Staff Assistant, Public Advocacy Division, (Req. No. 2023-98); Closes 8/18/2023

POSITION TITLE: Staff Assistant

LOCATION:

Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Public Advocacy Division

400 Sixth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20001

REMOTE WORK STATUS: A hybrid remote telework/in-office schedule option is available.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) is committed to providing the highest quality legal and programmatic services to the District and its residents while ensuring the health and safety of employees, customers, clients, volunteers, contractors, and other visitors.

The District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General values the safety of our employees, our residents, and our visitors. In support of these values, OAG employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates sincerely held religious beliefs. The selected candidate must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative.

JOB REQUISITION NUMBER: 2023-98

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One (1)

OPENING DATE: August 4, 2023

CLOSING DATE: August 18, 2023

SALARY RANGE: $87,339 - $95,476

This salary is within the Career Service salary schedule at a Grade 12 Step 1 to a Grade 12 Step 10. The salary will be based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines.

PAY PLAN, SERIES, AND GRADE: CS-0301-12

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Career Service – Regular Appointment

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT: This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Local 2401. If you opt to join the union, and consent, a service fee will be paid through direct payroll deduction.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to the Public

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The District of Columbia Office of Attorney General seeks a creative and motivated Staff Assistant to assist the Public Advocacy Division (PAD). PAD’s five sections investigate and litigate civil cases aimed at protecting the public interest across a wide variety of subject matters—including civil rights, consumer protection, housing, environmental, workers’ rights, antitrust, nonprofit, anti-fraud, and elder financial exploitation enforcement.

• Analyzing facts and circumstances to make recommendations for resolving administrative issues or improving administrative processes.
• Processing PAD office mail.
• Assisting with litigation support tasks as assigned, including (but not limited to) preparing exhibits, reports, binders, or other presentation materials.
• Maintaining and updating contact information for PAD personnel.
• The incumbent is responsible for providing substantive administrative and management support work to the PAD deputy and assistant deputies, contributing to the office’s effective and efficient operation. Duties to support the PAD deputies and assistant deputies include:
• Staffing the PAD and OAG reception and tip lines as needed.
• Performing other administrative duties as assigned.
• Coordinating with outside vendors to support PAD’s enforcement work.
• Drafting and preparing correspondence as needed.
• Coordinating with staff of other divisions (and the OAG front office) as necessary to support OAG and PAD functions.
• Coordinating with PAD managers to ensure that outgoing filings, subpoenas, and correspondence are timely and error-free.
• Providing customer service—including (but not limited to) receiving inquiries from the public, other government agencies, and other OAG divisions and directing those inquiries to appropriate points of contact for response.
• Processing purchase orders, budget requests, and other PAD cost items.
• Assisting in identifying training needs and suitable professional development programs for PAD personnel.
• Tracking PAD litigation, including case assignments and filing deadlines.
• Scheduling appointments for PAD management as needed.
• Maintaining and updating PAD’s inventory of supplies and equipment.
• Assisting PAD management with reporting to OAG leadership and the public—including (but not limited to) data analysis and preparation of reports on budgeting, purchasing, revenues, collections, settlements, mediation, litigation, and investigations.
• Maintaining and updating PAD data, statistics, organizational information, and shared files to support PAD’s enforcement work;
• Assisting with responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) inquiries from the public and press.
• Assisting with time entry and approval for PAD personnel.

QUALIFICATIONS: Six (6) years of experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled is preferred. To be creditable, at least one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A substitution of education for required experience will be allowed as defined in OPM’s Qualification Standards. However, to receive credit, applicants must submit official proof of educational attainment at the time of application.

TIME-IN-GRADE RESTRICTIONS: Time-in-grade restrictions must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

SUBMISSION OF RANKING FACTORS: The following ranking factors will be used in the evaluation process. All applicants MUST respond to the ranking factors by submitting responses in the relevant area provided on the application questionnaire. Please describe specific achievements, experience, education, training, etc. that demonstrates the degree to which you possess the job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities described in the ranking factors. The information given in response to the ranking factors should be complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge.

FAILURE TO RESPOND TO ALL RANKING FACTORS WILL ELIMINATE YOU FROM CONSIDERATION.

Ranking Factor #1: Ability to effectively interact with staff within the agency (including managers, attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and other administrative staff); with other government officials and employees; and with individuals from the general public.

Ranking Factor #2: Ability to communicate effectively—both orally and in writing—to convey messages and information. This includes the ability to gather information and present it in an understandable way—in narrative format or through reports or charts—utilizing appropriate technology or software.

Ranking Factor #3: Effective organizational and time-management skills, and attention to detail.

Ranking Factor #4: Proficiency in relevant software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., as well as a willingness and ability to learn new technology systems.

Ranking Factor #5: Ability to identify, analyze, and recommend solutions to administrative problems and issues.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates must apply online by 11:59 pm of the closing date. All applications must include the completed questionnaire, along with a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references including supervisors. Please ensure that all required documents are included prior to submitting the application.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS

GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING: The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks.

PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: Displaced Employee Priority Placement: Candidates who are eligible for the District of Columbia’s Displaced Employee Program (DEP) and Agency Reemployment Priority Placement Program (ARPP) will be given priority consideration for this position if found qualified.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation), and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government’s retirement plan. However, if the selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia’s government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.

RESIDENCY PREFERENCE: A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Education Service, Management Supervisory Service, an attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905) other than in the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS), or an attorney in the Excepted Service (series 905) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position, may be awarded a 10-point residency preference over non-District residents’ applications, unless the person declines the preference points. If selected, the person shall be required to present proofs of bona fide District residency and maintain such residency for 7 consecutive years from the effective date of the appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the 7-year period will result in forfeiture of employment. If the position you accept is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of employment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of employment.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants claiming veterans’ preference must submit official proof at the time of application.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after the conviction of or a plea of guilty to a violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, genetic information, or political affiliation.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, source of income, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

OFFICIAL JOB OFFERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL