Administrative Specialist

This position is located in the Authentications Branch, in the Records Creation and Retention Division, housed in the Office of Records Management, Passport Services Directorate, Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA/PPT/S/RM/RCR). The Authentications Branch is responsible for certifying to the genuineness of a signature and/or seal, or to the position of an official who has previously executed, issued, or certified a document.

Issues certificates of authentication under the Seal of the Department of State and uses the Secretary of State's seal as well as the signature of the Secretary of State and Acting Secretary of State on assigned authenticating documents

Recommends authentication actions on documents submitted to foreign embassies and courts, U.S. courts, secretaries of state, and federal agencies in accordance with applicable Department regulations.

Processes and articulates a wide range of moderately complex cases received through appointment, mail-in, and counter services.

Applies laws, regulations, policies, and guidance to ensure the compliance with federal laws governing the flow and safeguarding of Government information.

At the GS-9,11 & 12 level, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined above; however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receives closer than normal supervision.

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience (for example, 6 months equals 50%) and the percentage of graduate study (for example, 9 graduate hours for a GS-07 equals 50% where 18 graduate hours constitute a full time year) must total at least 100%. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.