Summary
This position is located in the USAGM, Voice of America, Language Programming Directorate, Africa Division, Hom of Africa Service. The position serves as the first-level supervisor over the Hom of Africa Service and supervises the production and broadcast of news and information in Amharic, Afan Oromo, and Tigrigna via all platforms (radio, TV, Internet, and social media) to the Hom of Africa.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), the public, Veterans; All U.S. Citizens.
Duties
Include but are not limited to the following:
- The position serves as a first-level supervisor and exercises supervisory authorities for a minimum of 70% of the time.
- Directs and coordinates the work of (freelance journalists, reporters, videographers) located in the United States and Africa who produce material for broadcast on an assignment-by-assignment basis.
- Seeks and recruits such talent, makes work assignments, reviews and accepts finished products, exercises editorial control over their work, ensures quality control, and verifies and certifies invoices for payment.
- Plans and directs the production of daily radio and television programming, as well as material for print, digital, and social media for the Amharic region. Leads the staff in originating targeted material and in developing program goals.
- Plans the programs to ensure that individual segments exemplify the highest professional broadcast standards and conform to the dictates of the VOA charter.
- Plans the programs to ensure that individual segments are designed to attract the interest of viewers and listeners in an internationally competitive broadcast environment and conform to the dictates of the VOA charter.
- Evaluates and selects source material that the Service uses in its programs, including centrally produced scripts, relevant published and broadcast material, interviews, and other sources supporting the principles of the VOA charter.
- With the assistance of service editors, edits and adapts English language scripts to ensure balanced programming; edits translated scripts for accuracy, comprehensiveness, clarity, tone, and impact.
- Prepares original programming material for broadcast
- Stays fully informed on world and African developments and ensures that those of particular interest to the target audience are included in Amharic programming.
- Develops contacts with experts and academics who understand the issues and interests of the target audience and uses these experts in Amharic programming as appropriate.
- Maintains contacts with other governmental agencies such as the U.S. State Department, USAID, WHO, World Bank, Human Rights Watch, Center of Public Integrity.
- Maintains contacts with journalists with influential news organizations like the BBC, Reuters, NPR, Africa Confidential, etc.,
- Maintains contacts in order to stay abreast of and coordinate coverage of issues involving the target audiences that may require VOA attention.
- Stays current on US. foreign and domestic policies related to programming for Africa
- Exercises strict adherence to the VOA journalistic and ethical codes. Ensures compliance with mandatory training requirements as defined by the agency.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S Citizen or U.S. National.
- This is a public trust position. If selected, this position requires the completion of the SF-86.
- Suitability Determination: If selected, you will be subject to a background investigation to establish your suitability for federal employment. The background investigation may include, among other aspects, a review of your credit and legal history.
- This position is not covered by a Union Agreement.
- This position has been designated supervisory requiring that the selectee serves on an initial appointment as a supervisor or manager serve a one-year probationary period.
- If selected for this vacancy, you will be required to file the OGE Form 450 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Report).
- The full performance grade level for this position is GS-14.
- If you are a male applicant who is born after 12/31/59, you are required to be registered for the Selective Service.
Qualifications
Screen out factor: Applicant must have fluency English and native fluency in one or more of the Horn languages (Amharic, Tigrigna, or Afan Oromo) that demonstrates the ability to product and present news and information in both languages. And enables you to speak, read, write, report, and translate in both languages. This language screen out factor MUST be listed in your resume to receive consideration.
Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13grade level that is in or directly related to this line of work.
Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, the following specialized experience is required:
- Experience with the production and presentation of news and information in one or more of the Horn languages (Amharic, Tigrigna, or Afan-Oromo) and English language via all platforms-radio, TV, and social media, and approves content for broadcast programs to Horn of Africa.
- Expertise in journalism and in creation and production of multimedia content, including production of content.
- Expertise in the target media market that enables the incumbent to coordinate content for the Horn service.
- Experience leading a team of journalists producing multimedia content and managing a diverse staff/team of content producers in the U.S. and abroad.
- Expertise in Horn of Africa and the U.S. as it pertains to creation and development of multimedia content for audiences in the Horn of Africa.
Education
Education is not required for this grade level. It cannot be used for qualification purposes.
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once your application package has been received, a review of your qualifications will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements and competencies required for this position.
Competencies:
- Foreign Language
- Journalism
- Leadership
- Manages Human Resources
- Target Area
Possession of competencies must be addressed in a resume and/or cover letter. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. You will be placed in one of three rating categories:
- Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating below 79.
- Well Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating of 80-89.
- Best Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating of 90 and above.
Application of Veterans' Preference: Category Rating does not add veterans' preference points, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more will be placed at the top of the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). Preference eligibles who do not have a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more will be assigned to the appropriate quality category based upon the job-related assessment and will be listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within the appropriate quality category.
Fair Chance Act: Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to HROperations@usagm.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.
Required Documents
The following documents are required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date for your application package to be complete. Encrypted or ineligible documents may result in loss of consideration.
- Resume: Include contact information, education, and detailed work experience (including work schedules, employment dates, and position titles).
- Veteran Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility, you must submit the member copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility stating character of service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit a VA letter and an Application of 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF-15). Applicants seeking widow or other special veterans' preference must submit a SF-15 form and all documents indicated for their specific form of preference. If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received.
- ICTAP: If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for selection priority. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 80 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
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
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.
- To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents and any appropriate Accepted Documents.
- To begin, click Apply in the announcement; then, choose to create a new USAJOBS account or Sign-in into your existing account.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
- You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before submitting it. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- Click the following link to pre-view and print the occupational questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12563085.
- After completing the questionnaire and uploading appropriate documents, click the Submit Application to submit your application package.
- It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered in the profile is accurate and all required documents are uploaded and submitted before 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/15/2024 of the announcement to receive consideration.
- Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. If a document is not in legible format, applicant will not be able to view it in Application Manager which means applicant must again upload the documentation to the system by the closing date of this announcement.
- To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account. The page will display the positions for which you've applied as well as the status of each application.
- To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Next click on Update Application to complete the application process.
- Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement, including the Required Documents, Other Information, and How to Apply sections of the announcement.
- Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail or e-mail. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.
- This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact HROperations@usagm.gov or 202-920-2400 to request this.
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire and application package is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
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