Description

Position Overview

The U.S. Probation Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time Probation Officer position. This position will supervise defendants/offenders, conduct investigations, and provide recommendations to the court.
   

This position is being advertised at a grade CL 25* and has promotional potential to a CL 28 ($66,250 - $112,203).  Applications received by the initial cut-off date of February 10, 2023, will receive first consideration.


*Depending upon experience and qualifications 

Representative Duties

The U.S. Probation Officer performs duties and responsibilities which include, but are not limited to, the following:
   

Investigative Duties: The incumbent conducts investigations and prepares reports for the court with recommendations for sentencing of individuals convicted of federal offenses. The preparation of these reports requires interviewing offenders and their families, investigating the offense, prior record and financial status of the offender, and contacting law enforcement agencies, attorneys, victims of the crimes, schools, churches, and civic organizations. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines and relevant case law. The incumbent testifies in court as to guideline applications, serves as a resource to the court to facilitate proper imposition of sentence, and performs other duties as assigned.
 

Supervision Duties: The incumbent supervises defendants/offenders to maximize adherence to imposed conditions, reduce risk to the community and provide correctional treatment. This is accomplished through personal contact with defendants/offenders in office and community settings. Offenders' employment, sources of income, lifestyle and associates are investigated to assess risk and measure compliance. Written reports of detected violations are prepared with appropriate court testimony and disposition recommendations.
 

Qualifications

To qualify at the CL 25 level: A four-year degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study such as criminal justice, criminology, psychology, human relations, social work, accounting, education, business or public administration and one year of specialized, progressively responsible experience gained after the completion of a bachelor's degree, in criminal or financial investigations, report writing, probation, pretrial services, human services, parole, corrections, counseling, or work in substance abuse/addiction treatment. Experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than any criminal investigative experience, does not qualify as specialized experience.  
   

Educational Substitutions: Completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one of the following requirements may be substituted for one year of specialized experience: 1) An overall "B" grade point average equaling 2.90 or better; 2) Standing in the upper 1/3 of class; 3) A "B+" (3.5) average or better in the major field of study; or 4) Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa or other acceptable national honor society. Completion of academic year of graduate work (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) in a field of study closely related to the position equates to one year of specialized experience.
   

Successful candidates must possess excellent written and oral communication, proofing and grammatical skills, as well as excellent computer skills, in particular, word processing. Candidates must have the ability to exercise initiative in handling assignments; perform thorough investigations; analyze and evaluate varied information from multiple sources and form conclusions; and write clear, concise, grammatically correct reports while meeting strict deadlines.  In addition, successful candidates must possess unquestioned integrity, maturity in judgment, and trust, as well as have demonstrated ability to meet people, inspire confidence, and secure cooperation and teamwork.
   

Physical Requirements and Maximum Entry Age: 
Applicants must meet the age and physical standards established under the Federal Employees Retirement System and its provisions for law enforcement personnel.

 

• The duties of probation officers require the investigation and management of convicted criminal offenders who present physical danger to officers and the public. In the supervision, treatment, and control of these offenders, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity and coordination necessary to operate a firearm, and use of self-defense 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 convicted of federal crimes.
• Because officers must effectively deal with physical attacks and are subject to moderate and arduous physical exertion, applicants must be physically capable. Officers must possess, with or without corrective lenses, good distance vision in at least one eye and the ability to read normal size print. Normal hearing ability, with or without a hearing aid, is also required.

 

First time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer requirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants 37 or over who have previous law enforcement experience under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees' 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.
 Conditions of Employment

Applicants must be United States citizens or lawful permanent residents actively seeking citizenship.  Judicial Branch employees are considered "at will" employees and are not subject to the employment regulations of competitive service.  Salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit is required.
   

Applicants will be required to submit to a background investigation (including references, criminal history, and credit history) prior to an offer of employment being made. The person selected for this position will also be required to submit fingerprints for an FBI background check. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must successfully complete a ten-year background investigation with periodic updates every five years thereafter.
   

Application Procedures:
All interested persons should apply online by visiting https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/nced and submit an application package which is to include: the completed application and supplemental questionnaire, a cover letter, resume, a copy of the last two performance evaluations, and a copy of transcripts for a bachelor's degree and any advanced degree.
   

Travel and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. More than one position may be filled by this vacancy announcement. The court provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. All employees are required to adhere to the "Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees" which is available for review upon request. The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, or to fill the position at any time before the closing date, any of which actions may occur without any prior written or other notice. Due to the volume of applications received, only candidates in consideration for this position will be contacted.