This position is located in the Programming Division of the Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS) in Washington DC. The Program Specialist (Environment) will provide a global perspective, share developing themes and trends in the environment sector, and serve as the hub for research and innovation on developing global trends related to the environment.
Summary
This position is located in the Programming Division of the Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS) in Washington DC. The Program Specialist (Environment) will provide a global perspective, share developing themes and trends in the environment sector, and serve as the hub for research and innovation on developing global trends related to the environment.
The Program Specialist (Environment) performs the following major duties:
Program Advice and Guidance:
Serves as an environment technical expert, providing advice and guidance in areas that require extensive interpretation for many different and unrelated program processes and methods. Resolves issues and provides advice on matters where policies or decisions covering major areas of uncertainty in approach or methodology are required and where new techniques or information must be developed. Sets standards of excellence and provides guidance for agency efforts in environment. Provides leadership and direct technical assistance to Peace Corps posts to assess environmental needs. Provides technical recommendations to Peace Corps posts on the program changes needed to address these needs and on the integration of environment-related goals and objectives into local/national priorities (including environmental programming components related to implementation of National Adaptation Plans) and Peace Corps project plans.
Updates environment sector guidance to help staff develop strong, focused environment projects. This guidance includes best practices in project design and development, including examples of model project frameworks and agency-wide indicators.
Identifies and supports training programs that strengthen the capacity of post staff to integrate climate change adaptation and/or mitigation activities into environmental training packages. Guides the creation of environment training packages. These training packages, which correspond with project focus areas, will effectively prepare and support Volunteers to work in environment projects.
Leads environment-related reviews of program and training development strategies. Assists with assessments of formal and non-formal training in host countries, and assists with the development of effective new strategies, including the development of strategic objectives and supporting documentation.
Program Oversight:
Oversees worldwide and post-level implementation of environment programs and activities. Acts as organization expert in formulating policies and guidelines for support services programs, plans, procedures, and methods relevant to several major program areas of the organization. Analyzes and evaluates the feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of existing and proposed environment programs. Serves as a conduit for environment information to posts and serves as their primary headquarters-based resource and advocate. Understands key current and upcoming trends in relevant technical areas and can advise posts on strategic decisions. Maintains and develops contacts and partnerships with peer organizations and agencies working in the program sectors and leverages these relationships to support Peace Corps posts.
Explores and develops collaboration on environment efforts between Peace Corps and other USG agencies and international development organizations.
Research and Analysis Work:
Provides expert analysis and advice on complex program issues. Plans, organizes, and carries through to completion complex analyses, evaluations, or investigations involving programs and issues related to environment. Develops new ways to measure program accomplishments, results, and effectiveness and reviews measurement results to determine if strategic plans are achieved. Reviews annual reports from field and provides feedback and summary on state of the environment sector.
Applicants must successfully complete a background security investigation with favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet this requirement will be grounds for employment termination.
All Federal employees are required to have federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
A one year trial period is required.
This is not a bargaining unit position.
This position requires a Public trust background investigation.
Peace Corps Information
This is a Federal civilian job in the Excepted Service. Peace Corps employees are paid on the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay scale.
Initial appointment of employment cannot exceed five years.
Applicants within the commuting area can choose to Telework if they do not wish to be fully remote.
All new employees are required to certify and submit a state of understanding acknowledging adherence to the Peace Corps condition of employment prior to day 1 of employment with the Peace Corps.
Additional hiring needs may be filled through this vacancy.
The Peace Corps is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.
The Peace Corps is a drug-free workplace and promotes a drug-free environment.
The Peace Corps is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive culture. Our goal is to attract and develop the best and brightest from all lifestyles and backgrounds. The Peace Corps strives to create a culture of inclusion where individuals feel respected and are treated fairly in all aspects of differences. Our commitment is to make a difference in the lives of people around the world.
The Peace Corps provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the hiring process, please notify the Office of Human Resources by calling 202-692-1200 or the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity on 202-692-2139. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation are made on a case-by-case basis.
Qualifications
Specialized Experience:
You must meet the specialized experience at the grade level(s) in which you choose to be considered by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 03/21/2023 (the closing date of the announcement). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To ensure full credit for your experience, please indicate dates of employment by month, day, and year and the number of hours worked per week in your resume.
This vacancy is being announced at one grade level:
FP-3
Qualifying experience for the FP-3 level includes one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the FP-4 or GS-12 level which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: Experience analyzing and evaluating the feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of existing and proposed environment programs; Experience overseeing worldwide and post-level implementation of environment programs and activities; Experience assisting with the development of effective new strategies, including the development of strategic objectives and supporting documentation.
All qualification requirements must be met by 03/21/2023 (the closing date of this announcement). Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Please note: Peace Corps employees are employed using the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay scale. The FP pay plan does not follow the same structure as the GS pay plan. In the FP pay plan, as the grade-level numbers decrease the level/pay for the position increases (e.g., the FP-09 is the lowest entry-level pay and the FP-01 is the highest senior-level pay).
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Intelligence Background Information
Peace Corps Manual Section 611 is applicable to this position. This section prohibits the employment of certain persons previously engaged in intelligence activities or connected with intelligence agencies within the past 10 years. If you have ever worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), you are not eligible for employment at the Peace Corps in any capacity, and you should not apply for employment.
Acceptance of employment with Peace Corps precludes employment by certain intelligence organizations for a specific period of time, determined by the employing agency, after Peace Corps employment ceases.
Applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified will be required to submit upon request in the future a completed Intelligence Background Questionnaire, or narrative signed statement, indicating whether the applicant has been involved in or has had any connection with intelligence activities or related work and, if so, the nature and dates of his or her involvement. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the applicant being rated ineligible for further consideration. If you have any other type of possible intelligence connection, your application will not be further considered until you submit this form. Except when the CIA or the National Security Agency (NSA) is involved (see below), if your connection with an Intelligence Agency involves an immediate family member who works or has worked in intelligence, the immediate family member should complete the form, not the applicant. Usually relying on memory is sufficient to answer most if not all of the questions.
If you have an immediate family member who works or has worked for the CIA, you should not give them this form to complete. Please contact your relative in person-not by phone, email, social networking, or any other means that is not in person- and ask him or her to contact the Office of General Counsel at the CIA.
If you or an immediate family member have been employed by or associated with the NSA, you or your family member must contact the NSA Prepublication Review Office at 443-634-4095.
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.
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.
Your application will be evaluated based on your resume, attached supporting documentation, and your responses to the self-assessment questionnaire. Your materials will be evaluated to validate your possession of any required knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies. The following competencies will be evaluated in the self-assessment questionnaire:
Education and Training
External Awareness
Planning and Evaluating
Stakeholder Management
Technical Competence
Please note that a complete application is required for consideration, including any documentation that is being used for qualifications. A Human Resources Specialist will review your resume and supporting documentation, which must support the answers you provided. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for disqualification.
National service refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through national service programs such as the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, as well as other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, community, student).
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.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package, including:
a detailed resume,
a completed electronic self-assessment questionnaire,
an SF-50 (for current and former Federal employees, including internal employees), and
the submission of any other required documents.
All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 03/21/2023 (the closing date of this announcement).
Resume: Include relevant work experience including job title, duties and accomplishments, employer name and address, supervisor name and phone number, start and end dates, hours per week and salary. If you are a current Federal employee or former Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series, and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09).
Veterans Documents: If you are using your 30% or more disability rating to be considered, you must attach all required documentation, including a DD-214 reflecting the type of discharge, the SF-15, and a VA Letter. Proof of a service-connected disability is required at the time of application. For more information regarding veterans' preference, please review the OPM Vet Guide.
Qualifications Based on Education or a Combination of Education and Experience: If you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or an appropriate course listing with a diploma. Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be used towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by recognized institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at this website.
Note: All applicants (including internal) are required to submit the applicable documents listed above as verification of eligibility. If you fail to provide the information requested, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for these positions.
1. Click "Apply Online" to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account.
2. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload the required documents.
3. Please ensure you click the "Submit My Answers" button to submit your application.
4. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 10/15/2021 to receive consideration.
5. Check your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account. Return to an incomplete application by clicking Apply Online in the vacancy announcement and re-selecting your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account..
Overseas Programming and Training Support
1275 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and by going to the "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status". For a more detailed update of your application status, you may go to "more information" under the individual vacancy.
USAJOBS has added an alert setting to their system to provide status updates for applicants. You can elect to activate the status updates from your USAJOBS profile at any point during the application process.
If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package, including:
a detailed resume,
a completed electronic self-assessment questionnaire,
an SF-50 (for current and former Federal employees, including internal employees), and
the submission of any other required documents.
All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 03/21/2023 (the closing date of this announcement).
Resume: Include relevant work experience including job title, duties and accomplishments, employer name and address, supervisor name and phone number, start and end dates, hours per week and salary. If you are a current Federal employee or former Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series, and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09).
Veterans Documents: If you are using your 30% or more disability rating to be considered, you must attach all required documentation, including a DD-214 reflecting the type of discharge, the SF-15, and a VA Letter. Proof of a service-connected disability is required at the time of application. For more information regarding veterans' preference, please review the OPM Vet Guide.
Qualifications Based on Education or a Combination of Education and Experience: If you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or an appropriate course listing with a diploma. Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be used towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by recognized institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at this website.
Note: All applicants (including internal) are required to submit the applicable documents listed above as verification of eligibility. If you fail to provide the information requested, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for these positions.
1. Click "Apply Online" to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account.
2. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload the required documents.
3. Please ensure you click the "Submit My Answers" button to submit your application.
4. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 10/15/2021 to receive consideration.
5. Check your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account. Return to an incomplete application by clicking Apply Online in the vacancy announcement and re-selecting your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account..
Overseas Programming and Training Support
1275 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and by going to the "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status". For a more detailed update of your application status, you may go to "more information" under the individual vacancy.
USAJOBS has added an alert setting to their system to provide status updates for applicants. You can elect to activate the status updates from your USAJOBS profile at any point during the application process.
If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
