Job summary

This Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) position is within the Office of General Counsel (OGC), DeCA. The General Counsel of the Department of Defense is dual hatted as the Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) Director; DLSA provides a full range of legal advice and services to officials of the Defense Agencies and the DoD Field Activities. DeCA is a Defense Agency responsible for operating military commissaries worldwide.

Major duties

Serve as a Paralegal Specialist in the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Office of General Council (OGC), providing assistance to Agency attorneys on matters that do not require a law degree and admission to the bar. Act as DeCA OGC legal representative at meetings and by telephone between DeCA, outside agencies, contractors and clients for the purpose of gathering information to use in developing recommendations, legal advice, opinions, and legal strategy by attorneys assigned to DeCA. Gather, analyze and prepare litigation reports for submission to the DeCA General Counsel, Department of Justice (DoJ), investigators, and others. Use statistical techniques to gather and analyze litigation data to evaluate the usefulness in researching legal issues. Research, compose (citing applicable supportive law, rule, regulation, and facts), and file a variety of legal documents including notices, entries of appearance, schedule changes, motions, discovery, affidavits, and settlement documents as determined necessary by the responsible attorney for submission to Federal administrative fora or Federal courts in cases involving the agency. Open and assemble cases and matters to be reviewed, coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, and support assigned attorneys in litigation of matters before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), or other Federal litigation cases involving the agency. Submit entry and updates to computer case management systems to track the status of administrative and judicial, active/inactive, and closed cases throughout the agency. Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.

Qualification

In accordance with the Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-cler.asp.applications To qualify at the GS-11 grade level: Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level by the closing date of this announcement. Specialized experience must be at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Creditable specialized experience include: Searching, analyzing and actively using online data and public filings, processing systems and other records maintained by government entities throughout the country to determine the status of various litigation and other matters. Assisting in the evaluation, development and litigation of EEO, personnel, labor, and contract cases for clients. Participate in court and administrative hearings on employee complaints, appeals, protests, investigations and arbitrations, depending on specific assignment. Investigating, gathering, classifying, interpreting and summarizing the factual situation, including any necessary statistical data which involves interviewing witnesses, collecting documents and statements, and compiling case files. Researching independently and briefing assigned attorney(s) with relevant facts, supportive legal standards and case law. Establishing, coordinating, maintaining, and closing of litigation and other files. Filing motions and pleadings. OR (b) A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education (https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/) and in an appropriate field of study as described elsewhere in this announcement. OR (c) A combination of experience and education equaling 100% of the qualifications You will receive credit for all relevant qualifying experience (paid and unpaid), including volunteer work done through National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Physical requirements: Work is sedentary and the incumbent usually sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some physical activity such as walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers and books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your level of experience in the position's competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics). Communications Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Minimum Qualifications GS-11 Reasoning Overtime: Occasional Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non Exempt Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered Obligated Position: No Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met. Work environment: Work involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical offices and meeting rooms. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated Telework eligible: Yes - as determined by the agency policy Remote work eligible: No

Education

USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY. You MUST provide transcripts and/or other documentation to support your educational claims. Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required. Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses. Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable. When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities.

Evaluations

HR reviews your documents to determine if you are qualified and meet requirements. Your questionnaire score is a preliminary measure of how well your background matches the required competencies. Under category rating procedures you are placed into one of three categories based on the evaluation results: Best Qualified - Candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the position's minimum qualifications, including all selective placement factors and appropriate quality ranking factors. Highly Qualified - Candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications. Qualified - Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are proficient in some but not all of the position's requirements. Candidates in the best qualified category are referred to hiring managers before candidates in other categories. Within the best qualified category, candidates are referred in the following order: adjudicated veterans' preference candidates with 10-point preference, adjudicated veterans' preference candidates with other than 10-point preference, military spouse preference candidates, and candidates with no preference. Interviews may be conducted over Teams or video conference. HR refers qualified and appointable applicants to the hiring manager for selection consideration. Selections are subject to restrictions of the DoD referral system for displaced employees. Neither preference nor priority entitles you to a Federal job. You must apply, meet the qualification standards and all additional requirements, and submit all necessary documents. Military spouses must be in the best qualified group in order to receive military spouse preference. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications. Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the (RGP) eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant. Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) (PPP MSP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the(MSP) (PPP MSP) eligibility. If you are claiming MSP (PPP MSP) and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.