Probation Clerk
POSITION: Probation Clerk
VACANCY NUMBER: 2018-06
LOCATION: East St. Louis, Illinois
SALARY RANGE: CL 23 ($33,401 to $54,296), depending on qualifications**
DATE POSTED: August 1, 2018
CLOSING DATE: August 22, 2018, at 4:30 pm
** Position is promotion eligible to CL 24 without further advertisement or competition.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Southern District of Illinois is
seeking qualified applicants for a full-time permanent position of Probation Clerk. Incumbent
provides administrative support to the law enforcement officers.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
• Format, type, and edit reports developed by officers, often within a short time period.
Reports may include presentence reports, pretrial services reports, and violation reports
for the court. Prepare other letters, memoranda, recurring reports, and forms. Compose
routine correspondence for officers.
• Organize and prepare new case files for officers’ use in accordance with established
case management procedures. Prepare and maintain investigative and supervision case
files and enter data into case tracking system. Make entries to chronological records
either from direct communication with or from information provided by the officer.
• Scan, store, and transmit data electronically to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S.
Sentencing Commission, Federal Judges, and attorneys. Scan and electronically store
case file records.
• Receive and route incoming mail, deliveries, and facsimile transmissions.
• Serve as receptionist. Answer and screen telephone calls and visitors. Answer routine
questions and refer persons to officers or to appropriate departments. Direct persons
reporting from prison or from court to the appropriate officer.
• Provide administrative support following established procedures, and serve as a backup
to other support staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
• The ability to type 40-45 words per minute
• Knowledge of standard office equipment/copying machines, office procedures, practices,
and processes
• A thorough knowledge of spelling, punctuation, and proper grammar usage
• Skill in using personal computers and use of computer software
• Excellent time management skills, accuracy, ability to handle multiple tasks
simultaneously, and attention to detail
• Ability to organize work to meet recurring deadlines and to multi-task
• Ability to work in fast paced, high volume office
• Team oriented and display a great attitude
QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
To qualify for the minimum entry level salary, applicant must be a high school graduate or the equivalent, with at least two years of general experience. For placement at salary levels above minimum, up to and including step 25 (considering job-related court preferred skills and an evaluation of quality of experience), at least one year specialized experience is required.
General Experience - Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work which indicates the possession of or the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position.
Specialized Experience - Progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience
requiring the regular and recurring application of clerical procedures that demonstrate the ability to apply a body of rules, regulations, directives, or laws and involve the routine use of
specialized terminology and automated software and equipment for word processing, data
entry, or report generation. Such experience is commonly encountered in law firms, legal
counsel offices, banking and credit firms, educational institutions, social service organizations, insurance companies, real estate and title offices, and corporate headquarters or human resources/payroll operations.
Experience Substitutions - Excess specialized experience may be substituted for required
general experience.
Educational Substitutions - Education above the high school level may be substituted for
required general experience on the basis of one academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter
hours) equals one year of general experience. Education may not be substituted for specialized experience.
COURT PREFERRED SKILLS
General knowledge of the criminal justice system and specific knowledge of pretrial services,
probation, and parole procedures, and the supervision process.
BENEFITS
Employees of the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office are “Excepted Appointments” and considered “At-Will” judicial employees (not civil service) and are subject to a probationary period. Federal benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, and retirement benefits. Optional benefits include health, life, and long-term care insurance, flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care, dental and vision insurance, and a tax-deferred savings plan. This position is subject to mandatory electronic funds transfer (direct deposit) participation for payment of net pay.
PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING
Submit an application packet that includes:
• a cover letter describing your knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to the duties of a Probation Clerk
• résumé
• names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references
• AO 78 Application for Employment (located at www.ilsp.uscourts.gov)
• last two performance evaluations
• college transcripts (if applicable).
Application packets should be sent via email as one PDF document to:
Recruitment1@ilsp.uscourts.gov. The subject line should state “Probation Clerk Application
2018-06.” Receipt will be acknowledged by the Human Resources Department by return mail. If you do not receive email confirmation within three business days, please contact the Human Resources Administrator at (618) 482-9425.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Selection will be made consistent with the provisions of the Equal Opportunity Plan adopted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Candidates selected for interviews will be required to participate in appropriate proficiency testing as part of the screening process. As a condition of employment, the candidate selected for this position will be fingerprinted and will be subject to and must successfully complete a background investigation with law enforcement agencies.
The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office reserves the right to modify the conditions of
this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur without prior written or other notice. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a similar classification within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Chief Probation Officer may elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original announcement without posting the position. Employees are required to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct which is available to applicants for review upon request.
OUR MISSION
It is our mission to strive for excellence as we serve the
Courts and community by providing quality supervision,
promoting community safety, inspiring positive changes in those we
serve and administering justice with fairness and integrity.
The United States Courts is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer