School Information Assistant (Office Automation)

Role overview

The Department of War Education Activity is hiring a School Information Assistant to support office automation and student information tasks at its location in Sembach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The role focuses on keeping student records accurate, supporting registration and attendance processes, preparing correspondence, and producing reports for school administration.

Key duties

• Assist with student enrollment and registration activities.
• Create standard replies for common information requests and inquiries.
• Sort and route incoming mail and other correspondence so it reaches the right people.
• Maintain and update records in the student information management system.
• Enter grades, attendance details, tuition information, and transfer data into student files.
• Move grade data into the student records system accurately.
• Generate reports from the student information system for school administrators.
• Review and finalize documents or reports so they are ready in their final version.
• Use automated office software to draft correspondence and related documents.

Employment conditions

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete the Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service requirements.
• U.S. citizenship must be documented.
• Pay must be received through direct deposit.
• A one-year probationary or trial period may apply.
• Employment is subject to a suitability and fitness review based on a background investigation.
• This role requires a Tier 1 investigation with childcare checks because it involves working with children and youth under 18.
• Applicants must meet the requirements of DoD instruction 1400.25 V1230 for employment in foreign areas and return rights.
• Employees recruited from the Continental United States, along with their U.S. citizen family members, must obtain official passports before traveling to the overseas duty location.
• The initial overseas tour length is 36 months.
• The position is not represented by a bargaining unit.

Who may apply

Only applicants who qualify under one of the listed federal employment authorities may apply, including current DoWEA civilian employees, current Department of War civilian employees, eligible defense workforce transfer categories, overseas family member appointment categories, military spouse preference, veterans' preference programs, and other specified priority placement or transition assistance authorities.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must satisfy the education and/or experience standards for the grade level. Experience can include paid work, unpaid work, volunteer service, and service through national programs such as Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. Supporting documents and a resume must clearly show how the requirement is met.

For GS-05, qualifying experience includes using automated systems for data entry or retrieval, drafting letters/memos/reports, and keeping files organized. An alternative route is four years of education beyond high school in an accredited business, secretarial, technical school, junior college, college, or university. A combination of education and experience may also be used if it adds up to 100% of the requirement.

For GS-06, qualifying experience includes school administrative work such as student registration, attendance tracking, updating student files, and providing support to help staff members. For this position, experience must be used to qualify; education cannot be substituted for experience.

A qualified typing score is required: 40 words per minute on a 5-minute sample with no more than three errors. The hiring manager may require a typing test to confirm this.

Time-in-grade rules apply for current or former federal employees at the GS-05 and GS-06 levels, including the requirement for 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade for GS-06 consideration.

Additional information

• The organization is transitioning from the Department of Defense Education Activity to the Department of War Education Activity.
• Selection is subject to restrictions under the referral system for displaced employees.
• Salary includes locality pay or a local market supplement.
• More than one position may be filled from this announcement.
• Management may select at any of the announced grade levels, and the role may offer promotion to the target grade without further competition if the selectee is eligible and recommended.
• If selected below the full performance level, duties will be assigned in a developmental capacity with close supervision.
• Applicants must comply with Exceptional Family Member Program requirements.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are not considered ordinarily resident under the applicable Status of Forces Agreement.
• Pay retention may be available for selected candidates in overseas positions.
• Overseas rotation and service limitation rules apply to status candidates and current overseas employees.
• Recruited applicants from the United States may be eligible for foreign area benefits such as Living Quarters Allowance, government quarters, and home leave, subject to approval.
• Applicants recruited outside the United States will have foreign area benefit eligibility determined at hire.
• Host-country laws or international agreements may affect benefits for same-sex domestic partners or spouses.
• Candidates with family members who have special medical needs should confirm that appropriate care is available overseas before accepting the role.
• Military treatment facilities may not be available to civilian employees except on a space-available basis, and host-nation facilities may be the only option depending on location.
• Medical care availability and quality vary by host nation and location.
• Applicants should be prepared to support the ideals of the federal government and uphold the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution.

Education

Foreign education must be evaluated by a recognized private credential evaluation service if it is used to meet the qualification standard, unless the coursework has been fully credited by an accredited U.S. institution.