Summary A United States Probation Officer works in a team environment, serves in a judiciary law enforcement position, and assists in the administration of justice. The incumbent promotes community safety, gathers information, supervises defendants/offenders, interacts with collateral agencies, prepares reports, conducts investigations, and presents recommendations to the court. An officer may guide the work of other staff. Responsibilities The primary focus of the job is to fulfill statutory requirements to conduct pretrial and presentence investigations, supervise defendants/offenders, make recommendations to the court, evaluate needs and conditions, and maximize compliance for the purpose of ensuring community safety. The job involves making independent decisions within the context of professional standards, broad policies, and general goals. Probation officers gather and analyze information to determine or recommend the best course of action. The primary judiciary contacts are other probation/pretrial services staff, judicial officers, and staff of other court units for the purpose of conducting investigations and maintaining accurate and up-to-date information in case files. The primary external contacts are defendants and their families, other government agencies, U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Marshals, Bureau of Prisons, Parole Commission, attorneys, public safety/law enforcement officials, treatment providers, victims, and other members of the community for the purpose of investigating backgrounds, obtaining and verifying arrest information, drafting sentencing guidelines, and similar activities. Work is performed in an office setting and in the community and may be subject to variable hours, including nights and weekends. Work requires regular contact with people who have violent backgrounds. These contacts may be made in both generally controlled office settings as well as in field situations (such as uncontrolled and unsafe neighborhoods/environments where illegal activities and violence may occur). Travel within the state is required. Please see the representative duties on the original job posting: https://www.cod.uscourts.gov/HR/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx?FileID=7500. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship. Employees are required to use electronic funds transfer for payroll deposit. The Court requires employees to adhere to a Code of Conduct as well as specific employee policies and performance expectations. Qualifications In addition to meeting the required education identified above, applicants at each grade level must also have additional education or specialized experience in the amounts shown in the table below: Level: CL-25 Minimum Additional Education and/or Experience: One year of specialized experience; or Completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one of the following superior academic achievement requirements: An overall "B" grade point average equaling 2.90 or better of a possible 4.0; Standing in the upper third of the class; "3.5" average or better in the major field of study, such as business or public administration, human resources management, industrial relations, or psychology; Election to membership in one of the National Honorary Scholastic Societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies, other than Freshman Honor Societies; or Completion of one academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) of graduate work in a field of study closely related to the position. Level: CL-27 Minimum Additional Education and/or Experience: Two years of specialized experience; or Completion of a master's degree in a field of study closely related to the position, or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE Progressively responsible experience in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment, public administration, human relations, social work, psychology, or mental health. Experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than any criminal investigative experience, is not creditable. COURT PREFERRED SKILLS Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate the following: Three years specialized experience with an emphasis in the field of case management related to probation, pretrial services and/or parole. This includes preparing presentence reports for the court and/or supervising clients/offenders in the community. Supervision experience should include knowledge of evidence-based practices in community corrections, including, but not limited to, risk assessment, risk-based supervision, and cognitive behavioral treatment. Preference may also be given to those who can effectively communicate in Spanish. Education Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position. Additional Information MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE First-time appointees for this position must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants age 37 or older who have previous law enforcement experience in the Federal Employees Retirement System or Civil Service Retirement System, and who have either a subsequent break in service or intervening service in a non-law enforcement officer position may have their previous law enforcement officer experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement. Retirement is mandatory at age 57. MEDICAL AND BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS The duties of probation officers require the investigation and management of pretrial defendants or convicted persons under supervision who present physical danger to officers and to the public. In the supervision, treatment, and control of these individuals, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity and coordination necessary for officer safety, and use of self-defensive tactics. On a daily basis, officers face unusual mental and physical stress because they are subject to danger and possible harm during frequent, direct contact with individuals who are charged with criminal offenses or convicted of committing federal offenses. The medical requirements for law enforcement officer positions are available for public review on https://www.uscourts.gov/ under Officer and Officer Assistant Medical Requirements. Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and a drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the court once the ten-year, high-sensitive background investigation is completed. In addition, as conditions of employment, incumbent will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every five years, and as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations. For transfer applicants, at the Chief USPO's discretion, the most recent background investigation/reinvestigation report completed on behalf of the officer may be examined prior to an employment offer being made. If a selectee's initial background investigation has not been completed at the time of transfer, the selectee would be appointed in our district provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by our court.