Duties

Summary

READ ALL INFORMATION TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ARE VERY DETAILED AND MUST BE FOLLOWED COMPLETELY.

Serves as a production and material resource specialist in the review, editing, preparation and production of Braille and other alternative media materials for visually impaired agency personnel and the public. The work requires considerable specialized training and experience.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Serves as the agency specialist in the review, preparation and production of Braille and other alternative media materials for agency personnel and the public.
• Contributes to and reviews Braille contract specifications, reviews contractor proofs and participates in validation testing using adaptive devices such as JAWS.
• Provides support, guidance and recommendations to SSA components on a variety alternative media initiatives targeted to the visually impaired community.
• Provides advice on alternative media production, usage and usability/validation testing of new applications.
• Proofs and edits agency's informational materials specifically directed to the visually impaired community designed to interpret the provisions of SSA programs and to inform that community of their rights and responsibilities.
• Recommends formatting or modifications to materials based on agency and Braille Authority of North America (BANA) standards.
• Operates adapted computers utilizing specialized software and other Braille devices to transcribe or translate a variety of agency publications, pamphlets, manuals and instructional materials into Braille for use by the visually impaired.
• Translates materials from various formats (CD, email, Microsoft Word documents) into final Braille copy or verbatim transcript as appropriate.
• Serves as SSA's technical authority on alternative media.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
• Assignments include a broad range of Braille transcription or translation using adapted computers and specialized software to review and prepare materials for distribution.
• Timeliness and accuracy are necessary for both public relations and operational efficiencies.
• Uses multiple systems to prepare reports and conduct research for outreach activities.
• Proofs material for accuracy, reconciles discrepancies with component author, selects the appropriate procedure and format or adapts available formats to ensure user comprehension.
• Facilitates dissemination of information about SSA programs to employees and the public using a variety of available media outlets.

Qualifications

READ THIS SECTION BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION. YOUR EXPERIENCE MUST INCLUDE WORK THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PRODUCTION OF BRAILLE AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE MEDIA MATERIALS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

APPLICANTS WITHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

COMPLETE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO QUALIFICATIONS FOLLOWS:

You must have at least 52 weeks of Specialized Experience * as described below. This experience must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-06 OR (if your position/experience is in another federal payscale or outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level equivalent to those performed in a federal position at or above GS-06. This Specialized Experience must have provided you with the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the functions of this GS-07 Braille Technician position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE should primarily consist of duties directly related to the production of Braille and other alternative media materials for the visually impaired.

DUTIES SHOULD INCLUDE applying techniques and procedures established by the Braille Authority of North America, the National Braille Association and the Library of Congress to proofread, edit, transcribe and translate various documents to assist visually impaired employees to perform their work assignments.

If you perform these types of duties you must specifically describe them in your resume.

Applicants without this experience are not qualified for this position.

Experience from participation in a special project or workgroup is not creditable unless that experience equals 52 weeks at the required grade level.

You cannot be credited for federal experience unless you clearly show your grade level at the time the experience was gained, as well as the complete dates [month/day/year] you were at each grade level.

You must be very specific in describing the duties you perform (or performed) at the required grade level.

If your federal grade level is not specified with your relevant federal experience you may be eliminated from further consideration.

If you combine federal career-ladder experience into a single description of duties, you may be eliminated from consideration based on failure to clearly document the required experience at the required grade level for the required period of time.

It is suggested that you separate all experience at or equivalent to GS-06 (and above) from all other grade-level experience (even if that GS-06 [and above] was part of a career-ladder position).

Likewise, if your experience was gained outside of federal employment, list each position separately (including the full dates [month/day/year] you worked at each position and the specific duties you performed).

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Position located in
Office of Facilities and Logistics Management (OFLM)
Office of Media and Logistics Management (OMLM)
Division of Media and Inventory Management (DMIM)

Education

There is no educational requirement for this position, but you must be knowledgeable of the techniques and procedures established by the Braille Authority of North America, the National Braille Association and the Library of Congress to proofread, edit, transcribe and translate various documents to assist visually impaired employees to perform their work assignments.

This position does not allow the option to use education in lieu of specialized experience.

Additional information

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov .

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

OTHER NOTES:

See CONDITIONS for important information pertaining to this position.

See REQUIRED DOCUMENTS to ensure you the documents needed to support your claim.

This position is NOT currently eligible for telework consideration.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

READ THIS INFORMATION BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION.

Applications will be ranked using Category Rating.

Preview questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10910479 Use APPLY link to submit responses.

You may not be credited for federal experience unless you clearly show your grade at the time the experience was gained, as well as the complete dates (month/date/year) you were in each position.

SEE QUALIFICATIONS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR RESUME MUST DEMONSTRATE.

Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your qualifications. It should clearly describe duties you perform that demonstrate how you meet the Specialized Experience requirement (e.g.,work that is directly related to the production of Braille and other alternative media materials for the visually impaired), as well as duties you perform that demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities as they pertain to the Specialized Experience requirement. Duties that are not clearly described cannot be credited.

-- Ability to analyze, interpret and provide guidance on multimedia initiatives and procedures

-- Skill in time management

-- Skill in utilizing specialized Braille software and equipment

Follow instructions. Experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation to support your answers or to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability

If you meet the basic requirements, as evidenced by your responses to the Online Questionnaire (see How To Apply), you will placed into one of three categories:

(1) Qualified -- Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.

(2) Well Qualified -- Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

(3) Best Qualified -- Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Resumes and supporting documents (if required) will then be reviewed.

Applicants eligible for Priority Selection (see below) will receive the first consideration.

PRIORITY SELECTION : NOTE THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED IN THE PAST.

CTAP and ICTAP provide eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with priority selection for competitive service vacancies. To receive priority selection, you must meet specific conditions, receive a rating of 85% or higher and submit documents specified under REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

See http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

Candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the category for which they have been rated.

Additionally, preference-eligibles who demonstrate a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent (AND who meet minimum qualification requirements) will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

See Required Documents for information on how to support these claims.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

Required Documents

Read this section before you submit your application to ensure it's complete.

SEE QUALIFICATIONS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR RESUME MUST DEMONSTRATE.

You must upload your resume and supporting documents prior to the closing of this announcement.

Failure to provide all required documents may affect your overall rating or result in an ineligible determination.

RESUMES - all applicant must submit a resume. For each position you include on your resume, you must show your employer, job title, work schedule (e.g., full-time or part-time/number of hours per week), full start and stop dates (month/day/year), grade level (if the position is federal) and a clear description of the duties you perform(ed). Your resume should clearly indicate experience performing duties directly related to the production of Braille and other alternative media materials for the visually impaired.

CANDIDATES FOR PRIORITY SELECTION : NOTE THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED IN THE PAST.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you claim veterans' preference, you must submit appropriate documents to support that claim. ONLY a DD-214 (must be member 4 copy) OR (if you are currently on active duty) an official statement of service from your command are acceptable to support a claim for veteran's preference. Your DD-214 or official statement of service must show Character of Service. You may not receive consideration as a veteran if you fail to submit a legible copy of the proper DD-214.

If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit a completed SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference) AND the documents specified on the reverse of the SF-15. It is NOT sufficient to submit only a VA letter documenting your compensable disability rating. You may not receive consideration as a 10-point veteran if you fail to submit all of the required documents.

Applicants claiming derived preference must submit a completed SF-15 AND the documents specified on the reverse of the SF-15. You may not receive derived preference if you fail to submit all of the required documents.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO VETERANS: The Office of Personnel Management has published the end date for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as August 31, 2010. To receive veterans' preference for service during the Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom era, you must have served for more than 180 days between September 11, 2001 and August 31, 2010 OR be in receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal. The updated CFR language is available here . Other eligibility for preference (e.g., disability) remains unchanged.

Preference will be based using ONLY the documents received for this vacancy announcement.
For more information visit the Vet Guide

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) provides selection priority for competitive service employees displaced from SSA. Currently no one meets the eligibility requirements for this plan.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) provides selection priority for competitive service employees displaced from federal agencies other than SSA (such as for a RIF). It does not apply if you have voluntarily terminated your federal employment (e.g., resigned or retired) OR your term or temporary appointment ended OR you were separated for performance or conduct reasons. ICTAP candidates must receive a score of at least 85% and must provide:

-- proof of eligibility -- such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action (SF-50); and

-- proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information on ICTAP visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

Certain Military Spouses: see https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/ .

Applications without specific supporting documents will not receive consideration for priority selection.