Legal Administrative Specialist

Summary

This vacancy is for a Legal Administrative Specialist position in the Administrative and Customer Support Division located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.

Duties

• Perform program management functions to plan, administer, evaluate, and improve the Bureau’s Workers’ Compensation program.
• Analyze, evaluate, and resolve complex Workers’ Compensation cases involving medical, legal, regulatory, and factual issues throughout the claims lifecycle.
• Provide authoritative guidance and recommendations on Workers’ Compensation policies, procedures, case strategy, return-to-work, and resolution of complex claims.
• Serve as a liaison with the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), Department of Commerce, Bureau offices, contractors, medical providers, attorneys, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as the Lead/Supervisor for Workers’ Compensation, providing technical direction and supervision to staff responsible for administering and managing Workers’ Compensation activities.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: For the GS-13, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Planning, administering, evaluating, and coordinating Workers' Compensation program activities, including case management, program operations, and implementation of applicable policies and procedures. Analyzing and resolving complex Workers' Compensation cases involving medical, legal, factual, and regulatory issues and applying Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), and related Federal requirements. Managing Workers' Compensation cases to facilitate appropriate medical treatment, rehabilitation, return to work, or administrative resolution while identifying opportunities to minimize lost work time and unnecessary expenditures. Providing technical guidance and recommendations to employees, supervisors, managers, and other specialists regarding Workers' Compensation requirements, case management, return-to-work strategies, and resolution of complex claims. Reviewing Workers' Compensation policies, procedures, and program practices; identifying operational deficiencies or opportunities for improvement; and developing recommendations to improve program effectiveness and efficiency; and Coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, including Department of Labor/OWCP, human resources officials, contractors, medical providers, attorneys, and organizational representatives, to resolve complex Workers' Compensation issues and support program objectives. Education: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this Grade Level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement, 09/08/2026, to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/08/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USA JOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online; however, if you are unable to apply online, please email the Agency contact.