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International Relations Officer

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Apr 30, 2021
Duties

Summary

This position is located in the in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA), in the Technical Assistance and Cooperation (TAC) Division. ILAB is responsible for carrying out the Department's international responsibilities including policy, programs, and research related to international labor activities.

Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.

This position is inside Local 12 bargaining unit.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

International Relations Officers (IRO) develop and maintain expert understanding of:
  • The impact of international trade, economic policy, international development, and livelihoods policies on U.S. workers, priorities, and policy interests;
  • International labor standards set by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and how to assess compliance with those standards and rights;
  • Various labor, employment, and livelihoods initiatives, programs, and interventions designed to advance workers' rights, working conditions, and livelihoods.

IROs independently:
  • Maintains an understanding of various labor, employment, and livelihoods initiatives, programs, and interventions designed to advance workers' rights, working conditions, and livelihoods.
  • Participates in the formulation of technical assistance, engagement, and/or remediation strategies and plans designed to advance workers' rights, working conditions, and/or livelihoods for workers.
  • Designs a strategy, project, engagement plan, or other appropriate means of implementing recommended intervention(s).
  • Drafts and/or reviews grant solicitations and other procurement documents, engagement plans, action plans, project documents, workplans, and other documents that lay out such strategies and plans.
  • Monitors achievement of milestones, performance indicators, and workplans to ensure successful completion of deliverables and achievement of intended objectives.

IROs execute technical assistance, engagement, and/or remediation strategies and plans designed to advance workers' rights, working conditions, and/or livelihoods for workers; and identify specific problems that are to be addressed and make recommendations on potential interventions that can address identified problems. IROs maintain an up-to-date understanding of relevant operational policies and processes to implement technical assistance, engagement, and remediation strategies. IROs draft and review grant solicitations and other procurement documents, engagement plans, remediation plans, action plans, project documents, and other documents. IROs systematically evaluate the performance of technical assistance, engagement, remediation, negotiating, and other strategies and plans and use evaluation findings and recommendations to make appropriate adjustments to plans to ensure achievement of the office's intended objectives.

IROs prepare a variety of written and oral communication products.

Language Requirement - Ability to speak and read Spanish in all styles and forms of the language pertinent to the duties of the position.

Travel Required

25% or less - This position is subject to 10% travel.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor's recommendations to the next grade.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
  • Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
  • Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.


Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

THIS POSITION HAS A BASIC REQUIREMENT. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.

  • 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, in one or more of the social sciences, or in the humanities, 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.


  • IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

    FOR THE GS-11: In addition to the meeting the basic requirements of this position, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal Service. Your experience must demonstrates knowledge of international employment and labor issues.

    Examples of specialized experience includes:
  • Assisting with grant-funded projects related labor, employment, livelihoods, humanitarian, human rights, or other international development initiatives, programs, or interventions
  • Independently administering program resources, including records management and tracking, monitoring, and preparing a wide variety of data, reports, correspondence, and other documents and materials.

  • FOR THE GS-12: In addition to the meeting the basic requirements of this position, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal Service. Your experience must demonstrate extensive knowledge of international employment and labor issues.

    Examples of specialized experience includes:

    1. Assisting with the response to grant funding opportunity announcements and managing projects related to labor, employment, livelihoods, humanitarian, human rights, or other international development initiatives, programs, or interventions.

    2. Independently administering program resources, including records management and tracking, monitoring, and preparing a wide variety of data, reports, correspondence, and other documents and materials.

    FOR THE GS-13: In addition to the meeting the basic requirements of this position, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the Federal Service. Your experience must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of international employment and labor issues.

    Examples of specialized experience includes:
  • Writing grant funding opportunity announcements and managing projects related to international labor, employment, livelihoods, humanitarian, human rights, or other international development initiatives, programs, or interventions.
  • Independently managing program resources, including records management and tracking, monitoring, data collection, reports, correspondence, and other documents and materials.


  • Education

    You may use education to substitute for specialized experience at the GS-11 level ONLY: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, IF RELATED.

    Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

    If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

    Additional information

    DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

    Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION , ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION , FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

    How You Will Be Evaluated

    You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

    Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

    Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

    Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.

    Written Communication: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

    Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

    Grants Management - Knowledge of requirements, practices, and procedures for soliciting, receiving, reviewing, and processing proposals, and awarding and administering grants and agreements.

    Project Management - Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance.

    The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references, and through other means (ex. interview). Your evaluation may also include a review by an HR Specialist or panel and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.

    Click here for Evaluation details.

    INFORMATION FOR CTAP[/ICTAP] ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP [or ICTAP], you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.

    To preview questions please click here .

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Secret

    Drug test required
    Yes

    Position sensitivity and risk
    Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

    Trust determination process
    Credentialing

    Required Documents

    The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password-protected documents.

    The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

    ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE? If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, and Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

    *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.

    - Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and the number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.

    - Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. Applies to current and former Federal employees.

    The following documents are required if applicable:

    - Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under ICTAP / CTAP Eligibility.

    - DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) , and showing the character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)

    Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents

    - Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements): [HR to edit as necessary] (a) Persons with Severe Disabilities (SCHEDULE A) (b) 30% or More Compensable Disabled Veterans (DAV) (c) Former Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) OR Current or Former Peace Corps Employees (PCE) (d) Military Spouses (MISP) (e) Other

    - Land Management Eligible(s): a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act . This service must have been performed in the competitive service, under a time-limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here .

    - Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted.

    Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship , and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

    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.

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