Duties

If selected for this position, you will receive on the job training in the duties performed as an International Relations Specialist.

Duties include:

Develops an awareness of established analytical techniques to monitor and analyze countries' routine/standard deficiencies, compliance, or policies and practices for enforcing their labor laws with respect to international labor standards. Develops an awareness of international labor standards set by the International Labor Organization (ILO) as it pertains to forced labor, freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, employment discrimination, and other international workers' rights in order to assess compliance with those standards. With assistance, the incumbent drafts analyses of countries' deficiencies or compliance with international labor standards.

Observes and monitors beneficiary countries' compliance with labor provisions of trade preference programs, investment agreements, and development finance programs. Under close supervision of staff, the incumbent drafts limited analyses of beneficiary countries' compliance with labor provisions of these agreements and programs. Supports colleagues in the assessment of complaints or allegations that labor rights commitments have been violated under relevant trade or investment agreements and/or programs. Supports colleagues in the drafting of remediation plans to bring countries into compliance with labor provisions of these agreements and programs

Supports colleagues in developing internal policy and makes draft recommendations for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. Observes office issues and initiatives by reviewing existing legislation, policy, articles, documents, and standards pertinent ILO and other international organizations standards and decisions.
Observes labor issues and political and economic developments in other countries that are precedent in nature.
Reviews analyses of assigned issues to provide input for reports and other research projects.

Develop an awareness of the review and development of technical assistance, engagement, grant solicitation, and/or remediation strategies and plans designed to advance workers' rights, working conditions, and/or livelihoods for workers. Identifies routine problems and works with senior colleagues to prepare remediation plans that bring countries into compliance with established labor provisions. Develops an understanding of relevant operational policies and processes to implement technical assistance, engagement, and/or remediation strategies and plans.
As needed, assists the Contracting or Grant Officer Representative in their work, which may include helping to monitor achievement of milestones, performance indicators, and work plans to ensure successful completion of deliverables and achievement of intended objectives.

Assists colleagues in the preparation of a variety of routine written and oral communication products, as directed. Reviews, edits, and provides comments on, and/or contributes materials for written documents or oral presentations prepared by others.

Assists colleagues in handling logistics for meetings, taking minutes at meetings, reporting out on meeting proceedings and decisions made, providing background materials upon request, preparing them to represent the organization, etc.

Observes negotiation processes and provides input and/or support in the development of ILAB negotiating objectives. Develops an awareness of current and emerging policy and political interests that drive DOL/ILAB/OTLA's equities and other stakeholders' equities. Collaborates with various internal and external stakeholders, who are working towards mutual goals, to ensure policies or programs respond to DOL and U.S. priorities and interests.

Attends meetings with senior staff to observe and gain experience with various interactions that involve negotiations, interagency discussions, or other external meetings in regards to policy and program areas.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen, upon conversion
• Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• The entire duration of the internship is a trial period.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a qualifying program.
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.

This is a student internship appointment opportunity. Upon completion of requirements for graduation and successful completion of the internship program requirements (i.e. work hours, satisfactory performance, training, etc.), a DOL Pathways Intern may be eligible for non-competitive conversion, at the agency's discretion, to a term or permanent position in the competitive service.

Appointees must sign a DOL Pathways Intern Program Participant Agreement.

The entire duration of the internship constitutes a trial period.

Appointees must be available to work and able to complete a minimum of 640 work hours while still enrolled as a student in order to be eligible for permanent appointment upon completion of the internship program.

To be appointed to this position, you must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis at a qualifying academic institution at the time of appointment and must maintain such enrollment throughout the duration of the appointment.

The Appointee must be a U.S. citizen in order to be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service upon completion of the Pathways program.

This student position has a promotion potential to GS-09.

The full performance level of this position once converted under a Career Ladder position is GS-13.

Future promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and supervisory approval.

ALL APPLICANTS PLEASE READ: Applicants for these positions must have enough time remaining in their studies to complete a minimum of 640 hours of work as well as all developmental assignments under the training requirements of this program to successfully complete and qualify for possible non-competitive conversion into the competitive Federal service (Full Time position). It is highly encouraged that those students in the early stages of their studies apply.

CAUTION FOR STUDENTS IN THEIR FINAL YEAR: Students that are graduating and are not subsequently enrolled in another program might not meet the work-hour requirements prior to graduation and will be at risk for not being able to convert to a career or career-conditional appointment.

Qualifications

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

All applicants for these positions must meet the enrollment & education requirements outlined under the "Education" as well as and the requirements for the grade(s) outlined in this section to be considered. To qualify, applicants may do so via education or specialized experience.

GS-05: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-04, in the Federal Service.

Examples of specialized experience include:

Developing presentations AND

Writing reports

OR

Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree.

GS-07: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-05, in the Federal Service.

Examples of specialized experience include:

Developing presentations AND

Writing reports AND

Conducting research

OR

Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree. Information regarding S.A.A can be found in OPM's General Schedule Qualification Policies.

OR

Combination of education and experience

GS-09: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-07, in the Federal Service.

Examples of specialized experience include:

Writing reports AND

Conducting research AND

Analyzing international affairs or relations

OR

Completion of 2 academic years of graduate level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

OR

Combination of education and experience

THIS POSITION HAS AN INDIVUDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT UPON CONVERSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 0131 SERIES. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO BE CONVERTED AFTER COMPLETION OF THIS PROGRAM.

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.

Education

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.

To be eligible for appointment, you must be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis at a qualifying educational institution , for the purpose of obtaining a diploma, degree, or certificate. Current students must have a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. If appointed, you must maintain a 2.0 or higher grade point average on a 4.0 scale throughout the duration of the internship. You must submit with your application a current academic transcript and/or other official documentation from your academic institution demonstrating your eligibility for appointment.

See the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. In addition, if you wish to use your education as a basis for meeting the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the minimum qualification requirements, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the "Qualifications and Evaluations" section of this announcement for more details.

If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy. 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.

Additional information

Notification Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations. As required by Executive Order 14043 , Federal executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021, or before appointment or onboarding with the agency (if later than November 22, 2021). The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement.

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

Position Telework eligibility is determined by management based on position duties during the recruitment process. Employee participation in telework on a routine or situational basis is determined by management primarily based on business needs. Employees participating in telework are subject to the terms and conditions of the Department of Labor's Telework Program.

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.