For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 24-PR-12410348-MS, opens May 20, 2024, and closes May 24, 2024.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for performing direct assistance and liaison services to crime victims and witnesses. Typical work assignments will include: Assesses victims' immediate need for assistance. Aids in preparing victims and witnesses to deliver testimony. Provides in-court support to victims and witnesses during and prior to hearings and trials. Provides victims and witnesses with information about the criminal justice process and court proceedings. - Informs victims and witnesses, in English and Spanish, of their rights under Federal law and assists victims with exercising those rights throughout the prosecution. Coordinates with Federal, state, and local law enforcement and victim service providers, in Spanish and English, in establishing comprehensive assistance plans to support victims. Conducts victim assistance workshops, seminars, presentations and meetings with law enforcement personnel , Federal investigative agency victim specialists, state and local officials and members of community organizations, including public speaking engagements in English and Spanish. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing the following types of duties: assisting in a victim-witness or similar program; assisting attorneys in trial preparation which includes victim-witness issues; providing information to victims and/or witnesses regarding status of cases and results of trials; providing in court support during hearings; obtaining services and assistance for victims and/or witnesses; and performing as an advocate for the mission of the organization. Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Sciences, Social Work): a Master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL.B or JD., if related); OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year. GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing the following types of duties: providing services of special programs and funds for victims and witnesses; providing information to victims and witnesses on schedule changes, status of defendant's pleas and results of trial; serving as a speaker to civic, industry and special interest groups on victims issues; conducting training to law enforcement and community service providers on victim's issues and victim witness matters and reviewing literature regarding developing victim and witness issues; and provide in court support to victim and witness. Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Sciences, Social Work): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (such as a LL.M., if related); OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of two full year. Selective Placement Factor: A selective placement factor is determined to be essential for successful performance in this position. Those candidates who do not meet the following selective placement factor will be rated "not qualified" for the position. Selective Placement Factor: This position requires the incumbent to be fully bilingual in writing and orally in the Spanish and English language. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below . You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above 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 timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Contacts

• Address District of Puerto Rico 350 Carlos Chardon Avenue Torre Chardon, Suite 1201 San Juan, PR 00918 US
• Name: Vivian Cruz
• Phone: 7872821858
• Email: [email protected]