Executive Secretary

Summary

Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America’s frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. As an Executive Secretary, you will oversee agency correspondence, manage responses to formal inquiries, coordinate human capital matters, prepare communications, foster professional relationships, and enhance procedures for monitoring and reporting.

Duties

• Serves as the technical and administrative authority for agency correspondence within the human capital line of business, overseeing related assignments and ensuring compliance with standards.
• Establishes priorities and manages timely responses to Congressional, OPM, DHS and component agencies, USCIS directorates and program offices, FOIA requests, and GAO and OIG inquiries.
• Acts as USCIS liaison with the DHS Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer on DHS-wide human capital matters, making decisions regarding the involvement of USCIS offices and directorates in agency-wide initiatives.
• Prepares referral letters and responses to inquiries; maintains professional relationships with senior executives and officials across DHS and other agencies.
• Provides guidance to team members on problem-solving methods, work practices, and procedures; assists in identifying solutions; and helps distribute and balance workload to support timely completion of assigned tasks.
• Develops, implements, and improves procedures for Congressional, DHS, and USCIS correspondence, leveraging automated systems to enhance monitoring and reporting processes.

Requirements

• Conditions of Employment: You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National to apply for this position Successfully pass a Background Investigation including financial disclosure You must pass a drug screening Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service Political appointees may.
• require OPM approval before on-boarding USCIS applies the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 to its telework program This position IS NOT considered “essential” for purposes of reporting to work when the facility might otherwise be closed.
• Residency Requirement: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• This residency requirement states that candidates must have, for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position (1) resided in the United States.
• OR (2) worked for the United States Government as an employee overseas in a Federal or Military capacity, OR (3) been a dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.
• Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a probationary period of 1 year.

Education

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP): Per 5 CFR 576.202, An employee who receives a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) and later accepts employment for compensation with the Government of the United States within 5 years of the date of the separation on which the VSIP is based, including work under a personal services contract or other direct contract, must repay the entire amount of the VSIP to the agency that paid it (proof of payment is required) before the individual’s first day of reemployment. 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 Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Common definitions for hiring terms found in this announcement.

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. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant’s criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to our Staffing Helpdesk.

Required Documents

• Resume: You must submit a resume that clearly demonstrates you have experience that meets the requirements of this position as outlined in the “Qualifications” section. Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• To help ensure your resume remains clear and easy to read, we recommend using margins of at least 0.8 inches and a font size of at least 11 point.
• Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12997666, which are submitted through the on-line application process in USAJOBS, DO NOT need to be attached as an additional document to your application. Are you a veteran?
• You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,” is preferable.
• If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), “Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference.” If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act.
• you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification.
• This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans’ information. Are you eligible under Land/Base Management?
• You must submit, for each service period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years: All appointment and termination SF-50s Performance Ratings showing acceptable level of performance Are you a current or former Federal employee?
• Submit a copy of your official SF-50* (no text version) or other official “Notification of Personnel Action” document that shows the following information: your appointment in the competitive service tenure grade and step full performance level If your SF-50(s)* does not provide the information needed.
• to make a final determination for qualification.
• you will be found ineligible for the position.
• SF-50B print screens from NFC are not official documents and are not acceptable. This includes USCIS employees as well. All current DHS employees can print their own SF-50’s* by accessing the DHS eOPF website.
• If you have forgotten your user name or password, eOPF offers a self-service feature to assist you. If you are a current CIS employee and need access information to eOPF, contact USCIS.EOPF@uscis.dhs.gov.
• For all other agencies please see your servicing Human Resources Office. You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and or incentive awards.
• If you are a Federal employee and have received a current performance rating, it is strongly encouraged that a copy accompanies your application submission.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)?
• Submit: a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50*, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee?
• Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50*, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent appointment: Position title Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES.
• or Presidential Appointee) Agency Beginning and ending dates of appointment * A General Adjustment, Detail, Any Award (Cash, Time Off, Performance, etc.) or Realignment SF-50 may NOT have the information needed.