Civilian Pay Technician (OA)

These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Human Capital, Payroll Unit, in Irving, Texas; Santa Ana, California; and Washington, District of Columbia. They are non‑bargaining unit positions filled under a time‑limited appointment of more than one year but not‑to‑exceed (NTE) 3 years based on management approval, workload requirements, and available funding. This is not a permanent appointment and does not allow for conversion to a permanent competitive service position.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and provide technical assistance and training for timekeeping and related payroll activities
• Provide guidance and assistance to employees on various payroll programs and actions
• Review and reconcile a variety of bi‑weekly payroll reports
• Respond to pay and leave inquiries
• Audit payroll and leave accounts to determine accuracy and, if required, initiate action to process an adjustment
• Research, analyze and prepare reports

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must successfully pass a background investigation (Noncritical‑Sensitive/Moderate Risk, may include credit check, review of financial issues, criminal offenses, and illegal drug use/possession)
• Must successfully pass a drug screen
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with Selective Service
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
• Upon appointment, a one‑year probationary period may be required

Qualifications

Resumes are limited to two pages; only the first two pages will be reviewed. Do not copy duties, specialized experience, or assessment questionnaire content into your resume. Experience includes paid and unpaid work, including volunteer service through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. Current or former political appointees (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non‑career SES, or Presidential Appointee within the last 5 years) must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

• GS‑05: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑04 (providing courteous customer service by phone/email; maintaining files and uploading documentation electronically; monitoring workload for accuracy) OR four years of education above high school (30 semester hours/45 quarter hours per year) from an accredited institution OR a combination of education and experience totaling at least 100% (only education beyond the first 60 semester hours is creditable).
• GS‑06: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑05 (processing basic payroll actions; using computers/software to extract, revise, or sort information from files, records, or databases).
• GS‑07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑06 (processing routine pay transactions; reviewing, analyzing, and completing forms for input into automated payroll systems; generating and reviewing system output reports).
• Typing proficiency: Must type at least 40 words per minute on a 5‑minute sample with three or fewer errors. Proficiency may be demonstrated by passing a performance test, presenting a certificate from an OPM‑authorized organization, or self‑certification.

Pay

The salary range reflects the lowest and highest potential salaries for this position; the actual salary will be based on the applicable locality pay for the selected duty location (General Schedule locality pay tables are available under Salaries & Wages). Promotion potential is not a commitment; future promotions depend on performance, continuing need, and administrative approval.

DHS uses E‑Verify to confirm employment eligibility. If a conditional offer is made, you must complete Optional Form 306 (Declaration for Federal Employment) and certify the accuracy of all application information; false statements may result in withdrawal of offer, dismissal, fine, or imprisonment. A student loan repayment incentive may be available, requiring a service agreement. Reasonable accommodation requests for USA Hire Competency Based Assessments must be submitted prior to starting the assessments; decisions are made case‑by‑case.