Probation Clerk

Application Procedure:

Qualified applicants should submit the following materials in PDF format via the portal listed below:

• A letter of application summarizing the applicant’s qualifications;
• A current resume detailing relevant experience, dates of employment and functions managed.
• A completed application for judicial branch employment, form AO-78. (Note: the last page of the AO-78 requires a conventional signature);
• A list of at least three professional references.

Online Application Portal:

https://opportunities.ilnb.uscourts.gov/Employment/appform.cfm?ref=prux8s4e&pos=04P2025

* Starting salary and grade will be determined based on experience and

qualifications. Applicants selected from outside the judiciary generally start in

the developmental range for a CL 25 ($48,890 - $60,602). Qualified probation

staff currently employed by the Federal Judiciary are encouraged to apply for a

transfer and may be eligible for compensation beyond that of the developmental

range. The incumbent selected for this position will be eligible for future

promotion without further competition based on accretion of experience and

duties, acceptable job performance, and at the discretion of the Chief Probation

Officer.

Position Summary

The Office of Probation and Pretrial Services of the U.S. District Court, District

of Montana, is seeking an experienced, adaptable office professional for the

position of Probation Clerk in our Great Falls office. This is a full-time position

(8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Mon – Fri) with all applicable federal benefits. The Great

Falls Probation Office is located in the Missouri River Federal Courthouse, 125

Central Ave W, Great Falls, MT 59404.

Representative Duties and Responsibilities:

The Probation Clerk provides administrative and technical assistance to

probation and pretrial services officers, as well as general office support.

Responsibilities are varied, and include: data entry, maintenance, and retrieval;

electronic file set up and maintenance; electronic filing of documents; preparing,

reviewing, processing and routing forms and documents; monitoring and

notification of data alerts to officers; proofreading and editing reports;

answering phones, providing reception duties, and providing requested information; receiving, prioritizing

and routing incoming and outgoing mail; assisting officers with documentation and processing of

urinalysis testing, and maintaining records of results and chain of custody; providing general daily office

responsibilities; assist in investigations related to employment, education, law enforcement, medical

treatment, or military records by contacting various local, state, and national businesses and agencies to collect information.

Education and Experience Qualifications:

Minimum requirements: High school diploma or equivalent, and 2 years of general office experience.

Preferred experience and skills: Experience with database systems and proficiency in the use of

automated equipment and software applications. Highly accurate data entry skills. Skill in spelling,

punctuation, grammar and proofreading. Strong organizational skills. Ability to meet strict deadlines.

Willingness to learn new systems and ability to adapt to frequent change. Ability to interact and

communicate in a professional manner with a diverse range of individuals, including clients under

federal supervision, family members and associated individuals, as well as with community members

and other court employees. Familiarity with law enforcement or legal terminology is helpful but not

required.

Preferred applicants will have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

 General knowledge of the roles and functions of federal probation, the court, and related

agencies. Knowledge of automated systems, legal terminology, and investigative techniques.

 Knowledge of and compliance with court confidentiality, ethics and judgment standards.

 Skill in use of automated technology, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database

applications.

 Ability to organize, prioritize, and work under short deadlines.

 Ability to communicate in an effective manner, both oral and written, to a wide variety of

individuals.

Employment Requirements and Selection Process:

Applicants must be citizens of the United States or be eligible to work in the United States. The

incumbent chosen must provide their fingerprints for a background security check. Employees are

required to use Electronic Fund Transfer for payroll deposit. The court requires that employees adhere

to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees (available at: http://www.uscourts.gov/rulespolicies/

judiciary-policies). Employees of the United States Courts are considered “at will” employees,

and are not covered by the Office of Personnel Management’s civil service classification system or

regulations.

Application Procedure:

Qualified applicants should submit the following materials in PDF format via the portal listed below:

 A letter of application summarizing the applicant’s qualifications;

 A current resume detailing relevant experience, dates of employment and functions

managed.

 A completed application for judicial branch employment, form AO-78. (Note: the last page

04P:2025 |

of the AO-78 requires a conventional signature);

 A list of at least three professional references.

Online Application Portal:

https://opportunities.ilnb.uscourts.gov/Employment/appform.cfm?ref=prux8s4e&pos=04P2025

Please contact the Human Resources Department, if you require alternative application submission

options at 406-542-7113 or email susanne_johnston@mtd.uscourts.gov

Applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt of their application immediately after submitting their

application on the portal. Due to the expected volume of applications any further communication will

be limited to those individuals contacted for screening and interviews. Applicants selected for

interviews must travel at their own expense and relocation expenses are not authorized.

The U.S. Probation Office, District of Montana, reserves the right to amend or withdraw this

announcement without written notice to applicants. If a subsequent vacancy of the same position

becomes available within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Chief Probation Officer

may elect to select a candidate from the original qualified applicant pool.

Benefits:

Employees of the United States District Court serve under an Excepted Appointment and are considered

“at will” employees. Judiciary employees are eligible to participate in the federal health, dental, vision,

and life insurance benefits, paid annual leave, paid sick time and receive eleven paid holidays per year.

Judiciary employees are not covered by the Office of Personnel Management’s civil service classification

system or regulations. Additional information regarding the U.S. Courts, the Judicial Code of Conduct,

and federal benefits can be located at www.uscourts.gov.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $48,890.00 - $79,443.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

• Great Falls, MT 59404 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Great Falls, MT 59404: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $48,890 - $79,443