Summary
This vacancy announcement will be open from July 1st, 2024 to July 8th, 2024 or when 50 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
At the successful conclusion of the program, interns
may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional position in the
competitive service. Conversions to the competitive service are not guaranteed.
Duties
As a Student Trainee GS-0199-07 , the incumbent will:
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, often referred to as “Oceans, Environment and Science” or simply (OES) covers issues that reach from the depths of the oceans to the vastness of outer space. Created by Congress in 1974, OES advances U.S. strategic interests through policy aimed at ensuring that economic growth and a healthy planet go hand in hand.
As a Student Trainee, the incumbent will:
Perform office duties using the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software, including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. Specific responsibilities may include tracking Congressional correspondence, performing electronic file maintenance, updating and maintaining computer files and inventories, making backup copies, updating and maintaining references materials, and maintaining appointments, calendars, schedules, etc. The incumbent may also assist with scheduling appointments, coordinating meetings, and/or arranging conferences.
Assist the office with a variety of assignments and tasks that support our missions' programs. The primary responsibility is to support the bureau policy offices by assisting with communications and coordinating the flow of information with bureau leadership; and to perform a variety of program-supporting assignments and projects. While the student will participate as a team member in broader projects/assignments, there will be opportunities to complete substantive assignments independently. Additional responsibilities may include conducting online research and providing substantive responses to agency and external inquiries; preparing briefing materials for upcoming meetings or other high-level visits; preparing and compiling program information, biographies of participants, background on subject at hand, country maps, etc.; arranging official consultations for DOS personnel during visits to Washington; and attending meetings/conferences and providing written summaries.
Complete independent special research projects that require practical knowledge of program and mission objectives. Exchange and develop information, resolve discrepancies, and make recommendations about conflicting program-related materials. Collect program information from technical specialists, enter it into a variety of electronic information systems, search for related information, and retrieve all relevant data into reports and other presentation formats. Assemble and summarize key data, background information, and other materials that highlight alternative methods and approaches as appropriate.
Monitor the status of program assignments, ensuring that due dates are noted and established, that background materials are routed to the assigned staff, and that copies of background materials are maintained in a secure location, ensuring that materials are immediately available to the supervisor and relevant staff. Provide reminders of approaching due dates to ensure that all assignments are met in a timely manner. Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Eligibility Requirements:
- A U.S. Citizen;
- 16 years or older by the closing date of this announcement;
- Enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment as a full-time or half-time student into an accredited college or university in a degree-seeking program, or enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment in a certificate program;
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0 at time of application and must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment; and
- Degree does not have to be related to the position/series; however to be eligible, candidate must meet the agency-developed or OPM qualification standards for the position to which the Intern may be converted.
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence at the time of application. Late submissions of proof of accreditation will not be accepted. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.
Qualifications
GS-07: Completion of 1 full academic year (18 credits) of graduate-level education OR Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) Provision AND completion of a bachelor’s degree; AND be currently accepted to/enrolled in a qualifying degree or certificate program. (SAA= Graduating with Bachelors Degree Overall GPA of 3.0 or greater)
Education
An individual who needs to complete less than the equivalent of half an academic/vocational or technical course-load immediately prior to graduating is still considered a student for the purposes of this Program.
The Pathways Internship Program targets students accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled in a qualifying educational program in an accredited institution, on a full or half-time basis with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school.
Applicants must meet the definition of "student" in order to be considered for this opportunity.
At the successful conclusion of the program, interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional position in the competitive service.
Conversions to the competitive service are not guaranteed.
Pathways candidates must meet the DOS qualification standards applicable to the position being filled. All applicants must meet the qualifications by the closing date of this announcement.
Cumulative GPA of 2.0 at time of application and must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment;
Degree does not have to be related to the position/series; however to be eligible, candidate must meet the OPM qualification standards for the position to which the Intern may be converted.
Certificate Requirements:
Undergraduate certificates must contain a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours.
Graduate certificates must contain a minimum of 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours.
For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school.
The Department of State no longer accepts certificates that are credited with Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
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.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence at the time of application. Late submissions of proof of accreditation will not be accepted. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.
Student means an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled), including awardees of the Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholarship Program under Public Law 93-842. Students need not be in actual physical attendance, so long as all other requirements are met. An individual who needs to complete less than the equivalent of half an academic/vocational or technical course-load immediately prior to graduating is still considered a student for purposes of this Program.
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.
Employees hired under the Pathways Programs on appointments for 90 days or more are eligible to earn annual and sick leave. Interns hired under the Internship Experience Program (IEP) appointment for a period expected to last longer than 1 year are eligible for health and life insurance coverage as long as they are expected to be employed under this appointment for over 1 year and are expected to be in a pay status for at least one-third of the total period of time from the date of their initial appointment to the date of the completion of the Program. The cost of premiums is split between the employee and the agency, as it is for all permanent employees. As a Department of State employee, Interns are eligible to receive a transit subsidy each month to compensate for travel to and from work via certain types of public transportation.
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under the Category Rating and Selection procedures. Based on your responses to the job-specific self-assessment questions, eligible candidates are placed for selection consideration into one of three pre-defined quality categories as described below:
Highly-qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications for the position, candidates must fully demonstrate proficiency in all major aspects of the position.
Well Qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.
Qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of knowledge, skill and ability of the position.
Application of Veterans Preference: The Category Rating Method does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each pre-defined quality category. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent (i.e., CPS and CP) must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher.
Selections will be made in accordance with the requirements of 5 CFR Part 302, veterans preference laws, and OPM guidance.
NOTE: If it is determined that you do not meet program eligibility requirements or fail to submit proper documentation, you will be removed from consideration.
Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any required supporting documentation by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.
In accordance with the Office of Personnel Management policy, for undergraduate level education, successfully completed education is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education.
An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information is not provided by the applicant, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours will be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. For applicants that have completed more than 1 year of education in a graduate program, advanced degree, or certificate program, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide documentation from the institution in order to establish the length of their academic program to be used to project their expected graduation date.
Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any required supporting documentation by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. The following documents must be submitted for your application package to be considered complete. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents are received within the required timeframes. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, system failure or downtime, etc. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
- Resume: that includes the following information: 1) contact information; 2) completed course work (unit/credit hours); 3) academic standing/GPA; 4) work/volunteer experience including the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates or employment; and title, series, and grade, if applicable; 5) supervisors name, phone number and email address for each work period listed and whether or not we may contact them for reference checks; and 6) references.
- Transcript(s): unofficial copies are sufficient with the application; however if selected, official transcripts will be required. Applicants in high school should submit their most recent report card. If your transcripts do not provide the information listed below, include additional official academic documentation that meets the requirements. Transcripts MUST include:
- Student's name
- Name of the school
- Specific degree program
- Current and Cumulative GPA/academic standing
- Past and current coursework
- Evidence of meeting the “qualifications” as listed in the announcement
- Proof of Enrollment or Class Registration for the Fall 2024 semester: 1) If you are not presently enrolled for Fall 2024 semester, you may upload an acceptance letter to a qualifying program for the Fall 2024 semester OR 2) if you will graduate from your current academic program Fall 2025 semester, you may upload an acceptance letter to a qualifying program for the following semester along with your current proof of enrollment (Note: When completing the questionnaire, be sure to select your “new” program’s projected graduation date to avoid possible disqualification). The acceptance letter must be dated within the last 12 months and must specify the term of acceptance and the program to which you have been accepted.
- Proof of Graduation Date: transcripts or official educational supporting documentation that reflects a projected graduation date after the Fall 2025 semester.
- Veteran’s Documentation: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit proof of veterans' preference with your application.
For 5-point veteran's preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) which must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are currently on active duty, you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service date, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be within 120 days of the date the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement. If the appropriate information is not submitted to confirm your current or expected discharge status, dates of service, etc., you will not receive credit for the claimed active duty military service.
For 10-point veteran's preference, you must submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and any documentation required by this form to support your claim. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted. If we cannot verify your 10-point preference status, you will receive 5-point preference if veterans' preference requirements have been met.
For Sole Survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4 is preferable) or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.
For further information regarding Veterans, click here.
To gain access to your DD214 online, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-servicerecords/get-service-records.html.
All supporting documentation, applicable to you, must be attached to your online application via upload or by fax using the cover sheet and phone number generated in the application.
If the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility or you fail to submit any of the required documents, it will disqualify you from being considered for this job opportunity.
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.
How to Apply
Complete applications (to include all required documents) must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system. To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply Online" button to the right.
Candidates have until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting the online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section.
Candidates are encouraged to complete their applications well before the application deadline to ensure they receive consideration. Should candidates be missing any of the required documents or submit their application late, they will be disqualified for consideration of employment. There is a maximum number of applications for this vacancy announcement. The vacancy will close on the closing date listed above or when the maximum number of applications is received. The vacancy will close when the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same.
Technical assistance with your on-line application can be obtained by contacting the Help Desk at mgshelp@monster.com OR by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. EST.
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the program qualification requirements. After we review and evaluate all applications, the most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration for possible interviews. If rewarded a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation, which generally takes an average of at least two to six months, up to a year. You will be notified up to four times during the hiring process:
- Upon receipt of your application.
- Upon minimum qualification determinations.
- If referred to the hiring manager.
- After hiring manager makes final decision.
For instructions on how to view the status of your application, please click here.
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