Duties

Summary

This position will be filled under the Pathways Internship Program. This program allows students studying towards a degree in law to gain paid work experience while pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate at a qualifying institution. Apply for this exciting opportunity with FEMA.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

When disaster strikes, America looks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Now FEMA looks to you. Join our team and use your talent to support Americans in their times of greatest need. FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. We foster innovation, reward performance and creativity, and provide challenges on a routine basis with a well-skilled, knowledgeable, high performance workforce. Please visit www.fema.gov for additional information.

As a Student Trainee (Legal), you may:

• Comparing straightforward information on claims forms or legal documents with basic requirements for services provided by the office;
• Using personal computers and office software programs, such as Microsoft Word, to enter data, complete forms, and correct errors and omissions on documents, files, and records;
• Researching regulations and relevant directives to make project recommendations to higher-grade employees;
• Preparing well-researched and logical oral and written presentations on work assignments

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional Travel may be required for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
05 - No promotion potential

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Selective Service registration required.
• Must meet and maintain eligibility under the Pathways Internship Program
• Please review "Other Information" section for additional key requirements

Please ensure you meet the (1)Education Requirements and (2) Pathways Program Requirements as described below.

Qualifications

You meet both the (1) Experience/Education Requirements and (2) Pathways Program Requirements as described below.

(1) EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Completed of four (4) full academic years of post-high school education.

AND

(2) PATHWAYS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• You must be current enrolled or accepted for enrollment (Fall 2020) in a qualifying educational institution pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate;
• You must have and maintain good academic standing, as defined by your school; with the following Grade-Point-Average (GPA), without rounding:
  • GPA 2.0 for undergraduate level educational programs.
  • GPA 3.0 for graduate level educational programs
• You must remain enrolled at least half-time to continue to meet Pathways Internship Program eligibility requirements.
• Unofficial/official transcripts are required and must show your name, institution name, course taken/taking, and GPA.
• Transcripts must show that you are currently enrolled at the time the announcement closes or that you are enrolled in the next available term; or provide a letter from your institution stating that you are enrolled in the next term.
• High School Students must provide a letter from their school stating that they are enrolled in good standing and provide current GPA
• If you are graduating after the Spring 2020 semester and cannot provide documentation of enrollment in another qualifying program, you are not eligible for to apply.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and provides valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

NOTE: Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. For a brief video on How to Create a Federal Resume, click here .

Current or former FEMA Reservists/DAE employees: To accurately credit your experience for these intermittent positions, make sure to list the dates (from MM/YY to MM/YY) of each deployment, along with the job title and specific duties you were responsible for during each deployment. Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

Upon Selection you will be required to provide one of the following prior to the establishment of a start date:

Official transcripts sent directly from your institution showing your name, institution name, current/future enrollment, and GPA.

Letter sent directly from your institution providing your name, current standing, current and future enrollment, and GPA.

Acceptance Letter from a qualifying institution showing you are accepted for enrollment in Fall 2020

Additional information

• To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo, successfully pass, and maintain a background investigation for Public Trust clearance as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check after initial job qualifications are determined ( Mythbuster ), review of financial issues, such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. For more information on background investigations for Federal jobs please visit the OPM website at https://www.opm.gov/faqs/topic/investigate/?cid=56d6e92e-6e27-4b6a-8969-4a7a1bfba76d .
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
• DHS uses E-verify, an internet based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.
• This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.
• Pathways Internship positions are considered a trial period for the entirety of the appointment.
• If selected for this position you will complete of a 2 day on-boarding program at your primary duty location and an orientation meeting with the FEMA Pathways Coordinator.
• The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
• This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.
• You must be 16 or older to apply.
• This position is not eligible for extension beyond 90 days or conversion to the competitive service.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job:

Baesed on how well you meet the educational requirements.

If you meet the Pathways Internship Program eligibility requirements.

Each applicant will receive an determination of eligible or ineligible. Applicants missing documents will receive a determination of incomplete. All required documents must be submitted prior to the close of this announcement, late submission of documents will not be allowed.

Applicants eligible for veteran's preference will be referred and considered ahead of non-veteran applicants as required by law.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference .

Interview Requirement: Interviews may be required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from consideration.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

RESUME: You must submit a resume:

• Your resume must have your name, email address, and good contact number. Please ensure that you have access to the email provided during the summer (2020)
• Your resume must clearly show your expected graduation date and indicate your major.
• Your resume must indicate any skills and experience you possess that are related to the duties posted in the job announcement

Education - Required:

• You must submit current transcript(s) to verify that you meet the education requirement for this position (i.e., transcript showing current enrollment and course load or proof of acceptance into a degree-seeking accredited learning institution).
• Your transcript(s) must include your name, institution name, course titles, date completed, grades, and number of credits earned.
• If you have graduated and are enrolled in another program, you must include your transcripts showing degree conferral date along with current transcripts.
• Applicants who obtained their qualifying education outside of the U.S. and its territories must provide proof that their degrees have been validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a college or university in the U.S.
• Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with your application; however, if you are selected for an Internship position, official transcripts will be required.

Are you a veteran?

• Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) that shows your character of service.
• Those applying for 10-Point preference must provide documentation that demonstrates preference eligibility and may provide the SF-15.
• If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification (letter from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions, no later than April 2020 with your application. This must indicate your dates of service, expected release dates, start of transitional leave, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable or general conditions. View more veterans' information .

Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:

• Position Title
• Type of Appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee)
  Agency
• Beginning and ending dates of appointment

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.