Duties As a Staff Assistant, at the full performance level, you will perform the following duties: * Performing a full range of administrative research and analytical duties, a variety of liaison activities, and special assignments, related to the missions and functions of the office; * Relieving the manager of unnecessary interruptions and demands on his/her time by handling matters of a general nature or referring particularly technical matters to the appropriate individual; * Providing comprehensive reports on administrative projects by gathering and analyzing data and recommending suggestions for improvement and implementation; * Developing, devising and analyzing internal administrative policies, procedures and management processes of the office through independent reviews, coordination with internal and external components, preparation of special reports, and extensive research and analysis; and * Maintaining information regarding issues and problems under the jurisdiction of the manager. Requirements Conditions of Employment * You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. * You must successfully pass a background investigation. * You must successfully pass a drug screen. * Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service. * Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required * Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement. * Time in Grade: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the Federal service. Time in grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. * Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period. Qualifications Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position You may qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: * Preparing a variety of reports utilizing various databases and automated systems; * Compiling and preparing administrative information and documentation for management, ensuring established priorities and deadlines are met; * Assisting senior level staff in implementing and interpreting general administrative policies and procedures; and * Making logistical arrangements for meetings and conferences. OR Education: A master's or equivalent graduate degree, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.B/J.D., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed education and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: * Coordinating administrative projects within the office to include the development, analysis and modification of internal administrative policies, procedures and management processes; * Providing administrative guidance and assistance to subordinate organizations and technical supervision to staff assistants and support personnel; * Analyzing operational trends, compiling data and developing a wide variety of reports for analysis by senior management; and Preparing and/or providing briefings and presentations on administrative matters. OR Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.M., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and activities necessary to do the work. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps , VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Additional information Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities. Suitability: 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. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for a Secret clearance as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. 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. Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the lowest and highest potential salaries for this position. The actual salary range will be based on the applicable locality pay for the selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages . A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet th