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Government Information Specialist - MP

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Closing date
Mar 11, 2021
Duties

Summary

Come work for the USPTO, we have been ranked as one of the best places to work in the federal government! The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has been serving the economic interests of America for more than 200 years. We are responsible for granting US intellectual property rights for patents and trademarks. The USPTO is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, and has over 12,000 employees. For more information about the USPTO, please visit the USPTO Jobs Website.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

During the current period of maximum telework required by the Agency's COVID-19 response, telework will be maximized. When it is determined the Agency will be moving to the reopening phase, the expectation will be to physically return to the office at the USPTO - Alexandria, VA campus. Telework days and any waiting period for eligibility will be determined at that time.

This position is located in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (OCAO), Immediate Office, Records and Information Compliance Program Office (RICPO). RICPO supports mandated USPTO information resource management programs through the administration of USPTO Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) compliance, Privacy Act (PA) compliance, forms management, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) management, and records and documentation management programs.

As a Government Information Specialist, you will be responsible for the following:
  • Conducting analysis and reviewing proposed information collection requests to ensure they are complete, provide justification, show practical utility, meet or exceed PRA requirements, and are cleared and certified by appropriate authorities.
  • Drafting and coordinating the clearance of information collection requests including, but not limited to, supporting statements, non-substantive change requests, 60- and 30-Day Federal Register Notices, and PRA sections of rules within the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.
  • Analyzing proposed regulations and legislation for the impact on USPTO information management.
  • Conducting detailed analyses of the functions and work processes related to Records and Information Compliance Program Office (RICPO) processes and products and makes recommendations for improvement.
  • Drafting and coordinating the clearance of System of Records Notices (SORN) and associated documents.
  • Drafting and including PA statements on forms and other devices.
  • Drafting streamlined forms to meet mission needs and ensure compliance with the PRA, PA, Federal Records Act (FRA), etc.
  • Providing advice, guidance, and technical assistance to all USPTO offices and staff regarding form creation, modification, and use; recordkeeping; handling and solicitation of information.
  • Assisting in preparing data call submissions as required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and other entities, including, but not limited to, the annual Information Collection Budget report and ad hoc reports.
  • In conjunction with other RICPO and USPTO staff, proposing policies, procedures, training, and outreach material for RICPO program areas to be utilized USPTOwide.
  • Counseling, advising, and training program managers and staff on methods and procedures for obtaining and maintaining PRA, PA, and FRA compliance.


Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
  • You must meet time-in-grade-requirements.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  • You must suitable for Federal employment.


Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band.

Qualifications

You must meet the following United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements for the advertised position. OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions can be found at: Here . You must meet all qualification requirements including time-in-grade (refer to 5 CFR 300.604 for more information on time-in-grade) by the closing date of the job announcement.

Specialized Experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service.

For this position at the GS-11, specialize experience at the next lower grade level is a GS-09 .

Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Experience in assisting with a forms management program;
  • Experience assisting with supporting the administration Agency-wide Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and Privacy Act (PA) compliance programs.

-OR-
  • Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related .

For this position at the GS-12, specialized experience at the next lower grade level is a GS-11 .

Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Experience supporting a forms management program;
  • Experience supporting the administration of Agency-wide Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and Privacy Act (PA) compliance programs;
  • Experience advising senior leaders and/or customers on the methods and procedures for obtaining and maintaining Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and Privacy Act (PA) compliance.

For this position at the GS-13, specialized experience at the next lower grade level is a GS-12 .

Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Experience with administering a forms management program;
  • Experience administering an administration of Agency-wide Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and Privacy Act (PA) compliance programs;
  • Experience advising senior leaders and/or customers on the methods and procedures and procedures for obtaining and maintaining Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and Privacy Act (PA) compliance.


Education

Education may be substituted at the GS-11 grade level. Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-12 and GS-13 grade levels.

Additional information

Applicants applying for this position must be a United States Citizen.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Bargaining Unit position.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "MODERATE".

Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website .

Probationary Period- If selected, you may be required to complete an initial one-year probationary period.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP . CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity via email ( oeeod@uspto.gov ) or phone (571-272-8292).

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 based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions. Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate possession of any specialized experience and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.

The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies (KSA's). Please do not provide separate responses to the KSAs.

KSA 1 - Knowledge of laws, policies and regulations associated with Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) compliance.

KSA 2 - Knowledge of laws, policies and regulations associated with Privacy Act (PA) compliance.

KSA 3 - Knowledge of a forms management program.

KSA 4 - Skill in oral and written communication to clearly and succinctly convey assigned program requirements, provide guidance and compliance requirements to all levels of management officials, staff, and external entities.

Your responses to the self assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter.

Your resume must support your answers to the self assessment questions, or your score may be adjusted or lowered accordingly which may affect your overall final rating. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

If referred all relevant documents submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the selecting official, due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager.

Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you've answered, which may affect your overall final score.

If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked to bring a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Your application and all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of this job announcement.

A complete application consists of:

1. A resume or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications; optional cover letter: Your resume should indicate your citizenship and should list your educational and work experience including titles, salary, employment dates, duties, experience and how it relates to the specialized experience in the job announcement. Please Note: Responses to job questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating. Any experience claimed in a cover letter should be substantiated by information contained in your resume. A HR Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the hiring official.

Supporting Documents:

1. Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) - For current and/or former Federal employees, your status eligibility and highest permanent grade/step/salary held in the Federal service will be validated with a copy of your most recent (NON AWARD) SF-50 - REQUIRED, "Notification of Personnel Action" so that we may verify your time-in-grade.

2. Performance Appraisal - Recent performance appraisal with supervisor's signature showing the official final rating of record, and copy of incentive award(s). In cases where the performance appraisal is incomplete or unavailable, applicants may provide explanation of the reasons.

3. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) documents -REQUIRED- If you are a Veteran claiming eligibility under VEOA, you will be asked to submit a copy of your DD-214. Veterans must include dates of military service on their application materials, and submit a copy of each Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214. For more info, please visit Special Appointing Authorities for Veterans .

4. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) documents -REQUIRED- Applicants will be asked to submit:
(1) A copy of your specific RIF notice, written notice of your expected separation or other documents of priority consideration status;
(2) A copy of your latest SF-50 noting current position, grade, and duty location;
(3) A copy of your last performance appraisal and the rating; and
(4) Any documents from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

5. Special Appointing Authorities - If you are applying under the special appointing authority such as those authorized for the severely disabled (Schedule A) or Vietnam era and disabled veterans (VRA), you will be asked to submit documents showing eligibility to non-competitively apply under Merit Assignment announcements. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking on your application. For more info on non-competitive appointments and supporting documents, please visit Federal Employment of People with Disabilities or Feds Hire Vets - Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans .

You can choose ONE of the following methods to submit Supporting Documents:
1) You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Dept. of Commerce site which you access through the USAJobs site.

OR

2) You can fax your documents to 571-258-4254 using the system generated fax cover sheet.

NOTE: The preceding documents requirement are based on job requirements and individual applicant eligibility. Not all documents are applicable to all applicants; if you are unsure which documents apply to you, contact the HR Specialist listed on this announcement.

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.

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