This position is located in the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, International Operations office. The incumbent represents the Secretary of Energy and DOE at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France to advance U.S. security and economic interests by leveraging United States Government (USG) and DOE capabilities, resources and programs to achieve U.S. energy-related goals in such areas as energy security and nuclear energy.
Summary
This position is located in the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, International Operations office. The incumbent represents the Secretary of Energy and DOE at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France to advance U.S. security and economic interests by leveraging United States Government (USG) and DOE capabilities, resources and programs to achieve U.S. energy-related goals in such areas as energy security and nuclear energy.
25% or less - This position requires travel outside of the duty station 25% of the time.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation to Washington, DC is at your own expense. After a short training period you will be reassigned to the Embassy in Paris, France at the government's expense. The salary range for the short period in Washington, DC will be $134,789.00 - $164,200.00.
Agency- Department of Energy and DOE/NNSA Federal employees with competitive status or those DOE Federal employees on an excepted service appointment with reinstatement eligibility to the competitive service.
CTAP eligibles.
Serve as a Foreign Affairs Specialist and represent the Secretary of Energy, the Department of Energy (DOE) at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France, to advance U.S. security and economic interests by utilizing a mastery of United States Government (USG) and DOE energy and nonproliferation goals, objectives, agreements, and policies, as well as other DOE initiatives.
Support DOE energy and nonproliferation programs by providing continuing contact with the Government of France in order to remain abreast of current and prospective energy, energy security, nonproliferation, economic, and other energy-related issues, concerns and developments.
Identify opportunities for collaboration between DOE and French counterparts and resolve problems or issues from technical, policy, and procedural perspectives; conduct coverage, analysis, and advocacy in France.
Plan and conduct analyses of vital foreign affairs policies, programs, and projects that are of national and international interest, scope, and impact to both U.S. and French policy makers/officials as a basis for decisions regarding a broad range of foreign affairs issues.
Develop and implement foreign affairs initiatives with France, identifying opportunities for collaboration between DOE and the host country.
Explain and advocate DOE positions within the Embassy community and discuss and negotiate USG and DOE positions with senior French diplomatic and governmental officials by addressing energy and nonproliferation challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.
This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a "Q" security clearance
Must be able to obtain a State Dept. med clearance for working abroad.
- Subject to Random Drug Testing - Must pass a pre-employment drug test - Favorable suitability determination
- Must be able to obtain/maintain a "Q" security clearance
- Financial disclosure is required - A signed Service Agreement is required for the 2 year rotational assignment. - A State Department medical clearance is required for the incumbent and his/her dependents. - The incumbent must be eligible for a diplomatic passport and applicable visa(s). - The incumbent must possess health insurance at the time of the overseas appointment.
Qualifications
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or pay band in the Federal service. To meet basic qualifications for the Foreign Affairs Specialist, NQ-130-04, your experience must have been equivalent to the the NQ-03, NN-04 NNSA pay band or GS-14 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience for the NQ-04 level for this position is defined as: Experience applying foreign affairs practices, policies and procedures, building relationships with foreign governments and counterparts, developing and implementing foreign policy, and leading or participating in negotiations with foreign counterparts. This experience must have included a focus on energy, energy technologies, or nuclear security.
Examples of such experience could include (but certainly not be limited to) the following: negotiating bilateral or multilateral agreements related to energy, scientific and technical cooperation in energy-related fields, and nuclear nonproliferation; communicating U.S. Government expectations with regards to cooperation in nuclear security; developing bilateral civil nuclear cooperation projects; or analyzing host government legislation on nuclear fuel cycles in order to identify opportunities and/or obstacles for U.S. companies to gain a foothold.
Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!
Knowledge of the principles, concepts, laws, and regulations pertaining to foreign affairs, foreign policy, and international agreements sufficient to sufficient generate new concepts, principles, and methods in the field.
Knowledge of energy security, nuclear energy, nuclear nonproliferation, energy science, international relations and diplomatic practice sufficient to support DOE programs by providing continuing contact with the host government and other nation representatives.
Knowledge and state-of-the-art understanding of program analysis as it relates to nonproliferation activities, energy related research and development activities, nuclear energy, and overall program management to develop new program analysis procedures or initiatives and engage in appraisal of technical information and evaluation from the standpoint of future strategic efforts.
Skill in oral communication and negotiations in order to effectively brief and coordinate with government policymakers, Congressional delegations, and senior business and/or non-governmental organization decision makers.
Knowledge of French language is desired.
"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Time-in-Grade: Current federal employees must have completed 52 weeks in a position equivalent to the next lower band, i.e., NQ-03/NN-04 or GS-14.
CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Education
You must have one of the following:
Basic 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.
EDUCATION:
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.
Additional information
The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
This vacancy is also being announced in the Excepted service under announcement # 19-XA-01077-EN-DOE
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.
Please visit the site below regarding our NNSA Demonstration pay banding system.
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.
The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.
We will also verify that you are eligible for Merit Promotion positions by reviewing your previous Federal employment to ensure you meet Time-in-Grade requirements. If you are eligible to apply to Merit Promotion announcements based on Veteran or other non-competitive statuses, we will verify your supporting documentation prior to referral.
If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. To preview questions please click here.
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.
Please visit the site below regarding our NNSA Demonstration pay banding system.
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.
Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.
ALL APPLICANTS:You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.
Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you should list the full name and address of the each employer.
Your experience listing should show the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require the USAJOBS resume format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which is required.
It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.
If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy:Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.
For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package.
Your 2 most recent performance appraisals.
Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility! If your latest SF50 does not verify the following, you must submit an earlier SF50 that does verify the following list of information:
Full position title;
appointment type;
occupational series;
pay plan, grade, and step;
tenure code; and
service computation date (SCD).
If your most recent SF50 does not show the above, you must also submit an SF50 that shows this information.
Displaced Federal employees: You will need to submit documentation verifying your involuntary separation and CTAP status. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.
Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority. Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To be considered for this position, you must submit your complete application no later than 11:59pm U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete application prior to the closing time (regardless of when you started) the application system will not allow you to finish! Requests for extensions will not be granted, so please begin the application process allowing yourself enough time to finish before the deadline. Our application system displays a countdown timer in the top-left corner of the screen for your reference.
For the security of you and your information, our application tracking system will time-out if you are inactive for a certain period of time. If you are responding to long answer questions, you may likely hit this time-out while you are typing. Therefore, we highly recommend that you view the applicant assessment questions before you apply. Complete your responses to any essay questions in a file on your computer before you start the application process. That way, all you need to do is copy and paste the prepared responses into each field.
Steps to submit a complete application:
You must have an active USAJOBS account and be logged in.
You must have a completed resume associated with your USAJOBS account. Please note that some DOE offices do not accept uploaded resumes and instead require that you have a completed resume within your USAJOBS profile using the Resume Builder.
Once you are logged in and all of your application materials are ready, click on the 'Apply Online' button to get started.
You will be given the option to include your resume, documents, and demographic information from your USAJOBS profile. You will then be transferred to the Department of Energy's application tracking system. If you select documents from your USAJOBS account, you MUST complete the download process in a later step or your USAJOBS documentation WILL NOT be transferred! See Step 6.
You must respond to all applicant assessment questions, carefully following all instructions provided.
You will then be asked to upload additional supporting documentation. If you selected documents from USAJOBS prior to being transferred to our application system (Step 4), you will need to click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process. These documents ARE NOT automatically transferred! It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure all required documents are either faxed, uploaded, or transferred from USAJOBS successfully. If you are unsure that your documents went through, please contact the HR Specialist listed on the announcement BEFORE the vacancy closes.
IMPORTANT: In the final step of the application process you will be shown a copy of your resume and all the information you entered during the application process. You must click the 'Finish' button at the bottom of this final page and receive confirmation that your application has been received. If you do not click 'Finish', your application will not be received!
If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
Steps to modify or withdraw your application:
Return to USAJOBS and log in to your account.
In the "My Account" screen, click "Application Status" in the left-hand column.
You will see a table list of all the jobs you've applied to, click on the title of the application you want to modify.
If the announcement is still open the button which normally says "Apply Online" will instead say "Edit Application", click that button. (If you want to withdraw your application from consideration after the closing date, contact the HR Specialist listed on the announcement.)
You will be directed back to DOE's application tracking system where you can make changes, or you can click "Withdraw Application" to remove your application from being considered.
NEED HELP?
If you experience any difficulties with the application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Apply Online' button), please contact the HR Office listed on this announcement between normal business hours. If you are receiving any kind of error message, please be ready to provide a screenshot or at a minimum, the error message text and number.
If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder help, please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center or e-mail USAJOBS3.0@opm.gov. Regretfully, DOE cannot resolve issues with your USAJOBS account. We regret that we are unable to support any issue with USAJOBS, as this service is maintained by the Office of Personnel Management exclusively.
If you are experiencing a significant hardship which hinders your ability to apply online please contact the HR Office listed on this announcement during normal business hours to discuss your situation.
Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20585
United States
Next steps
After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected for e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.
In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.
ALL APPLICANTS:You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.
Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you should list the full name and address of the each employer.
Your experience listing should show the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require the USAJOBS resume format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which is required.
It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.
If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy:Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.
For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package.
Your 2 most recent performance appraisals.
Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility! If your latest SF50 does not verify the following, you must submit an earlier SF50 that does verify the following list of information:
Full position title;
appointment type;
occupational series;
pay plan, grade, and step;
tenure code; and
service computation date (SCD).
If your most recent SF50 does not show the above, you must also submit an SF50 that shows this information.
Displaced Federal employees: You will need to submit documentation verifying your involuntary separation and CTAP status. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.
Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority. Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To be considered for this position, you must submit your complete application no later than 11:59pm U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete application prior to the closing time (regardless of when you started) the application system will not allow you to finish! Requests for extensions will not be granted, so please begin the application process allowing yourself enough time to finish before the deadline. Our application system displays a countdown timer in the top-left corner of the screen for your reference.
For the security of you and your information, our application tracking system will time-out if you are inactive for a certain period of time. If you are responding to long answer questions, you may likely hit this time-out while you are typing. Therefore, we highly recommend that you view the applicant assessment questions before you apply. Complete your responses to any essay questions in a file on your computer before you start the application process. That way, all you need to do is copy and paste the prepared responses into each field.
Steps to submit a complete application:
You must have an active USAJOBS account and be logged in.
You must have a completed resume associated with your USAJOBS account. Please note that some DOE offices do not accept uploaded resumes and instead require that you have a completed resume within your USAJOBS profile using the Resume Builder.
Once you are logged in and all of your application materials are ready, click on the 'Apply Online' button to get started.
You will be given the option to include your resume, documents, and demographic information from your USAJOBS profile. You will then be transferred to the Department of Energy's application tracking system. If you select documents from your USAJOBS account, you MUST complete the download process in a later step or your USAJOBS documentation WILL NOT be transferred! See Step 6.
You must respond to all applicant assessment questions, carefully following all instructions provided.
You will then be asked to upload additional supporting documentation. If you selected documents from USAJOBS prior to being transferred to our application system (Step 4), you will need to click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process. These documents ARE NOT automatically transferred! It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure all required documents are either faxed, uploaded, or transferred from USAJOBS successfully. If you are unsure that your documents went through, please contact the HR Specialist listed on the announcement BEFORE the vacancy closes.
IMPORTANT: In the final step of the application process you will be shown a copy of your resume and all the information you entered during the application process. You must click the 'Finish' button at the bottom of this final page and receive confirmation that your application has been received. If you do not click 'Finish', your application will not be received!
If your resume does not support the responses in your application questionnaire, or if you fail to submit required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
Steps to modify or withdraw your application:
Return to USAJOBS and log in to your account.
In the "My Account" screen, click "Application Status" in the left-hand column.
You will see a table list of all the jobs you've applied to, click on the title of the application you want to modify.
If the announcement is still open the button which normally says "Apply Online" will instead say "Edit Application", click that button. (If you want to withdraw your application from consideration after the closing date, contact the HR Specialist listed on the announcement.)
You will be directed back to DOE's application tracking system where you can make changes, or you can click "Withdraw Application" to remove your application from being considered.
NEED HELP?
If you experience any difficulties with the application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Apply Online' button), please contact the HR Office listed on this announcement between normal business hours. If you are receiving any kind of error message, please be ready to provide a screenshot or at a minimum, the error message text and number.
If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder help, please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center or e-mail USAJOBS3.0@opm.gov. Regretfully, DOE cannot resolve issues with your USAJOBS account. We regret that we are unable to support any issue with USAJOBS, as this service is maintained by the Office of Personnel Management exclusively.
If you are experiencing a significant hardship which hinders your ability to apply online please contact the HR Office listed on this announcement during normal business hours to discuss your situation.
Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20585
United States
Next steps
After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected for e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.
In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
