The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders.

Duties

The position is located in the Office of the Secretary, Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA). The incumbent serves as a Paralegal Specialist to IBLA. The IBLA is composed of administrative judges who issue final decisions for the Department of the Interior on appeals related to the use and disposition of public lands and their resources, the use of and disposition of resources in the submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf, and surface coal mining under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The incumbent carries out paralegal specialist duties for IBLA, serves as an expert in OHA's electronic filing and case management system, and maintains and updates IBLA's website. Major duties at the full performance level (GS-11) include, but are not limited to the following: Drafts routine docket notices and non-routine interim orders and applies relevant facts and law to decide procedural motions filed in appeals. Drafts orders for supplemental briefing and orders to show cause when jurisdiction is unclear. Drafts summary dispositive orders resolving motions to withdraw appeals or vacate and remand the decision on appeal. Composes research memoranda, as assigned, summarizing relevant laws, facts, and legal arguments submitted by parties in appeals, incorporating legal references and points of law. Proofreads orders and decisions ensuring that they are free from typographical, capitalization, spelling, grammar, punctuation, style, and formatting errors; and reflect correct legal citation format. Reviews notices of appeal for timeliness, completion of service, and other threshold legal issues to ensure all the legal requirements for filing the appeal have been satisfied. Accurately dockets new appeals in the case management system and identifies and enters in the case management system the correct disposition type when the appeal has concluded. Provides incoming motions and stay petitions to IBLA personnel. Issues notices, orders, and decisions to the parties, and prepares the appeal record for certification and return. Researches and gathers information about IBLA appeals to compile reports, both statistical and narrative, as necessary. Facilitates fulfilling Freedom of Information Act requests by drafting responses to the requestor and gathering all responsive documents for potential release. Serves as a point of contact for the electronic filing and case management system, providing support to external filers as well as OHA employees. Develops an understanding of the electronic systems and can run the full range of reports the system provides. Maintains the content on IBLA's SharePoint site and external website. Serves as the IBLA payroll timekeeper. Responds to phone and email inquiries regarding appeal status and rules of procedure. As assigned, provides other support services. Telework: The Office of Hearings and Appeals has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework on a situational or core basis with supervisor approval. This position is not approved for 100% telework or remote/virtual work. Salary Information GS-9: $64,957-$ 84,441 GS-11: $78,592-$102,166 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

GS-09 Applicants can qualify for GS-09 by meeting A, B, or C below: A. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-09, 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 (must meet all four): Performing legal research; Examining legal documents and case files for completeness and accuracy; Drafting legal documents, memoranda, or routine correspondence for review; and Using an electronic case management system. B. Substitution of Appropriate Education for Experience: A master's or equivalent graduate degree, or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related. C. Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and specialized experience, which when combined, equal 100% of the qualification requirement. Only directly related education in excess of the first year of progressively higher-level graduate education toward a master's or the equivalent graduate degree may be used toward this combination (Example: 1.5 years in a master's program (50%) plus 6 months of specialized experience (50%) = 100%). GS-11 Applicants can qualify for GS-11 by meeting A, B, or C below: A. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is Specialized experience is (must meet all five): Performing legal research; Examining legal documents and case files for completeness and accuracy; Drafting legal documents (e.g. docket notices, interim orders) or memoranda for review; Serving as an advanced user or a point of contact for an electronic case management system; and Using electronic databases or a case management system to track and manipulate data to produce reports or provide other case related information. B. Substitution of Appropriate Education for Experience: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. C. Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and specialized experience, which when combined, equal 100% of the qualification requirement. Only directly related education in excess of the first 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education toward a doctoral or the equivalent graduate degree may be used toward this combination. (Example: 2.5 years in a doctoral program (50%) plus 6 months of specialized experience (50%) = 100%). **If invited for an interview you may be asked to complete an exercise in editing/proofing a document.** 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 All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Contacts

• Address Office of the Secretary 45600 Woodland Road Sterling, VA 20166 US
• Name: Ericka Witham
• Email: [email protected]