This position is located in the Authentications Branch, in the Records Creation and Retention Division, housed in the Office of Records Management, Passport Services Directorate, Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA/PPT/S/RM/RCR). The Authentications Branch is responsible for certifying to the genuineness of a signature and/or seal, or to the position of an official who has previously executed, issued, or certified a document. 

Duties

Issues certificates of authentication under the Seal of the Department of State and uses the Secretary of State’s seal as well as the signature of the Secretary of State and Acting Secretary of State on assigned authenticating documents. Recommends authentication actions on documents submitted to foreign embassies and courts, U.S. courts, secretaries of state, and federal agencies in accordance with applicable Department regulations. Processes and articulates a wide range of moderately complex cases received through appointment, mail-in, and counter services. Applies laws, regulations, policies, and guidance to ensure the compliance with federal laws governing the flow and safeguarding of Government information. At the GS-9,11 & 12 level, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined above; however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receives closer than normal supervision.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. [If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.   NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Applicants applying for the GS-09 grade level must meet one of the following requirements: A. Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience assisting with the examination of documents that need to be authenticate to which the previous seals or other certifications may have been affixed by other authorities. Experience assisting with applying the appropriate regulations and case law to analyze and respond to the request of a constituent inquiry or a customer complaint. OR B. 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. from an accredited college or university. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position to be filled; OR C. Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above), which is equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal Service. This experience and education together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Combination of Experience and Education: When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience and the percentage of graduate study must total at least 100%. Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for this position. Applicants applying for the GS-11 grade level must meet one of the following requirements: A. Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience examining documents that need to be authenticate to which the previous seals or other certifications may have been affixed by other authorities . Experience applying appropriate regulations and case law to analyze and respond to the request of a constituent inquiry or a customer complaint. Experience monitoring current wait times and liaises with Authentication Services Community Relations Division to ensure accurate wait times are published on travel.state.gov. OR B. 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. from an accredited college or university. OR C. Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above), which is equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal Service. This experience and education together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Combination of Experience and Education: When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience and the percentage of graduate study must total at least 100%. Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for this position. Applicants applying for the GS-12 grade level must meet one of the following requirements: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience interpreting and applying the laws, regulations, policies, and guidance to ensure the compliance with federal laws governing the flow and safeguarding of Government information. Experience verifying identification/citizenship and preventing fraudulent issuance, are critical to maintaining the security of U.S. borders. Experience analyzing a wide variety of legal documents submitted for authentication by commercial organizations, private citizens, and officials of the Department of State and other federal, state, and foreign government agencies. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.

When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience (for example, 6 months equals 50%) and the percentage of graduate study (for example, 9 graduate hours for a GS-07 equals 50% where 18 graduate hours constitute a full time year) must total at least 100%.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.

Contacts

• Address U.S. Department of State 600 19th Street, N.W. Attn: CA/EX/HRD Washington, District of Columbia 20520 United States
• Name: Barbara Jones-Grant
• Phone: 202-261-8130
• Email: [email protected]