Clarification from the agency

• Current federal civilian employees in the competitive service on permanent career or career-conditional appointments; • Former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; • Current federal employees eligible under Interchange Agreements; and, • Applicants eligible under special hiring authorities (Schedule A, etc.)

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 50th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As an International Affairs Specialist, GS-0301-12, you will be responsible for:

• Incumbent serves as Program Manager and technical consultant on international and initiatives as they relate to U.S. education or Department policies and programs.

• Attends conferences/meetings as the Subject Matter Expert (SME), e agency for the purpose of relaying the agenda and mission of the organization.

• Obtains pertinent information about a designated area of operation and takes steps to correct deficiencies, explains regulatory and legal requirements relevant to problem situation provides information and clarifications to         assist in the resolution of problem situations. ·
• Plans and coordinates engagements as necessary with multilateral organizations including Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization           (UNESCO), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC), Organization of American States (OAS), and others.

• Recommends new approaches and alternatives to address current or anticipated problems. Studies new and proposed legislation and regulations to determine impact o gram. Elicits support of program officials, customers and     other concerned parties.

As an International Affairs Specialist, GS-0301-13, you will be responsible for:

• Conducts research analysis to enhance Federal, State and local education policy and apply lessons learned from other countries to drive excellence and innovation in the U.S. and abroad. Receives and reviews correspondence, items of special significance or unusual sensitivity identifying things that need prior coordination with senior leaders before assignment and/or release. Determines priorities on which items are urgent or sensitive and disburse to the appropriate point of contact. Actions are handled by the incumbent based on general directions or knowledge of the agency's views and priorities. Makes information presentations and decision briefings to senior leadership, as well as to high level decision makers within and outside of agency, and internationally.

• Independently analyzes and assists others with analyzing business activities; looking for trends in how to advance U.S. international priorities in strategically important countries through active education diplomacy; reviews program plans to ensure that requirements are met; develops pertinent factual data and revises guideline material.

Serves as the Subject Matter Expert on international relations and foreign policy. Provides authoritative advice and consultation to employees, foreign embassy officials and customers.

Incumbent serves as Program Manager and technical consultant on international issues and
initiatives as they relate to U.S. education or policies and programs.

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a US Citizen
• Background Investigation is required

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents.  To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week.  

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements
You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-12, if you possess the specialize experience.

Specialized Experience for the GS-12
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience contributing to background materials, reports or other presentations on strategic issues.

2. Experience analyzing the economic impact, feasibility or effectiveness of regulations, programs, or policies.

3. Experience in working with high-ranking officials such as organizational leaders, government executives, or executives of comparable private sector organizations on international relations and foreign policy program objectives and requirements sufficient to resolve controversial disputes, address problems not susceptible to resolution by existing methods, and alternative approaches.

Minimum Qualification Requirements
You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13, if you possess the specialize experience.

Specialized Experience for the GS-13
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of  three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience developing written products and communicating orally with senior decision makers regarding strategic issues.

2. Experience finalizing complex informational materials including fact sheets, and other background materials.   

3.Experience in working with high-ranking officials such as organizational leaders, government executives, or executives of comparable private sector organizations on international relations and foreign policy program objectives and requirements sufficient to resolve controversial disputes, address problems not susceptible to resolution by existing methods, and alternative approaches.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) 

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

GS-12

 1. Knowledge of international relations and foreign policy program objectives and requirements sufficient to resolve controversial disputes, address problems not susceptible to resolution by existing methods, and alternative approaches.

 2. Ability to plan and organize efforts to gain acceptance and implement policy and program changes involving substantial impact on and commitment of agency resources, or extensive changes to existing procedures and methods.

 3. Skills in oral and written communications to respond to inquiries, advise and consult with customers, present recommendations, and prepare reports, newsletters and other documents for external stakeholder.   

GS-13

1. Knowledge of international relations and foreign policy program objectives and requirements sufficient to resolve controversial disputes, address problems not susceptible to resolution by existing methods, and develop alternative approaches.

2. Knowledge of foreign policy and international security issues.

3. Skills in oral and written communications in order to respond to inquiries, advise and consult with customers, present recommendations, and prepare reports, newsletters and other documents for external stakeholders.

4. Ability to plan and organize efforts to gain acceptance and implement policy and program changes involving substantial impact on and commitment of agency resources, or extensive changes to existing procedures and methods.

How you will be evaluated

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

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1.    Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications
Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2.    Rating and Ranking
If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position).  

Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be assigned a numerical score (out of 100 possible). If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

3.    Referral and Selection
If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.