Paralegal Specialist

About the role

The FMC is the federal agency responsible for regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers, and the U.S. consumer. The FMC is dedicated to ensuring a competitive and dependable international ocean transportation system that supports the U.S. economy and safeguards the public from unfair or deceptive practices.

Join the FMC and be part of a mission-driven organization during an important and exciting time in the maritime industry.

What you will do

• This position is located in the Office of the Secretary (OS), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).
• As a Paralegal Specialist, the incumbent will serve as the senior technical specialist for docket administration and the procedural requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, and independently handles the most complex, novel, and sensitive filings and procedural matters presented to the Commission.
• If selected, you will provide legal assistance, information processing, and administrative support for the Commission's adjudicative proceedings, the Docket Activity Library, and the electronic docket on the Commission's website.
• The incumbent: Screens and directs telephone calls and e-mail messages to the appropriate person(s), office(s), or bureau(s).
• Answers routine questions concerning Commission activities, operations, and the status of docketed proceedings by consulting official records, the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Assigns official docket numbers in accordance with established procedures.
• Processes and circulates motions, petitions, pleadings, comments, and request for documents.
• Updates electronic status logs and spreadsheets that document and track filings and actions, and timely posts logs and documents (e.g., pleadings, filings and orders) to the Commission's website in accordance with established indexing conventions.
• Establishes and maintains formal hearing and exhibit files for review by the public and other interested parties.
• Tracks and maintains a calendar of docketed proceedings and alerts the Secretary or Assistant Secretary to approaching deadlines for Commission action.
• Participates in assigned training in the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended; the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure; Federal Register and procedures; legal research and citation; and the statutes administered by the OS, including FOIA, the Privacy Act, the Congressional Review Act (CRA), and the Government in the Sunshine Act.
• Recommends improvements to procedures and SOPs based on experience with assigned work.

Requirements

• Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service.
• See *** A 1-year probationary period may be required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a background investigation.
• Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by the closing date of the vacancy.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit.
• FMC participates in E-Verify.
• E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
• May be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• Required Qualifications: The selectee must have a paralegal certificate or degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible paralegal or legal support experience

Education

The selectee must have a paralegal certificate or degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible paralegal or legal support experience.

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 *** 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 *** All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

How you will be evaluated

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire.

If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Competencies: Accountability Analytical Skills Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision-Making Flexibility Information Management Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence Reading Comprehension Research Skills Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Writing To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)), you must receive a score of 80 or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

Documents you must provide

• Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, USA Hire Assessment, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply.
• Resume - Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages.
• If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement.
• The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position.
• Must include the work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed.
• If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for qualifications and referred for selection consideration, if eligible.
• If military or a civilian Federal employee, you must include your rank and/or grade.
• A complete application questionnaire and online USA Hire Assessments.
• If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Assessments, you can find the Reasonable Accommodation process here.
• Current and former civilian Federal employees - Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status.
• (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".) Note: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status.
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable - Submit a copy of your most recent, signed, completed annual performance appraisal which includes the final rating.
• If it is not dated within the last 12 months or if you have not received a performance appraisal, please explain why in your application.
• CTAP & ICTAP applicants - If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents.
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Eligibles: If you are a current or former land management agency appointee - you must provide documentation to verify eligibility as follows: a) A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment; b) A copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and (c) A copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act, 30% Disabled Veteran Eligible: DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days.
• Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees.
• If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information.
• Submit proof of your former or current status, such as your SF-50.
• Schedule A Documentation: A copy of your Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA: A copy of your Peace Corp Description of Service (DOS) Letter, SF-50, or your VISTA Verification of Service letter from your representative after successful completion of the program.
• Military Spouses (if applicable) - You must submit verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage) AND: (1) a copy of your spouse's active military orders; OR (2) verification of your spouse's 100% service-connected disability (VA Letter and/or DD-214); OR (3) verification of the service member's death while on active duty (DD-1300/Death Certificate).
• You are not eligible if you were not married to the veteran at the time of death or have since remarried.
• Transcripts (if using education to qualify) - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, an official transcript may be requested at a later time

What to expect next

You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS My Account tab and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on more information. Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement.

Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

Additional information

You will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across the FMC. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, please refer to the agency contact information.

Suitability Statement: 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. Shared Certificates Statement: Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for the FMC to share your application with other FMC positions and/or Federal agencies for similar positions.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: 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; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position (Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications); and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility.

For more information: *** All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated.

You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated.

You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.

All employees of the Federal government are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations including the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern activities with outside organizations and reporting financial holdings. This position may require the incumbent to complete a confidential financial disclosure report within 30 days of appointment.