Information Assistant

Duties
Summary

This position is located on the Cleveland National Forest, San Diego CA

The incumbent is responsible for front desk operations, pass and forest product permit sales, oversight, and collection of monies from visitors. The incumbent supervises 20% or less of the time.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Angela Cobb at angela.cobb@usda.gov or 858-674-2917.

Responsibilities

Serve as a lead collection officer and is responsible for overall accounting and record keeping of the front desk funds.

Coordinate with multiple departments within the agency and external government agencies to ensure accurate visitor information, and to create partnerships for effective community outreach.

Provide visitors with accurate and complete information that pertains to recreational opportunities, educational information, local area information

Answer phones, greets visitors, and responds to a variety of inquiries regarding agency activities.

Work with outside partners on a formal and informal basis to advance the goals of interpretive services program of the Forest Service.

Create electronic presentations using tools such as PowerPoint, Prezi, posters and other visual aids.

Perform clerical duties, such as mail and package delivery, personnel updates to phone lists and sign-out board.

Examine assigned outgoing communication for procedural and grammatical accuracy, correct attachments, dates, signature, addresses, and destinations.

Review cash processing transactions, completes audits, and prepares various reports on the status of funds.

Make recommendations to the supervisor and managers regarding interpretive services, pass and permit operations and procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness visitor reception and front desk operations.

Plan the work to be accomplished by assigning work to employees and establishing production or quality standards for the unit?s work.

Establish and communicate guidelines and performance requirements to employees including conducting formal performance reviews and identifying developmental and training needs of employees.

Promote an inclusive work environment that is free from all types of discrimination.

Travel Required

Occasional travel – Occasional travel for training and/or meetings

Supervisory status

Yes

Promotion Potential

Job family (Series)

1001 General Arts And Information

Requirements

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

You must be a US Citizen or US National.

Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.

Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.

Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.

Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

GS-06: You must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as Examples of specialized experience are: Served as a collection officer for the sale of maps, permits, passes and accounted for inventory, supplies and monies collected; Answered phones, greeted visitors, and provided answers to a variety of questions; Collected, recorded, and reported visitor center statistics such as visitor numbers and activities for project planning; Arranged informational interpretive displays and provided information to the public. Assisted with drafts and edits content for the internal and external websites, as well as providing technical assistance on appearance, design, layout and delivery of the communications content.

GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 level.Examples of specialized experience are: Served as the point of contact for the coordination and dissemination of public information of a specific work program for a unit or organization; Produced brochures, promotional materials, website and social media content, news releases, and/or newsletters used in support of a public information program; Reviewed documents for accuracy and compliance and/or formally responded to inquiries and resolved issues related to a specific work program; Developed curriculum, materials, and event planning for interpretive and conservation education programs; Served as a point of contact for the public for the sale of items such as books, maps, t-shirts, permits, passes or tickets and accounted for inventory, supplies and monies collected for a collection unit such as an interpretive or conservation education group.

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.
Education

See Qualifications section for educational requirements

Additional information

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP), USDA REEMPLOYMENT PRIORITY LIST (RPL), AND INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES who meet the eligibility requirements for priority consideration. The following link provides information for determining if you meet these criteria: Career Transition Guidelines.

VEOA candidates may also apply. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran’s Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

Customer Service
Oral Communication
Office Automation
Clerical

Administration and Management

Workforce Environment
Supervision

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Referral to the hiring manager will be based on the following:

CTAP/ICTAP applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be well qualified. Well qualified is defined as receiving a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100 based on responses to the occupational questionnaire.

RPL applicants who meet the basic minimum qualifications and have a rating of at least minimally successful on the most recent performance appraisal.

VEOA applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified. Best qualified is defined as receiving a rating of at least 91 out of a possible 100 based on responses to the occupational questionnaire.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance

Other

Drug test required

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your application to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Resume must include: 1) personal information; 2) education; 3) work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series and grade if applicable; 4) supervisor’s phone number, e-mail address for each work period listed, and whether we may contact for reference checks; and 5) other qualifications; and

College Transcripts if education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or used as a substitute for specialized experience. An unofficial copy is sufficient; however, if selected, an official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty; and

Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal AND most recent performance evaluation AND SF-50 documenting separation or the most recent SF-50 if pending separation showing position title, series, grade and duty location; or

Worker’s Compensation Separation: Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50; or

Disability Annuity Termination: Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50; or

Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456: Certification of special disability retirement annuity from the military or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50.

VEOA Required Documentation:

College Transcripts if education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or used as a substitute for specialized experience (an unofficial copy is sufficient; however, if selected, an official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty); and

DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty showing dates of service and type of discharge or if a current active duty member, certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after date the certification is signed; and

VA letter that shows percent of disability if claiming 10 pt. preference for a service connected disability.

Benefits

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. Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Help
This job is open to

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Veterans

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to career transition assistance plan (CTAP), Reemployed Priority List (RPL), and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) eligible candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for priority consideration. VEOA eligibles may also apply.