Job: Psychology Technician

Clarification from the agency

• THIS IS A DELEGATED EXAMINING ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS. • Duty Location: FCC Florence, CO

Responsible for performing secretarial and technical duties to include, but not limited to, the administration and mechanical or computerized scoring of a variety of psychological tests; management and daily operation of the facility’s Psychology Data System (PDS); assisting and coordinating with Psychologists in special projects, (e.g., Suicide Prevention Program); scheduling of appointments; record/file keeping; and a variety of other clerical/secretarial duties.

Under the supervision of a psychologist, is responsible for the administration, mechanical or computerized scoring and distribution (or storage) of a variety of psychological tests, including Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory.

Responsible for the implementation of the Bureau of Prison’s (BOP) automated/computerized psychology data entry system including initial implementation of Psychology Data System (PDS), training of all psychology staff, routine data entry and retrieval, automated test scoring and reconciling discrepancies in the files.

Types, duplicates and distributes letters, memos, agendas, forms, certificates, meeting minutes, and reports for the Chief Psychologist.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and is performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
• Selective Service Requirement: http://www.sss.gov

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

• 1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
• 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
• 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established category rating criteria.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following:

Basic Requirements:

Applicants must have one-year specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. (For positions at GL-4 and above): experience that involved the observation of and assistance in the application of techniques relating to behavior, capacities, traits, interests, and activities of either humans or, under laboratory conditions, animals. Experience may have been gained in connection with a program of research or direct services in psychology that gave a practical understanding of some of the principles, methods, and techniques of psychology needed to assist professional psychologists.

OR

Education:

GL-06: Nine semester hours or 13.5 quarter hours of graduate education in the related field of the position.

GL-07: One year of graduate education or 27 quarter hours of graduate education in the related field of the position.

NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

Experience:

Some examples of the qualifying experience are:

GL-06:

• Experience in composing complex but non-technical correspondence, locating and assembling information for various reports, briefings, conferences, etc., designing and organizing filing systems, and organizing the flow of clerical processes in the office.
• Experience in performing notarial services for staff and inmates.
• Experience in maintaining tracking logs for various programs such as monthly contracts, monthly psychotropic compliance, suicide watch monitoring, requests for services, etc.
• Experience submitting court ordered psychological evaluations, and responding to request for inmates records.
• Experience in being a credit card holder for the department, including verifying that obligated expenditures do not exceed yearly budget allotments.

GL-07:

• Experience in administering, scoring, distributing, and storing a variety of psychological tests.
• Experience assisting in researching, interpreting, and applying a variety of complex regulations, rules and laws regarding psychological procedures and practices.
• Experience in implementation of the BOP's automated/computerized psychology data entry system including initial implementation of PDS, training of all psychology staff, routine data entry and retrieval, automated test scoring and reconciling discrepancies in the files.
• Experience in obligating expenditures, preparing purchase orders, requisitions, and maintaining accounting of department expenditures and adjustments.
• Experience in providing security escort for volunteers, guest speakers, and visitors including running NCIC background checks and preparing paperwork for volunteers, guest speakers and visitors.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels and positions for which both education and experience are acceptable.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**