USA Staffing

Position Title: Historian
Agency: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Announcement Number: 24-OD-IMP-12533541-ADB Opens in new window
Open Period: Monday, September 23, 2024 to Friday, October 4, 2024

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

Eligibilities

1. Do you currently work at the ATF? If so, you may be eligible to apply to this vacancy announcement.

To be eligible, you must:

Be a current permanent ATF employee on a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service. If you are unsure of your eligibility, access eOPF or HR Connect and open your latest Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50): Block 24 -Tenure must be "1 - Permanent" or "2 - Conditional" AND Block 34 - Position Occupied must be "1 -Competitive Service." If you are still unsure of your eligibility, contact the individual listed in the vacancy announcement for assistance.
Submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) with your application package before the announcement closes. You can obtain a copy from eOPF or HR Connect.
Select "Yes" to this eligibility question.

Based on the above, are you eligible to apply as an ATF Employee? If you work at ATF, select "Yes", submit the required documentation, and we will make the determination for you.

A. Yes

B. No

2. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:

you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy; and
you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; and
you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; and
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

A. Yes

B. No

3. Are you currently employed with the agency/department specified in the announcement as a Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service and can you respond "yes" to at least one of the two below statements?

The grade level or at least one of the grade levels that I am applying for is higher than I have previously held or currently hold.
The full performance level of this position is at a higher grade level than any of my previous or current position's stated full performance level(s).

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your SF-50 should document how you meet the above requirements including grade levels and full performance levels of current/past positions. You may need to submit more than one SF-50. Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must also reflect:

career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).

A. Yes

B. No

4. Are you currently employed with the agency/department specified in the announcement as a Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service and you have held a position at the same or higher grade level as this position with the same or higher promotion potential?

OR

Are you currently employed with the agency/department specified in the announcement as a Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service and have you held the full performance level of this position?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your SF-50 should document how you meet the above requirements including grade levels and full performance levels of current/past positions. You may need to submit more than one SF-50. Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must also reflect:
career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); and status in the competitive service (position occupied field is 1).

A. Yes

B. No

Assessment 1

Thank you for your interest in a position with the Department of Justice (DOJ). Your response to this assessment questionnaire, in conjunction with other portions of your completed application, will be evaluated in making screening decisions. This is a DOJ job application system. Your responses in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your responses. Deliberate attempts to falsify information will be grounds for disqualifying you or for dismissing you from employment following acceptance. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit this application. Incomplete/incorrect responses may result in you not receiving appropriate consideration.

1. You must show you have successfully completed a bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in history; or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history OR a combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in history, or a major in a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, plus appropriate experience. Select the choice that best describes your education and/or experience to meet the basic qualifications for this position.

A. I have successfully completed four years of study leading to a bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in history or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history. (Must submit transcripts to verify eligibility)

B. I have a combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in history, or a major in a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, plus appropriate experience. (Must submit transcripts to verify eligibility)

C. I do not possess the required education and/or experience to qualify for this position.-

2. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications, you must also have one-year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, (GS-13), in Federal, State, or Local government or equivalent public or private sector experience, which has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Select the choice which best describes your specialized experience.

A. I have one full year of specialized experience equivalent in responsibility and scope to the next lower grade level, (GS-13), such as; experience with history and archive best practices, procedures, and methodologies; AND using oral history techniques, equipment, and the relevant legal, ethical, and archival principles to provide counsel and/or information; AND communicate orally and in writing to advise ATF management officials and to coordinate response to inquiries, provide instructions, and prepare a wide variety of written reports and documents; AND plan, organize, and participate in ATF team projects.

B. I do not have one full year of specialized experience as described above.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

3. Do you have experience conducting intensive studies and critical analysis of gathered source materials to become familiar with all aspects of the subject

A. Yes

B. No

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

5. Uses Schedules and keeps track of major project milestones and persons responsible, logic to resolve complex, unique, or unusual problems.

A. Yes

B. No

6. Select the statement(s) that describe your experience pertaining to the retention and disposition of historical materials. (Choose all that apply)

A. I have experience in analyzing and evaluating records in order to determine their retention and disposition status.

B. I have experience in the principles and standards of records management, such as life cycle of records, value of classification of records, and legal and regulatory requirements for record retention and disposition.

C. I have experience in utilizing records management systems and tools in order to create, capture, store, access, manage, and dispose of records in a secure and efficient manner.

D. I have experience collaborating with records creators, users, owners, custodians, and regulators with regards to the importance and benefits of records retention and disposition.

E. None of the above.

8. Select all groups to which you have given historical presentations and/or lectures to. (Check all that apply)

A. Agency staff.

B. Executive level leadership.

C. Professional organizations (e.g., American Historical Association).

D. Other Federal, State or local agencies.

E. Public interest groups.

F. Educational institutions.

G. None of the above

9. Have you prepared tables and charts and compiled extensive collection of supporting documents to accompany the historical narrative.

A. Yes

B. No

10. Have you researched and answered specific inquiries for historical information for Executives.

A. Yes

B. No

11. Choose the statement(s) that describe your ability to research, analyze, and evaluate a broad range of materials including agency files, records, archives, oral histories, and other historical data, in order to complete studies and assist in the development of historical oral presentations and written narratives. (Check all that apply)

A. I have planned, developed, and coordinated historical research projects pertaining to an agency.

B. I have conducted independent research and prepared authoritative oral and written information concerning historical projects.

C. I have coordinated research team activities with other departments or organizations to complete historical projects.

D. I have analyzed research materials provided in a variety of formats, (e.g. oral histories, journals, files, archives, libraries, newsletters) to develop historical research projects.

E. I have not performed any of the above tasks.

12. I have utilized my interpersonal communications skills in the following areas. (Check all that apply)

A. Dealt successfully with individuals who were difficult, hostile or distressed.

B. Negotiated with others to obtain a favorable outcome.

C. Identified and responded to critical events with diplomacy and action.

D. Succeeded in working with co-workers, supervisors and high-level management.

E. None of the above.

13. From the list below please choose those individuals who you routinely communicate with while performing duties as a Historian. (Choose all that apply)

A. Individuals in the public or private sector.

B. High level executive staff.

C. Other agency Historians.

D. Other peers within the organization.

E. None of the above.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

14. Have you responded to inquiries that require relatively brief responses from information housed in the Historical Archives.

A. Yes

B. No

15. Which of the following types of documents have you written? (Check all that apply)

A. Newsletters.

B. Investigative reports.

C. Handbooks and/or manuals.

D. Responses to formal inquiries.

E. Policies and procedures.

F. Historical documents.

G. None of the above.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

16. ATF employment is contingent upon a favorable adjudication (decision) of your background investigation. Your conduct and character must demonstrate suitability for the position for which you are applying. Unresolved matters may prevent completion of your background investigation or favorable adjudication of it. If ATF cannot complete your background investigation and adjudicate it, you will be removed from the hiring process. Are you willing to submit to the background investigation process?

A. Yes

B. No

17. The Department of Justice requires that you provide proof that for 3 out of the last 5 years you have resided in the United States, worked for the United States in a foreign country in a Federal or U.S. military capacity for 3 out of the last 5 years, and/or been a dependent of a Federal or U.S. military employee in a foreign country for 3 out of the last 5 years. Are you able to provide sufficient documentation to meet this residency requirement?

A. Yes

B. No

18. Do any of your relatives work for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives? Include: father; mother; husband; wife; son; daughter; brother; sister; uncle; aunt; first cousin; nephew; niece; father-in-law; mother-in-law; son-in-law; daughter-in-law; brother-in-law; sister-inlaw; stepfather; stepmother; stepson; stepdaughter; stepbrother; stepsister; half-brother; and half-sister.

A. Yes

B. No

19. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.

A. Yes

B. No

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