PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

Summary The primary purpose of this position is to serve as Paralegal/Law Office Manager and Executive Officer for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate to Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Component Commands, Sub-unified Command, and Subordinate Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), managing a wide range of highly sensitive, legal areas concerning operational, international, administrative and intelligence law. Responsibilities Provides paralegal support for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, (SOJA) United States Special Operations Command, a 4-star Combatant Command. Serves as Executive Officer and advisor to the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (DSJA) U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Manages and provides paralegal support for the Ethics Program. Provides legal assistance, administrative and investigation support. Ensures the core classified national information protection security disciplines of information are fully covered from a policy and programmic viewpoint to ascertain overall information protection requirements meet mission requirements. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, Paralegal Specialist, Series 0950 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes comprehensive knowledge of the areas of law and policy to stay abreast on matters of expertise and significant knowledge in procedures and extensive practice in public foreign, international, military and operational law, sufficient to analyze and evaluate the relevance of evidence/documentation, and provide sound advice to staff and customers, knowledge of Administrative Law, Legal Assistance, Military Justice, Ethics, Freedom of Information, Privacy Act, and Investigations to operate paralegal functions for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate for USSOCOM, and skill and ability in oral and written communications in order to write, interpret and develop implementing instructions to higher echelon regulations, policies and procedures; write and present status reports and special reports on various subject to higher level management. OR EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position or LL.M., if related. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in­-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of rules, procedures, policies, and programs of a legal office necessary to perform the procedural and paralegal support to the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, such as preparing and editing legal documents and administrative correspondences, as they relate to land, air, maritime laws, and military operations, military justice statutes; maintains office files and records on various legal documents reports of investigation. Knowledge of theories, principles and techniques of legal research. Familiarity with general legal resource materials including those from electronic and internet media and proficiency in the use of such knowledge. The ability to use computers for word processing, e-mail, spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentation. Knowledge of Ethics, Administrative general law, legal assistance, military justice, Freedom of Information, Privacy Act and investigations in order to operate the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate and provide assistance to the SOCOM lawyers, staff, and command staff in paralegal functions. Skill in analyzing laws and applying the law and relevant international standards to specific military situations resulting in conclusions which are legally supportable by statue, case law, and implementing policy and regulations. Communication skills both orally and in writing sufficient to establish and maintain effective and cooperative work relationships with representatives of military, foreign and civilian organizations. Significant knowledge of or expertise with political/diplomatic procedures and protocol between various military organization, foreign governments, civilian government and non-federal organization or entities. Ability to interpret and apply statutory, regulatory and procedural requirements to unusually difficult and complicated issues. In addition, possess the ability to interpret and apply historical and current case law reflecting the judicial philosophy used in the interpretation and application of the law to a given set of facts and circumstances that may be highly complex and/or a case of first impressions in emerging fields of military operations, command investigations and criminal investigations. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICES MEMBERS ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD-Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD-Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following: Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member Branch of Armed Forces Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s) Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty Terminal leave start date (if applicable) Expected character of service (honorable or general) and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement) Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander. Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If appointed, a DD Form-214 must be submitted upon receipt Additional Information Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.