Duties

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing assistance and services to victims and witnesses using established program standards. Interviewing and providing support to victims and witnesses and providing training to management, staff to assure compliance with federal laws and policy concerning federal crime victims; developing and implementing specific program activities to ensure compliance with federal victim laws and Departmental guidelines. Typical work assignments will include:

• Coordinating with Department personnel, federal, state and local law enforcement and victim service providers in providing victims with the services required by federal law.
• Researching, reviewing and distributing to Department personnel, federal, state and local law enforcement and victim service agencies any information regarding new programs and services for victims of federal crime.
• Speaking to public, civic, industry and special interest groups about victim issues to publicize federal efforts to develop and improve programs for victims, and efforts to promote interest and support at the local level.
• Designing brochures and other outreach material to create, or improve, services to victims of local and federal crime.
• Serving as District representative on local, state and national task forces, committees and working groups regarding victim issues.
• Developing a network with federal, state and local victim service providers to increase resources and services to better serve federal crime victims.

Fluency in Spanish language is desired, however not required.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Background investigation, credit check, and drug test required.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.
• You must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccine, subject only to such exceptions as required by law.
• Fluency in the Spanish language is desired, however NOT required.

Qualifications

To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below:

Specialized Experience, OR Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 level work. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the competencies needed to perform the job duties. Examples of such experience are: knowledge of the field of victim rights and advocacy to that of state and local law enforcement organizations to which applicable federal statues apply; communicating with a wide variety of audiences, orally and in writing, in a variety of settings using a variety of written media, e.g., fact sheets, brochures, and booklets; independently carries out programs, campaigns, projects and studies, resolving problems according to established policies, procedures, previous instructions or based on guidance provided by subject-matter staff; using judgement and discretion in applying guidelines and making interpretations regarding the handling of local issues with the community, developing information materials to reach significant members of the community, and responding quickly to victim/witness needs; applying standard communications approaches to administer an effective Victim-Witness program to reach audiences with sympathetic and generally supportive points of view, varied levels of understanding, and information needs; contacting federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, victims, witnesses, their families, medical and social service agencies, employers of victims and witnesses, creditors, probation officers, court officials, and elected officials of state and local governments and members of their staffs; planning and coordinating victim-witness activities, and providing advice on program issues.

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field: PHD or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.

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/ .

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html . All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, if selected, you may be expected to telework for an undefined period under the Department's evacuation authority, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Employees in this status may be notified of a requirement to report in person to the component workplace with an advance notice of not less than 30 days.