School Support Assistant

Overview

This position supports school operations at the Department of War Education Activity in Hohenfels, Bavaria, Germany. The role centers on managing school property and supplies, keeping purchasing and inventory records accurate, supporting budget-related data collection, and helping with school safety and security compliance.

Key duties

• Act as the property custodian for the school by maintaining an ongoing inventory of non-expendable property and durable supplies.
• Keep all supply movements logged in an automated system and make sure supporting paperwork is correctly filed to preserve both electronic and paper audit records.
• Prepare, review, and forward school support requests to the Area Director’s office for supplies and equipment purchases.
• Spot items and equipment that need repair or maintenance and flag them for action.
• Gather and organize financial information related to supplies, equipment, and repairs for inclusion in the school budget.
• Use the Government Purchase Card as an authorized ordering official to procure school supplies and services.
• Support the monitoring of school safety and security programs so they remain aligned with Department of War Education Activity and installation requirements.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must meet one of the listed eligibility categories for federal hiring, including current or former Department of War/DoWEA employees, eligible family member and preference categories, interagency transition candidates, military spouse preference, veterans’ eligibility, and other stated federal workforce authorities.

For GS-05, candidates need at least one year of specialized experience that shows they can track supplies in an automated system, record supply transactions, and identify equipment needing repair, or they may qualify through four years of study above high school in an approved business, secretarial, or technical program, or through a combination of education and experience. For GS-06, candidates need at least one year of specialized experience involving accountable property records, inventory work, and coordinating equipment repair or maintenance. This position requires experience-based qualification only; education cannot replace the required experience for the GS-06 level.

Conditions of employment

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete the Selective Service certification statement.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Pay must be received through direct deposit.
• A trial or probationary period may apply.
• Employment is subject to a suitability and fitness review based on a background investigation.
• A Tier 1 investigation with childcare checks is required because the role involves contact with children and youth under 18.
• Applicants must meet the requirements of DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 1230 for employment in foreign areas and return rights.
• Those hired from the Continental United States, along with their U.S. citizen family members, must obtain official passports before traveling overseas.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must not be ordinarily resident under the applicable Status of Forces Agreement.
• The position is subject to referral restrictions tied to displaced employee rules.
• The job is not covered by a bargaining unit.

Physical demands

The work is partly desk-based, but it also requires frequent walking, bending, standing, and handling materials. Employees may need to lift or carry items up to 40 pounds, lift boxes weighing 40 pounds above shoulder level, and load or unload vehicles. Lifting aids are available for heavier items.

Additional information

• Salary may include locality pay or a local market supplement.
• More than one vacancy may be filled through this announcement.
• Selection may be made at any announced grade level.
• The role offers promotion potential to the target grade without further competition if the selected employee is eligible and management recommends the advancement.
• The listed duties describe the full-performance GS-06 level; if appointed at a lower grade, the work will be performed in a developmental role with close supervision.
• Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements.
• Pay retention may be available for selected overseas employees, but it will not be offered as an incentive for moving between overseas positions.
• Employees and family members should confirm that medical needs can be met overseas before accepting the job.
• Military medical and dental facilities may only be available on a space-available and reimbursable basis for civilian employees and their families.
• Host-nation providers may be the primary source of medical and dental care, and the level of care can vary by location.
• Applicants subject to the 5-year overseas rotation must have enough time left to complete the required initial tour.
• Employees in the fourth year of an overseas assignment generally cannot be selected unless a waiver of the 5-year service limit is approved.
• Foreign-area benefits for selectees hired outside the United States are determined at the time of hire.
• Local laws or international agreements may affect a same-sex domestic partner or spouse’s ability to accompany the employee and receive benefits.
• The initial overseas tour length for this position is 36 months.
• Applicants who believe they need a reasonable accommodation for online assessments may request one through the online application process before testing begins.
• Supporting documentation for a reasonable accommodation request must be submitted before starting the USA Hire competency-based assessments.
• If found minimally qualified and the request is adjudicated, the applicant will receive an email invitation to complete the assessments.
• All assessments must be completed within 48 hours of receiving the assessment link if it is sent after the announcement closes.
• Foreign education may be used only if the credentials have been evaluated as equivalent to accredited U.S. education, or if full credit has been granted by a U.S. accredited institution.
• Candidates are expected to support efficient government operations and uphold the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Who can apply

This vacancy is open only to applicants who fall within one of the eligible federal employment authority groups listed in the announcement, such as current DoWEA or Department of War employees, eligible overseas family-member categories, military spouse or veteran preference programs, transition assistance groups, and other authorized federal workforce categories.