Summary
These job openings are in the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), in the following offices: Office of Africa (OA), Office of Asia, Latin America, & the Caribbean (ALAC), Office of Middle East, North Africa, and Europe (MENAE), and Office of Field and Response Operations (FARO).
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens - No prior federal service required.
Duties
- Conducts professional research and authoritative analysis used to develop strategies, plans, instructions and guidance for application and incorporation into international crisis operations policies, programs and/or operational functions.
- Serves as an expert on policy, program, and/or operational function issues, and develops policies, strategies, processes, procedures, and plans for office- and bureau-wide application.
- Assesses effectiveness or recommends improvement of program and/or operational processes and systems encompassing difficult and diverse issues that affect aspects of major international crisis operations programs.
- Identifies and proposes solutions to problems, planning the direction for future international crisis programs and/or operational functions that have implications for foreign and national security policy, strategy, programs, planning and budgets.
- Maintains liaison with sources of information inside and outside of the Agency to assess and review new or unusual circumstances, variations in approach and incomplete or conflicting information.
- Actively participates in appropriate policy formulation for crisis programs and/or operations, and reviews liaison activities for agency-wide programs and/or operational functions as they pertain to the area of expertise.
- Informs stakeholders of changes in programs and/or operational functions, conducting briefings on major program changes.
Conditions of Employment
- United States Citizenship is required.
- Relevant experience (see Qualifications below).
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. The security clearance level requirement for this position may vary based on the nature and responsibilities of the job.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
- You may be required to serve a two-year probationary period if selected.
- Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer is required
- All applicants selected for this position will be subject to random drug testing once they begin working for the Agency.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements: The first step in the evaluation process requires meeting Basic Requirements, Specialized Experience, and Selective Placement Factor stated below. Please refer to the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for further details. Ensure that all relevant experience is clearly stated in your resume and unofficial transcripts are submitted to verify your education level.
To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Degree: major or equivalent, or a combination of courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; or 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics/quantitative methods.
OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
Experience: four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.
Specialized Experience:
GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the next lower level for this position includes:
(a) Analyzing complex management functions and processes and identifying relevant solutions to organization-wide coordination of international development and humanitarian assistance programming and operations; (b) Clearly communicating complex and sensitive subjects, both written and oral, to staff of all levels within an organization; and (c) Assessing the effectiveness of policies, processes, or procedures related to the management and operations of international development and humanitarian assistance.
Selective Placement Factor:
This position has a Selective Placement Factor, which is a skill, knowledge, ability, or other characteristic essential for the job's satisfactory performance. The Selective Placement Factor represents the minimum requirements for this position and is a prerequisite for appointment. Applicants who do not meet the Selective Placement Factor are ineligible for further consideration.
Selective Placement Factor: Your resume must demonstrate experience designing or managing international civilian humanitarian assistance policies, processes, or operational and management functions.
Experience includes both paid and unpaid activities, such as volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work provides training and experience that can translate directly to paid employment. Qualifying experience, including volunteer experience, that aligns with the duties of this position will be considered.
Education
Review the Basic Requirements of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. Unofficial transcripts are required at the point of submission since these positions do have a minimum education requirement.
If you have received your education at a foreign college or university, you may use it to meet the education requirements as long as you can demonstrate that the foreign education is similar to that you would have received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. You must provide such evidence with your application. Find a list of accredited organizations recognized for interpreting foreign education credentials at www.naces.org/members.php.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The two-phase assessment process of your application starts with determining whether or not you possess the necessary qualifications, followed by determining if you rate amongst our most qualified applicants. We must emphasize including related experience in the first five pages of your resume; while longer resumes will not be removed from consideration, they will not be given any preferential treatment either. The Subject Matter Expert (SME) reviews this section alone when making their decision regarding an applicant's level of competitiveness.
In the first phase, an SME will review your application against the specialized experience statement for the grade level(s) for which you choose to apply. Only applicants who clearly document experience equivalent to the specialized experience requirements in their resume will move to the second phase. Please note that applicants who copy and paste the specialized experience statements in their resume will be removed from further consideration.
In the second phase, our SME will assess your application against the following competencies to find out which of our three categories (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) you fall into. If considered a Gold category candidate, then you will be referred to an interview panel for further consideration. The competencies are:
- Humanitarian Assistance Programs, Policy, and Operations
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Planning and Evaluating
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Flexibility
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Problem Solving
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Team Building
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Leverage Diversity
In accordance with OPM regulations for professional and scientific occupations, eligible veterans will receive preference over non-veterans within their respective rating category (i.e., Gold, Silver, Bronze).
Please keep in mind that SMEs can only base their evaluations on what is documented in your resume and cannot guess on your level of experience or quality of skillset mentioned. To limit any potential bias during this process, we highly encourage all applicants to carefully review the requirements noted in the announcement prior to submitting applications so they can thoroughly list any related skills or experiences that satisfy the specialized experience requirements as well as competencies listed.
To apply for this position, you need to prepare a complete Application Package including:
- Resume: Your resume should detail your name, dates of employment (month/year), hours worked per week, and duties performed. Review "What should I include in my federal resume?" for guidance on developing an outstanding federal resume.
- Supporting Documents: Your application package must include:
- Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable)
- Schedule A Eligibility Letter (if you are applying as a Schedule A candidate)
- Educational Transcripts, official or unofficial (if you are relying on education to meet qualification requirements).
3. Cover letter is optional.
Agencies must obtain prior approval from OPM for current or recent political appointees to be appointed to competitive or non-political excepted service positions at any level under title 5, United States Code. If you have served as a Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch within the last five years, you must disclose it to the Human Resources Office and submit an SF-50 if you are currently or were formerly a political appointee.
In order to qualify for this position, you must submit all required documents at the time of your application. Failing to do so will result in an incomplete application and disqualify you from being considered. To ensure you receive full consideration, please submit all needed documents along with your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
1. Familiarize yourself with the requirements and qualifications listed in the vacancy announcement.
- Read the entire announcement carefully to ensure you understand the position's duties, responsibilities, and requirements.
- Make sure you meet the qualifications listed before applying.
2. Prepare your resume and supporting documents to showcase your qualifications.
- Tailor your resume to the position and highlight relevant experience and skills.
- Include any supporting documents required, such as transcripts, certifications, or references.
3. Return to this vacancy announcement and click on the "Apply" button.
- This will take you to the application portal.
4. Sign in to your existing Login.gov account or create a new one if needed.
- Follow the prompts to create an account or sign in to an existing one.
5. Upload your resume and supporting documents, answer any required eligibility and qualification questions, and then click "Continue to Agency Site."
- Make sure all required documents are uploaded and any questions are answered accurately and truthfully.
6. Review biographic information, complete a few short questions, and attach documents to ensure accuracy and completeness.
- Double-check all information and documents to ensure they are correct and complete.
7. Click the "Submit Application" button to finalize your submission.
- Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation message.
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted electronically and received by 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. If you have difficulty submitting your application online, please contact the Human Resources Help Desk at least two business days before the closing date of the announcement. Our office will provide an alternative application method upon approval of the hardship notification. Please note that any requests to apply via alternative plans after the closing date will not be granted.
Next steps
Thank you for submitting your application for the open positions. After the cutoff dates below, all applications received up to that date will be reviewed. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.
- 1st cutoff: 08/05/2023
- 2nd cutoff: 11/05/2023
- 3rd cutoff: 02/05/2024
- 4th cutoff: 04/05/2024
- 5th cutoff: 07/05/2024
If your application is referred, the hiring manager will review your application and determine whether to invite you for an interview. If you are not selected, your application will remain on file for possible consideration for future vacancies for up to four months.
Additional cutoff dates will be added as vacancies occur. If you miss one of the established cutoff dates, we encourage you to reapply and submit a new application.
Note that due to the large volume of applications we receive, only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are highly qualified will be contacted. We appreciate your interest in this position and thank you for considering a career with us.
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