Office of Personnel Management Logo
Position Title
Associate Ombuds
Agency
Office of Personnel Management
Announcement Number
23-096-TAL-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, January 23, 2023 to Tuesday, February 7, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

(limit characters)
Please mark "YES" to ALL eligibility options below for which you wish to be considered for, we can ONLY verify eligibility options for which you claim and provide proper documentation, see required documents section. If you fail to select at least one eligibility below or you select an eligibility that you do not provide proof of, your application may be marked INELIGIBLE as out of the area of consideration. The full performance level of this position is GS-13.

(limit characters)
3. Are you eligible for a temporary or term appointment as a disabled veteran?   This includes veterans who:
  • retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more; OR
  • have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current employee of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) who meets the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service? If yes, confirm you meet all of the following requirements:
  • You are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
  • Your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy; 
  • Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
(limit characters)
5. Are you a current Federal Employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service?
 
(limit characters)
6. Competitive Merit Promotion

Are you a current OPM employee who holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service?
(limit characters)
7. Non Competitive 

Are you a current OPM employee who holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has held a permanent (non-temporary) position in the competitive service at the same or higher full performance level as the position being announced?

 
(limit characters)
8. Are you a current or former federal employee who meets the definition of displaced (CFR 330.702)  from a position in the competitive service from a Federal agency?  If yes, confirm you meet all of the following requirements:
 
  • You are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
  • Your grade is/was equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy; 
  • Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent;
  • It has been less than a year from your separation from Federal service (see ICTAP eligibility period CFR 330.708.)
(limit characters)
9. Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment?   This service is qualifying for consideration under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, P.L. 114-47
 
(limit characters)
10. Are you a Military Spouse Eligible under E.O. 13832 and P.L. 115-232: The spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty, the spouse of a 100 percent disabled member of the armed forces, or the spouse of a deceased member of the armed forces?
 
(limit characters)
11. Are you eligible for appointment under the Excepted Service authority for Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities or psychiatric disabilities? [5CFR 213.3102(u)]?
 
(limit characters)
12. Are you a former permanent, competitive-service employee of the Federal Government  OR  veterans' preference eligible who held a career or career-conditional (non-time-limited) appointment eligible for reinstatement?  

If you are, your previous SF-50 will reflect career status, Tenure 1 in box 24  OR
Your  previous SF-50 will reflect career-conditional status: Tenure 2 in box 24 and you will have separated within the last three years OR
Your previous SF-50 will reflect career-conditional status: Tenure 2 in box 24 and you have veterans preference.
 
(limit characters)
13. Are you a Current Federal Employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has held a permanent (not time limited) position in the competitive service at the same or higher full performance level as the position being announced?
 
(limit characters)
14. Are you eligible for consideration under VEOA?  This includes:
  • preference eligible (defined in title 5 U.S.C. 2108(3)), OR
  • veterans who substantially completed 3 or more years of active service under honorable conditions.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. What is the highest grade you have held on a non-temporary basis in the federal service? If you have never held a federal position, please type "N/A". (limit characters)
2. What was the date of the promotion/appointment for the highest grade held above? Your response will assist in verifying the time-in-grade requirement. If you have never held a federal position, please type "N/A". (limit characters)
3. 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 employed, or have been employed within the last 5 years, in any one of the categories below, you must disclose this information. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Are you a current or former political appointee as described under 5 U.S.C. sections 5312 through 5316?
-OR-
Are you a current or former Schedule A or Schedule C political appointee, or an appointee who serves/served in a political capacity under agency-specific authority in the Executive Branch?
-OR-
Are you a current or former political appointee or non-career SES Executive Branch employee?
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
1. Select the one statement that best describes the experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work required for this position at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service which includes Experience working as an impartial facilitator to resolve workplace disputes; Experience providing conflict resolution services such as facilitation, mediation, or conflict coaching; Assisting in providing information on avenues to address complaints or concerns, such as through the Equal Employment Opportunity, administrative grievance or negotiated grievance complaint process; Experience engaging orally and in writing with internal and external stakeholders to receive and review questions or complaints; Experience developing feedback or recommendations for process changes or improvements. (limit characters)
For each item, select the one response that most accurately describes your current level of experience and capability using the scale below. (limit characters)
2. Respond to inquiries for information or guidance regarding a wide range of organizational or employee related issues.
(limit characters)
3. Practice active listening skills to include active observation, recognizing nonverbal cues, reflection and using silence.
(limit characters)
4. Maintain a neutral response even during emotional, stressful, or high-conflict conversations.
(limit characters)
5. Select open-ended questions when interviewing visitors.
(limit characters)
6. Engages employees, managers, and senior leaders during difficult conversations about organizational challenges or interpersonal conflict, creating a sense of psychological safety and confidentiality. (limit characters)
7. Evaluate the ombuds program's performance, considering systemic trends and issues, number of visitors, and compliance with established Ombuds standards of practice.
(limit characters)
8. Maintain the program's charter case management templates and intake materials and other program artifacts/requirements. (limit characters)
9. Employ strategies to market the role, functions, and boundaries of a program. (limit characters)
10. Manage the intake and closeout process for all visitors seeking advice and guidance.
(limit characters)
11. Follow program procedures and policies for record keeping.
(limit characters)
12. Analyze the source of conflict to identify (a) presented and underlying issues, (b) rights, positions, interests and needs, and (c) parties and stakeholders.
(limit characters)
13. Apply conflict resolution techniques such as coaching, mediation, facilitation, and shuttle diplomacy. (limit characters)
14. Coach individuals to improve their conflict resolution skills during the formal process.
(limit characters)
15. Adhere to generally accepted ombuds code of ethics and standards of practice as instructed by the Ombuds.
(limit characters)
16. Facilitate discussions among individuals and groups to find informal solutions that are mutually acceptable.
(limit characters)
17. Have you received awards or been recognized as part of your annual performance appraisal for work that was based on performance of one or more of the competencies described for this position? Due weight of this recognition will be given in the evaluation process. You may submit documentation of this recognition.
(limit characters)
Please take this opportunity to review your ratings to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement below, you are confirming that you: 1) understand this warning; 2) have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy, and; 3) verify that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability. (limit characters)
18. Failure to agree or respond to the statement below will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
(limit characters)