This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky Mountain Region in Billings, Montana. To ensure the correct distribution of trust assets upon death of an Indian landowner. This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units? NOTE: TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED. ANY RELOCATION EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REPORTING FOR DUTY WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELECTED EMPLOYEE.

Duties

Perform extensive and thorough research of all types of probate cases by conducting interviews with beneficiaries, interested parties, examining agency and tribal genealogy records. Analyze and determine necessary information to populate probate forms. Performs agency review of probate cases by examining legal documents for the purpose of verifying ownership status of land and resources, ensuring accuracy of legal descriptions, researches land titles and prepares an inventory of real property in estates. Analyze and make 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
• Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Form BIA -4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference.
• 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

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, GS-0901). GS-12: I have at least 1 year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-11 in the Federal Service obtained in either the public or private sector (no educational substitute). Interpreting and implementing the decisions of an Office of Hearing and Appeals (OHA) deciding official; applying specialized knowledge of probate legal principles to evaluate factual documents and other information to determine the level of legal complexity in Indian probate cases; performing agency review of probate cases by examining legal documents for the purpose of verifying ownership status; & testifying when needed as expert representative for probate hearing to present factual evidence. GS-11: I have at least 1 year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-9 in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector). 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. OR Education: I have at least 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL M., if related, in an accredited college or university, in a field of study related to this position that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this work. GS-9: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private section). 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. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or equivalent); OR LLB. or J.D., if related to 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. Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the 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: Cyndi Shields
• Phone: 4062477956
• Email: [email protected]