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Position Title
Deputy CIS Ombudsman
Agency
DHS Headquarters
Announcement Number
IMP-12742667-25-CISOMB Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, June 2, 2025 to Friday, June 6, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
• have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR,
• are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
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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 of 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.
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3. Are you currently employed as a Federal civilian employee with the Department of Homeland Security who has held or currently holds, a permanent competitive service position in the federal government with lesser promotion potential as this position?

To verify your eligibility as a current DHS employee, 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 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1) or, your status is in the excepted service (Position Occupied field is 2) and you are eligible under a valid interchange agreement.
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4. Are you currently employed as a Federal civilian employee with the Department of Homeland Security who has held or currently holds, a permanent competitive service position in the federal government with equal or higher promotion potential as this position?

To verify your eligibility as a current DHS employee, 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 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1), or, your status is in the excepted service (Position Occupied field is 2) and you are eligible under a valid interchange agreement.
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5. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
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6. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position who is eligible under the DHS Reemployment Priority List? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of 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 DHS Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a DHS 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.
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Preferences
1. In the last five years (from the closing date of this announcement) have you served, or are you currently serving, as an Executive Branch Political, Schedule C, or Non-career Senior Executive Services appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your SF-50s, in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
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Assessment 1
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 may be grounds for disqualifying you or for dismissing you from employment following acceptance. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration, or your score will be lowered.
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1. Specialized Experience
To qualify at the GS-15 level, applicants must possess least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in Federal service or equivalent private/public sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:
  • Drafting reports to senior leadership.
  • Making recommendations on improving United States Citizenship and Immigration Services program/office services and responsiveness.
  • Utilizing United States Citizenship and Immigration Services case and data management systems to identify individual and general problems in agency operations.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.
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In this part, you will respond to questions about experience you have had that are related to the requirements of the job for which you are applying. Carefully review the level of descriptions listed below. For each statement, select the ONE response description that best describes your experience and record your selection.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Advises on policy matters and provides background information as well as assesses immigration laws, policies and programs, and provides advice and guidance on interpretations, opinions, or policies related to the formulation and implementation of immigration laws. (limit characters)
3. Oversees the development of strategies, policies and standards for sound, well-reasoned and informative products designed to constructively inform administration leaders and Congress or to educate the public, including stakeholders. (limit characters)
4. Assembles and evaluates data, opinion and information on complex immigration and immigration-related issues and advises on the development and execution of program evaluation plans and ensuring that the office has accurate, timely and meaningful information and policy proposals. (limit characters)
5. Plans work for accomplishment by subordinate employees, sets and adjusts short and/or long-term priorities, and prepares schedules based on consideration of difficulty of requirements and assignments such that the experience, training, and abilities of the staff are effectively utilized to meet organization and customer needs. (limit characters)
6. Oversees areas in which individuals and employers have problems in dealing with Citizenship and Immigration Services; and to the extent possible, proposes changes in the administrative practices of Citizenship and Immigration Services to mitigate problems identified.
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7. Make recommendations for such administrative action as may be appropriate to resolve problems encountered by individuals and employers; and collect other information deemed appropriate by the Ombudsman.
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8. Identify the recommendations made on improving services and responsiveness of Citizenship and Immigration Services; summarize the most pervasive and serious problems encountered by individuals and employers, including a description of the nature of such problems.

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9. Collaborates and plans with appropriate personnel to negotiate, decide on, coordinate and/or integrate organization operation and interests of other organizations. (limit characters)
10. Formulates program goals, plans, policies, and procedures and work plans dealing with the development and operation of personnel recovery. (limit characters)
11. Reviews and structures organization to optimize use of resources and maximize efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. (limit characters)
12. Plans and schedules work in such a manner that promotes a smooth flow and even distribution and ensures effective use of organization resources to achieve organization goals and objectives as well as installation customer needs.
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13. Provides leadership, management, and technical oversight to several administrative personnel who support DHS staff. (limit characters)
14. Certification Statement
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 may be grounds for disqualifying you or for dismissing you from employment following acceptance. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement below, you are confirming that you have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy and verify that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability. Failure to agree to the statement below will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
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