Victim Assistance Specialist

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 or assisting with the following types of duties: Maintaining mutual communication with other federal, state, and local organizations, to include other organizations promoting the rights of victim services; responding to victim inquiries; and advocating on behalf of crime victims in regard to issues and problems caused by the crime; and providing in-court support during hearings or trials. Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology): a Master’s or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL.B.); 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 specialized experience and graduate-level education as described above may be used to meet total qualifications requirements when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours that exceed 18 semester hours (or your school’s definition of one year of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school’s definition of one year of graduate study). To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation). 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 or assisting with the following types of duties: Advising upper-level management officials on victim matters, providing oversight and guidance for victim and witness programs to include the funds management of the special programs, and conducting training programs for staff concerning the administration and use of both victim and witness services. Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (such as a LL.M); 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 specialized experience and graduate-level education as described above may be used to meet total qualifications requirements when combined equal 100% of the requirements. Only graduate education in excess of 2 full years is creditable. To calculate your percentage of education, first determine the total number of hours that exceed 36 semester hours or your school’s definition of two full years of study. Then divide the total number of excess semester hours by 18 or your school’s definition of one year of study. To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. For example, if you had 9 months of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9, then you would have 75% of the required experience. If you also had 45 semester hours of creditable graduate education, 45-36=9 semester hours, 9 divided by 18 is 50% of the required education, and therefore, 75% =50% = 125%, you would qualify for this position. 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/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this 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 a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
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 25-ME-12565171-MS.