PARALEGAL SPECIALIST - CDC, GS 7/9/11/12, Albuquerque Field Office (FBI Only)

Job Opening: 55887
Open to current, permanent FBI employees in all locations
Opening Date: July 3, 2024
Closing Date: July 19, 2024r 11:59 p.m. (EST)

Job Summary
Position: Paralegal Specialist - CDC, GS 7/9/11/12
Division: Albuquerque Field Office
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Working Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (hours may vary depending on needs of the office)
Salary:
GS 7 - $49,541.00 - $64,405.00
GS 9 - $60,597.00 - $78,776.00
GS 11 - $73,317.00 - $95,310.00
GS 12 - $87,878.00 - $114,237.00
Full Performance Level: GS 12
Number of Positions Available: 1
Duration: Full Time/Permanent
Key Requirements

• Must be a current, permanent FBI employee
• Must be able to obtain an SCI clearance
• Some travel may be required
• Selectee will be required to complete form FD-887, Request for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

Major Duties

• Performs analysis and substantive development of information concerning, or related to legal matters arising from automobile accidents, property damage and casualty claims, and subpoena matters
• Determines negligence and composes demand letters and other correspondence; processes administrative claims resulting from automobile accidents and other torts
• Conducts research for preparation of legal opinions on matters of interest to the agency
• Performs substantive legal analysis of requests for information under the provisions of various acts
• Assists in preparing litigation reports and affidavits in connection with lawsuits filed against the Bureau
• Prepares correspondence and other documents following established standards
• Utilizes computer-based programs to assist in conducting research and documenting correspondence related to legal matters

Qualifications and Evaluations
Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared to your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume, and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from Most Competitive status.
If you are deemed Most Competitive, you will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
All applicants will be rated on the following Competencies:

• Administrative/Organizational Policies and Procedures
• Analytic Thinking
• Communication
• Governance and Legal Jurisprudence
• Organizing and Planning

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.
Specialized Experience (SE):
GS 7: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS 5 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Researched and analyzed information on claims submitted and recommended action
• Experience with legal research
• Assisted in preparing and handling documents relevant to civil litigation
• Orally communicated to obtain information and provided advice on legal matters

GS 09: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 07 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Researched and analyzed information on claims submitted and recommended action.
• Processed a full range of discovery requests for information maintained.
• Assisted in preparing litigation reports and affidavits.
• Orally communicated to obtain information and provided advice on legal matters.

GS 11: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 09 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Performed research and prepared responses regarding legal inquiries.
• Conducted research to locate accurate cites to further support cases.
• Processed a full range of complex discovery requests and efficiently performed in-depth analysis.
• Orally communicated to obtain information and provided advice on legal matters

GS 12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 09 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Experienced in document control and security measures
• Demonstrated knowledge of changes that impact work operations and administrative claims against the government
• Coordinates legal actions with other Federal agencies or state and local jurisdictions
• Investigated subject matter details relevant to a particular case of other legal matters
• Performed extensive and thorough legal research into the legislative history, precedent cases, decisions, and opinions that may be applicable to particular legal matters

Education
All degrees must be from an accredited college or university. Education may be substituted for specialized experience as follows:
GS 7: Applicant must have a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or one (1) full year of graduate level education. Superior academic achievement is the completion of all the requirements of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average of 3.0 or higher as recorded on an official transcript, or as based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum, or (3) honor society membership.
GS 9: Applicant must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.
GS 11: Applicant must have a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.
GS 12: Education may not be substituted for SE at this grade level
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.
How to Apply
For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on How to Apply . If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
Required Documents
To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

Your resume, specifically noting relevant work experience and associated start and end dates

A complete assessment questionnaire

Other supporting documents (if applicable) :

• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
• Memorandum for Record (MFR), Please see Additional Information

Documents that were uploaded one or more years ago will need to be uploaded again. Although an applicant may see these documents within their current profile, the HR Specialists may not have access to view them. All applicants are being asked to upload another copy (if applicable) to ensure the staffing units can review the complete application.
You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. If applying online is a hardship, please contact the HR Specialist listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.
What to Expect Next
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.
Additional Information

• Failure to provide necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Additional information will not be requested if your application is incomplete. Your application will be evaluated solely on the basis of information you have submitted.
• As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
• Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing the other workplace safety protocols. Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• Management may select at any grade for which this position has been announced.
• 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 an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.
• Limited Movement: Policy has been implemented wherein support employees entering a position through a competitive OR non-competitive action may be precluded from moving to another position within the Bureau by means of reassignment or change to lower grade for a minimum of 12 months. HRD will waive this limited movement policy for qualified employees, who have received an official notification letter that their current position is being relocated to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama by 2024, so those employees can compete for a position elsewhere.
• Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.
• Candidates will not be considered if currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP); a Letter of Requirement (LOR); or have failed a PIP or LOR and are currently awaiting the final action by HRD.

a. A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a 90-day written developmental plan for an employee whose performance on one or more critical elements is rated "Inconsistent."
b. A Letter of Requirement (LOR) is issued when a supervisor identifies leave abuse and/or when frequent absences negatively impact operations of an office.

• Relocation expenses will be borne by the selectee, except FBI employees returning from LEGAT assignment. Employees returning from LEGAT assignments must advise the Staffing and Administrative Unit / International Operations Division of their application for this position.
• Current tax law impacts your transfer by making your moving expense reimbursements taxable. Please contact Transfer_Issues for information regarding taxable expenses. For additional insight on the personal impact of the IRS tax rules, you may wish to contact the IRS or a tax professional. Federal Travel Regulation provides that the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) plus the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) are designed to "substantially reimburse" an employee for the additional Federal, State, and Local taxes associated with a change of duty station and the FBI has the authority to compensate employees through the WTA and RITA.
• Candidates receiving a transfer of physical location, whether at the expense of the FBI or not, will be required to complete a one year commitment to the assignment, prior to moving to a new position at the FBI. The 12-month waiting period begins the day an employee reports for duty at the new location.
• Employees selected for promotions at the GS-12 level or higher, as well as employees selected for positions where a transfer of location is required, will be processed through the name check program prior to being notified of their selection.
• Memorandum for Record: Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on a SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation (Memorandum for Record):

a. Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
b. The month/year work began
c. Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
d. Specific duties performed
Attach the Memorandum for Record to your application in the "Cover Letters and Attachments" section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type "Other."
Nepotism
Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process, and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion.
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