visits. Work Environment Work is performed in a typical office setting. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Salary Information: GS-07 $49,025 - $63,733 per annum. GS-08 $54,292 - $70,578 per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available. This vacancy is also announced as SOL-RMR-25-FS-009(DEU) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Competitive Examining procedures. Requirements Conditions of Employment Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire. 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/. Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position? A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifications Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. GS-07 Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-07, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1. Maintaining a calendar for the office and/or management; AND 2. Utilizing a computer program to finalize correspondence, reports, and/or presentations; AND 3. Communicating with the public and staff members using oral and written communication. MUST MEET ALL. GS-08 Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-08, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1. Maintaining a calendar for the office and/or management; AND 2. Utilizing a computer program to finalize correspondence, reports, and/or presentations; AND 3. Communicating with the public and staff members using oral and written communication; AND 4. Formatting, proofreading and/or editing correspondence and uploading into an automated document tracking system for processing and/or signature. MUST MEET ALL. Education cannot be used as a substitution for 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. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement. Education Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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. 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire. Identification of 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. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Agency Benefits: Working for the DOI, Office of the Solicitor offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. SOL has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. For additional information on telework you may access the Department of Interior's Telework Handbook at https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.