The position to be filled is a Legal Administrative Specialist (Probate). This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of the Superintendent, Tohono O'odham Agency in Sells, Arizona. The incumbent will ensure the correct distribution of trust assets upon death of an Indian landowner.

Duties

Performs extensive and thorough research of all types of probate cases by conducting interviews with beneficiaries and interested parties, and examining agency and tribal genealogy records Analyzes and determines necessary information to populate probate forms Analyzes and makes recommendations to the Office of Hearings and Appeals staff regarding proposed leases, rights-of-ways, or other encumbrances of the trust or restricted land/assets in the estate

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Indian Preference applies
• You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
• You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• 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.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• Incumbent is required to operate a government motor vehicle, must possess a valid driver's license, and have a safe driving record within the 3 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants who meet at least one of the following requirements may qualify for the position at the GS-9 level - 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level performing genealogical research to identify all potential heirs and/or beneficiaries of deceased Indian landowners; analyzing probate files for accuracy of supporting documentation; using various processes and methods for dealing with probate cases and issues; & utilizing knowledge of real/personal property legal principles and legal documents. 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. A combination of education and specialized experience listed above totaling at least 100%. For example, 9 months of specialized experience (75% of the experience requirement) and 27 hours of graduate study (25% of the education requirement) would qualify an applicant for this position. Applicants who meet at least one of the following requirements may qualify for the position at the GS-11 level - 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level reviewing probate decisions and/or modifications to verify the correct distribution of trust assets through legal research, interviews, and consultation to individuals, the Bureau of Indian Affairs officials/staff, and Federal, State and Tribal government officials in the process of determining heirs of trust or restricted lands and resources; identifying issues arising from genealogy research and rectifying the issues; & conducting interviews with beneficiaries, interested parties, and examining agencies for research purpose on probate cases. 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 A combination of education and specialized experience listed above totaling at least 100%. For example, 6 months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement) and 2.5 years of graduate study (50% of the education requirement) would qualify an applicant for this position. 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 announcement closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Contacts

• Address BIA Center for Recruitment Rocky Mountain Regional BIA Center for Recruitment Rocky Mountain Regional 2021 4th Avenue North Billings, MT 59101 US
• Name: Lourde Botone
• Phone: (602) 241-4560 X1
• Email: [email protected]