[blindlaw] GS-0905-13/15-Experienced Attorney, Department Of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services

Mon Aug 13 15:31:42 UTC 2012

http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/323768300
Job Title:Experienced Attorney
Department:Department Of Homeland Security
Agency:Citizenship and Immigration Services
Job Announcement Number:CIS-708340-COU
SALARY RANGE:

$71,674.00 to $129,517.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD:

Friday, August 10, 2012 to Friday, August 24, 2012

SERIES & GRADE:

GS-0905-13/15

POSITION INFORMATION:

Full Time - Excepted Service Permanent

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
15

DUTY LOCATIONS:

1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection, United States

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:

United States Citizens

JOB SUMMARY:
Do you desire to protect American interests and secure our Nation while building a meaningful and wonderful career? If so, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling. DHS works collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyber space and ensure resilience to disasters. The vitality and magnitude of this mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.
Do you desire to be a part of the vibrant United States immigrant admission and to play a significant role in securing our Nation's borders and security, all the while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and its Office of the Chief Counsel are calling. As part of both USCIS and the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you will work with other highly talented attorneys and colleagues on a rich array of intellectually challenging, critically important, cutting edge legal issues. Working along-side other components of DHS, USICS strives to administer immigration benefit applications fairly, efficiently, and in keeping with the law, while simultaneously safeguarding our borders, our cyber space, and other elements of our nation's security. This vital mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join, OCC, USCIS, and DHS.
The Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is seeking an experienced attorney with demonstrated legal knowledge and experience involving immigration law, regulation and policy, expertise in Powerpoint, Excel and SharePoint, as well as technical expertise in writing and editing that would enable the candidate to provide legal and technical advice regarding a variety of internally created training products and knowledge management platforms, for the Training and Knowledge Management Division (TKMD). The attorney would report to the Chief of the Training and Knowledge Management Division in Miami, Florida but can be located anywhere in the U.S. near a USCIS office.
Note:  The actual salary will be dependent upon location of the position.
KEY REQUIREMENTS

*         U.S. Citizenship
*         Background Security Investigation
*         Drug Screening
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DUTIES:
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The successful candidate will serve as advisor to the Chief of the TKMD, the Chief Counsel, and to USCIS and other Departmental components on issues related to both the Agency's and the Office of the Chief Counsel's training products and the Office of the Chief Counsel's SharePoint powered sites. Through TKMD, OCC works closely with the USCIS Refugee, Asylum and International Operations branch, the Fraud Detection and National Security branch, the Human Capital and Training divisions, as well as other divisions to vet training products and provide instruction on certain topics. OCC also creates certain training materials for use with its USCIS client, and those materials are coordinated and vetted through TKMD. OCC has a knowledge management platform consisting of 3 SharePoint sites which serve distinct purposes based on the audience with access to the site. The successful candidate will handle a variety of issues related to the training and knowledge management components, including, but not limited to: (a) conducting legal research and coordinating with other components within USCIS, OCC, and DHS on issues involving the legal sufficiency and accuracy of training materials, (b) coordinating with other components within USCIS, OCC, and DHS on instructors for various training situations, and (c) reviewing and coordinating the use and content of OCC's SharePoint instances. The successful candidate may also work in the areas of privacy, disclosure, and other areas under the purview of TKMD.
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QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
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Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school and be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction). You must have three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Experience interpreting statutes and regulations, as well as outstanding writing and editing is required. Experience creating training products, conducting training and expertise in Powerpoint, SharePoint and Excel is highly desired. Candidates should also identify experience in other types of knowledge management systems.

You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed to this position.The candidate selected will be required to obtain a Secret security clearance and continued employment is contingent on being able to maintain a Secret clearance.
A Certificate of Good Standing with a state's bar licensing authority will be required prior to entering on duty.
U.S. Citizenship / U.S. National:  Candidate must be a United States citizen or United States National and present proof of citizenship, if selected.
Qualifications by Closing date:  You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Background Security Investigation:  A background security investigation will be required for all new hires.  Appointment 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.
A Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (SF-450) will be required for certain positions.  You may be asked to complete the necessary Financial Disclosure Report to meet that requirement.
Drug Testing:  If position has been identified as a Testing-Designated position under DHS' Drug-Free Workplace Plan, any individual tentatively selected will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Selective Service Registration:  Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, will be required to certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Residency Requirement:  There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  The residency requirement states that candidates must have, for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position(s); (1) resided in the United States; or (2) worked for the United States Government as an employee overseas in a Federal or Military capacity; or (3) been dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.
Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability/security determination.  Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program, the church records for the applicant's overseas church mission, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas.  Applicants must be able to provide information at a later date if deemed necessary.
Probationary Period: The candidate selected is required to serve a probationary trial period.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
You will be evaluated based upon your resume, citing qualifications and work experience, your writing samples, and if, selected for interview, your responses provided during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain what you did and the outcome.
All information you provide may be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references and through means, such as the interview process.  The verification could occur at any stage of the application process.  An exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating your ineligible, not hiring you, or firing you after you begin work.
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BENEFITS:
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Working with the Federal Government offers comprehensive packages that includes; annual and sick leave, paid holidays, life insurance, health benefits, flexible spending and dependant care accounts, long term care insurance, and participation in the Federal Employment Retirement System. In some localities, USCIS also offers benefits/flexibilities that may be attractive to a new professional, e.g. flexible work schedules, and transit subsidies.  The following web address is provided for your reference to explore the major benefits to most federal employees.  To find out more, click here: http://www.opm./insure/health.

OTHER INFORMATION:
Promotional Potential:  This position starts at the GS-13, GS-14, or GS-15 level, depending on such factors as the selectee's experience and current salary, and has promotion potential to the GS-15/10.  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 job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.
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HOW TO APPLY:
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Your application must be received by 11:59PM EST on Friday, August 24, 2012.
To begin, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS, take the online questionnaire, and submit the required documents.  See Required Documents section.
We strongly encourage you to apply online.  If you cannot apply online, you must contact the office listed below at least one day prior to the closing date for instructions.
Applications will not be accepted by mail or email.
If you fax your application, we will not consider it.
Relocation expenses will NOT be reimbursed for this position.
Because we expect a large number of applications, we regret that we cannot accept telephone inquiries.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
In addition to completing an online questionnaire and submitting an online resume, the following supporting documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement.
A signed and dated current Personal Qualifications Statement (SF-171), or an Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612), or Resume with the vacancy announcement number.
An official certificate showing the applicant is a member in good standing with the bar of a state, territory of the US, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, together with a sworn (notarized) statement by the candidate that his or her fitness to practice law or conduct as an attorney have never been challenged in any jurisdiction, OR if either has been challenged, a sworn (notarized) statement concerning the facts and circumstances together with any explanation the applicant may deem appropriate. As an alternative to sworn (notarized) statement, a declaration under penalty of perjury may be submitted in the following format: I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct executed on (Date). (Signature of Applicant). (28 U.S.C 1746). This statement and certificate must be dated within 3 months of the date the application is submitted. The statement and certificate must be submitted by all applicants.
Examples of writing skills as demonstrated by legal briefs, training materials etc. no more than 10 pgs.
If you are or have been a FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, please submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Actions, Form SF-50, which show tenure group, promotion potential and salary, and your most recent or last performance appraisal.
Your application and all supporting documentation must be received by 11:59PM (Eastern Time) on the closing date. Note that you will be allowed to apply more than once but the last application is the only one that will be used.
AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
Latanya R. Jacobs
Phone: (202)272-1402
Email: LATANYA.JACOBS at USCIS.DHS<mailto:LATANYA.JACOBS at USCIS.DHS>
.GOV
Agency Information:
USCIS HR Operations Center
20 Mass Ave
Washington, DC
20529
USA
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications.  The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.  We expect to make a selection within 60 days of the closing date of this announcement.  You will be notified of the outcome.