Crisis Operations Specialist

Duties

• Provides expert advice, guidance, and support to Missions, implementing partners, host countries, and others on technical issues regarding the communications of international civilian-led humanitarian assistance programs and/or operational functions.
• Captures and reports the analysis of complex qualitative and/or quantitative data relating to international humanitarian programs and/or operational functions and recommends actions to improve information and messaging coordination.
• As an expert, may be deployed to international humanitarian disaster locations to perform direct humanitarian interventions or support humanitarian operations by communicating disaster developments and response efforts.
• Assesses effectiveness or recommends improvement around the strategic messaging of issues that affect aspects of major international humanitarian response and/or operational functions.
• Exercises independence and applies good judgment in developing and maintaining relationships with various stakeholders in the international civilian-led humanitarian response community such as the government, implementing partners, and others.
• 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.
• As appropriate, represents the Agency to external stakeholders, in meetings with host governments, Congress, and public and private organizations.

Requirements

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) Demonstrated experience identifying strategic humanitarian messages and synthesizing information from a variety of sources to develop communications materials (i.e., talking points, press releases, press guidance, fact sheets, remarks, social media, etc.) that best highlight an organization's lifesaving work and program successes;

And

(b) Demonstrated experience conceptualizing and developing content that best showcase an organization's lifesaving work, such as blogs, fact sheets, social media, success stories, graphics, videos, and multimedia content;

And

(c) Demonstrated experience providing messaging guidance and communications support to high-level principals-such as media preparation, blogs, talking points, and speech writing-on topics critical to the delivery of humanitarian assistance;

And

(d) Demonstrated communications experience supporting an organization through a high-profile crisis and/or a fast-paced, breaking news event;

And

(e) Demonstrated experience analyzing communications-related strategies and recommending solutions during crisis communications situations;

And

(f) Demonstrated experience liaising and communicating-both written and oral-with key stakeholders regarding complex and sensitive subjects that impact humanitarian/emergency response.

Please note that qualifying specialized work experience may have been gained through a variety of activities, including residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or international relief work, or other foreign work experience. Make sure to document your experience thoroughly in your resume.

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 progressively responsible experience researching, writing, developing, and producing communications materials for civilian-led international humanitarian organizations in a fast-paced environment.

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. An official transcript will be required if you are selected for the position.

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 .