Secretary (Unit Secretary)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System • Aliceville, AL

17h • Onsite

About The Position

This position involves handling routine inquiries from both staff and inmates, providing technical assistance, and answering questions regarding the general nature of correctional programs. The role includes receiving visitors, determining the nature of their requests, and directing them to the appropriate staff or providing information on routine or procedural matters. The incumbent will also review correspondence prepared for the supervisor and other staff, and assist the Unit Manager and staff members in expediting the work of the office. A critical aspect of this role, along with all other correctional institution employees, is the responsibility for maintaining the security of the institution. These staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• Must meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria.
• Must be rated well-qualified for the position (with a score of 85 or above).
• Must submit appropriate documentation to support CTAP or ICTAP eligibility: A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter), Most recent performance appraisal, and Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.
• GL-05: Successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite is creditable at the GL-05. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.
• GL-06: Graduate education may be credited in those few instances where the graduate education is directly related to the work of the position.
• GL-05 and GL-06: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.
• GL-05: Experience preparing, receiving, reviewing and verifying documents. Experience processing transactions and maintaining office records. Experience locating and compiling data or information from files and other data sources.
• GL-06: Experience receiving telephone calls and visitors, handling requests for information, processing incoming and outgoing materials such as correspondence, reports and memoranda. Experience editing and composing letters and reports, transcribing notes, and reviewing correspondence. Experience performing office automation duties using a personal computer, preparing a calendar, worksheets, typing a variety of documents such as letters, forms, schedules, meeting minutes, and maintaining computer files. Experience scheduling and maintaining appointments, coordinating meetings and conferences, making travel arrangements, and performing time and attendance functions.
• GL-05 only: Have a combination of education and experience. This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.
• Must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2027.
• Resume must support responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements.
• Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.
• All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.
• All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.
• Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques", three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.
• May be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Handles routine inquiries from both staff and inmates, providing technical assistance and answering questions regarding the general nature of correctional programs.
• Receives visitors to the office, determines the nature of the requests and directs them to the appropriate staff or personally provides the information desired when routine or procedural matters of the office are involved.
• Reviews correspondence prepared for the supervisor and other staff.
• Assists the Unit Manager and staff members in the procedural aspects of expediting the work of this office.
• Maintains the security of the institution.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances (COLA): There is an 8.64% (of basic pay) Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) authorized for FDC Honolulu, HI, and a 2.49% for MDC Guaynabo, PR.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED