This position is located in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport Services Directorate, Office of Adjudication, Restrictive Actions Division (PPT/S/A/RA). As a Passport Specialist (Passport and Citizenship Entitlement Specialist) you will focus on citizenship entitlement, with responsibility for reviewing, researching, analyzing, and examining or adjudicating the legal status of the most complex cases involving the denial, limitation, and revocation of U.S. passport products.

Duties

Reviews and examines a wide variety of the most complex, controversial, or sensitive cases referred to the office for decisions regarding the continuing eligibility of applicants to receive U.S. passports and hold Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Provides advice, guidance, and direction to passport agencies/centers and U.S. embassies and consulates on the appropriate procedures to be followed and actions to be taken on the most complex cases where a passport is denied, limited, or revoked. Prepares and disseminates correspondence, cables, and other written program-related materials on matters involving the denial, limitation and revocation of passports where the materials represent the official position of the Department. Establishes and maintains liaison with a wide array of stakeholders and provides expert technical advice and guidance to ensure the uniform administration and interpretation of laws and regulations applicable to passport restrictive actions At the GS-11 and GS-12 levels, 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 supervision than the GS-13 level.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top 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. Specialized Experience: GS-11:  To qualify for the GS-11, you must meet A, B or C as follows: A. At least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to plan and coordinate program activities and the ability to make decisions; the ability to communicate orally and to meet and deadlines; the ability to assemble data, analyze management problems and recommend solutions; the ability to research, interpret and apply regulatory and precedent material; the ability to communicate in writing; and the ability to interpret statistical data. Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in work such as developing, examining, investigating, adjudicating, or authorizing claims arising under the immigration and/or nationality laws of the United States. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience processing, examining and resolving holds on passport. Experience using consular data bases to research cases. Experience working with internal stakeholders and the general public. Experience applying citizenship and nationality laws to determine U.S. citizenship. B.  A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or have successfully completed three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree. Major field of study should be public administration, political science, or other field related to this position. C.  A combination of specialized experience as described in A and more than two years of graduate education as described in B which totals at least one year. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. If you are qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with your application, and if selected, an official college transcript will be required to verify education prior to employment. GS-12: 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 may have been gained in work such as developing, examining, investigating, adjudicating, or authorizing claims arising under the immigration and/or nationality laws of the United States. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience interpreting & applying nationality and citizenship laws to determine entitlement to a U.S. passport. Experience using automated passport systems, to access passport application-related information used in the adjudication of restrictive action cases. Experience analyzing and evaluating technical evidence or other documentation that may lead to the denial, limitation, or revocation of passports. Experience participating in interagency forums, committees, or working groups to address policy issues related to the adjudication of passport restrictive action cases. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level.

Education

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

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: 771-204-3241
• Email: [email protected]