This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in Ashland, Wisconsin. This position ensures the correct distribution of trust assets through legal research, interviews, and consultation to individuals in the process of determining heirs of trust and restricted lands and resources in the implementation of the deciding official's decision for the distribution. This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units?

Duties

Interprets decisions of the administrative law judges and attorney advisors. Provides guidance in estate planning in accordance with federal, states, and tribal inheritance codes to Indians who own trust or restricted lands and resources. Examines legal documents for the purpose of ascertaining ownership status of lands and resources held in trust or restricted status and to ensure the accuracy of legal descriptions. Performs legal research to assist the decision makers in resolving problems arising under federal, tribal, and state case law applicable to the testamentary disposition of property, title status, and genealogy and probate matters. At the close of probate proceedings, takes all actions necessary to effect new land and resources ownership data and payment of any trust and restricted funds in the estate account.

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 4 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.
• NOTE: STUDEN LOAN REPAYMENT MAY BE AUTHORIZED, PENDING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND MANAGEMENT APPROVAL.
• TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of the position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards ). The following table shows the amounts of education and/or experience required to qualify for positions covered by this standard. GS-5: 3 years, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4 that demonstrates the ability to: 1. Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; 2. Plan and organize work; and 3. Communicate effectively orally and in writing. OR 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. GS-7: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-5 OR 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. Specialized experience: processing legal documents for review; use of automated systems for the purpose of data entry and record keeping; use of other systems used for purposes of accurately identifying individuals and their relationship to others; maintain communication with officials, staff, federal, state, and tribal government officials; ensuring the correct distribution of trust assets through legal research, interviews, and consultation to individuals and tribal government officials. Determines heirs of trust or restricted lands and resources; and verifies the accuracy and completeness of probate case files. GS-9: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-7 OR 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. Specialized experience: review, interpretation and understanding legal/financial documents and their effect on land and/or individuals; detected errors and omissions in documents and initiated corrective action; review and determine purpose and effect of documents; posted or updated exiting abstracts, ledgers, databases or other systems with pertinent document information; applied document data to the TAAMS, TFAS and ProTrac systems. 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 2021 4th Ave, North Billings, MT 59101 US
• Name: Bernice Scalpcane
• Phone: 4062477956
• Email: [email protected]