This position is located within the Forest Service, Chief Financial Office, and serves as a Legal Administrative Specialist (Claims Examining) performing duties involving complex technical legal claims that require extensive analysis and legal expertise. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Kandice Cotner at 505-563-7077, and [email protected].

Duties

The responsibilities listed are at the full performance level. Conducts case analysis to determine the validity of a claim either for or against the government. Conducts investigation, requests documentation, performs legal research as it applies to the claim and state law, researches directives, and prepares reports in accordance with governing directives and statutes. Uses legal knowledge to research law using automated systems and internet searches of state legal sites. Initiates claims billings, follows up on collections, and determines appropriate administrative collection action. Prepares recommendation and transmittal correspondence for signature, detailing facts and opinions as to liability, recommending approval or disapproval of claim based on the merits of the case.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. 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. GS-9 Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: interpreting rules, regulations and procedures related to administrative claims examination to provide advice and guidance; and/or performing legal research into decisions and opinions regarding administrative claims; and/or collecting and analyzing pertinent claims information and data to support cases and adjudication. OR 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, that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience (equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level) and graduate level education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). GS-11 Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: performing administrative and legal research and examination of historical records for administrative claims examining; and/or screening claims case files for quality of content and to ensure all information/documents were accurate and sufficient to form sound legal recommendation for claims adjudication; and/or preparing files, correspondence, and documents for claims cases using litigation support best practices, concepts methods and procedures. OR 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; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience (equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level) and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph. D.). TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See above for education that may be qualifying for each grade level.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]