Controlled Correspondence Specialist

Summary

The primary purpose of the Controlled Correspondence Specialist position is to support the assignment, preparation, executive clearance, and final disposition of official documents requiring approval or signature by the Administrator and Deputy Administrator. This includes correspondence directed to Congress, security partners, and the public.

Duties

• This Controlled Correspondence Specialist position is located in Chief of Staff, Executive Secretariat, Correspondence Branch, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Duties include but are not limited to: Reviews, analyzes, and controls routine correspondence, reports, documents, and other materials received in the Executive Secretariat and determines the appropriate organization and level for review and response in accordance with TSA policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Oversee the efficient processing of correspondence throughout its lifecycle, including entry into the Controlled Correspondence Management System (CCMS), routing to the appropriate program office, review and clearance by the Executive Secretariat and front office, and finalization for signature and delivery of responses.
• Reviews sensitive and potentially controversial materials received from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), other government agencies, the White House, or Congress, and coordinates with relevant officials in program offices to develop responses.
• Ensures all responses address the original request, obtain necessary clearances, and are completed in a timely manner.
• Supports liaison activities with designated program office POCs by managing requests for extensions and reassignments of CCMS controls and responding to correspondence process inquiries.
• Provides CCMS access, delivers training, and resolves system issues for program offices.
• Coordinates updates to daily tracking reports, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of information provided to the front office.
• Engages with program offices to facilitate timely completion and status updates of tasks.

Requirements

You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.

You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI). Selective Service registration is required. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Education

For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses from an accredited college or university, which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. The information must be provided with the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Reading Comprehension Attention to Detail Reasoning Decision Making Self-Management Integrity/Honesty Customer Service Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Learning Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments include 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. You may preview the questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12985710

Benefits

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select “Benefits.” Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location – 240 hours, foreign duty location – 360 hours, or TSES position – 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.

Required Documents

• NOTE: Your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet this requirement; otherwise, you will be deemed ineligible.
• Additionally, copying and pasting information from the announcement into your resume will not adequately convey your qualifications.
• All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. 2.
• Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including month and year) for work experience. 3.
• Number of hours worked in a position (i.e., full-time or part-time).
• If part-time, (i.e., less than 40 hours per week) state the total number of hours worked per week. 4.
• If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your performance level for federal civilian positions (i.e., band or grade).
• If your resume does not contain this information, your application will be marked as insufficient, and you will not receive consideration for this position.
• Do NOT include photographs (or links to social media such as LinkedIn), inappropriate content, classified information, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc. on your resume.
• Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged.
• Detail Documentation: Eligible applicants who wish to qualify for this position based upon experience obtained while serving on a detail with TSA must submit signed copies of the corresponding TSA form 1160, Terms And Conditions For Temporary Internal Assignment -Detail, or an SF-52, Request for Personnel Action, as supporting documentation along with their application otherwise the experience cannot be credited.
• Transcripts: If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript(s) with your application.
• If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.
• Veterans: If claiming VEOA or Veterans Preference- submit a copy of the official DD-214, which must include the character of service (i.e., with an Honorable or General discharge).
• If no DD-214 is available, please submit a memo/certification of military service as outlined in the VOW Act.
• This will be annotated in block 24 on member copy 2,4, or 7 of the DD-214.
• If claiming veterans' consideration which involves considering your disability rating, you must submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces.
• Note: All veterans claiming 10-point preference must also submit a SF-15.
• TSA Employees: Current TSA employees are strongly encouraged to submit the most recent non-Award SF-50, at the time of application, to support eligibility for Status consideration.
• TSA employees who do not submit the SF-50 with the application must document their current TSA position in their resume and may be required to provide the SF-50 document during the selection process.
• TSA employees may obtain a copy of their most recent non-Award SF-50 at https://eopf.opm.gov/dhs/.
• Current or Former Federal Civilian employees (Non-TSA): You must submit a legible copy of a SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
• The SF-50 block 24 must contain a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must contain a "1" or "2." Individuals with Disabilities: Documentation of eligibility for employment under this hiring authority can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
• Documentation is used to verify that the individual being hired is indeed a person with an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability.
• Military Spouse Preference: If you are eligible based on one of the below, please submit the following: (1) spouse of an active-duty member of the armed forces: DD214 of spouse, marriage license, and PCS orders showing dependency (if applicable) (2) a spouse of a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury: DD214 of spouse, marriage license, and VA Letter or disability determination showing 100% (3) spouse of a service member killed while on active duty: DD214 of spouse, marriage license, documentation from the Armed Forces casualty office