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Summary

USAID is seeking Foreign Service Engineering Officers who can support the design, implementation, and monitoring of its more than $3 billion of ongoing infrastructure activities through assignments around the world and in USAID's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/26/2024 to 07/03/2024
Salary
$70,685 to - $128,106 per year
Pay scale & grade
FS 4 - 5
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
76% or greater - Occasional travel - A Foreign Service Officer generally spends the majority of their career assigned to the Agency's overseas missions and works in assigned developing countries with a variety of challenges (civil war, political unrest, lack of modern conveniences).
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
00 - Senior Foreign Service
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
Backstop-25 Engineering-24
Control number
788661500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens, NO prior Federal experience is required.

Duties

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USAID offers the opportunity to address some of the greatest infrastructure challenges of our time to help reduce poverty and inequality, advance democracy around the world, and further USG foreign assistance goals. USAID supports various infrastructure projects, including the design, rehabilitation, and construction of energy, water, sanitation, and transportation infrastructure, as well as schools and health facilities in more than 60 countries. Through investments abroad, USAID builds local capacity to operate and maintain infrastructure, making countries more resilient to shocks and reducing the need for emergency humanitarian assistance.

These infrastructure projects, often overseen by the Agency's Foreign Service Engineers, are guided by a mix of US based and local knowledge, regulations, best practices, and context to create systems that are easily utilized, operated, and maintained by the host country government and local experts.

This is a Foreign Service announcement. Worldwide availability is a requirement of the position. Successful candidates must be available to work in any country in the world where USAID has a presence. Here is the link to the current list of countries.

Duties:

  • Assist in the planning, analysis, implementation and evaluation of USAID engineering and infrastructure projects in support of the full range of foreign assistance objectives (governing justly and democratically, investing in people, economic growth, peace and stability, and humanitarian assistance).
  • Manage U.S. Government resources, implementation teams, contractors and grantees to achieve specific program objectives and results consistent with overall U.S. domestic and international rules, regulations, policies and laws.
  • Serve as a technical resource to foreign assistance activities involving the project design and implementation of infrastructure and other construction projects. Support engineering and infrastructure activities by researching, reviewing and analyzing data, providing assistance and advice on engineering and infrastructure issues.
  • Assist in coordinating and managing strategies, policies, concepts, procedures, and guidelines for establishing infrastructure projects. Analyze technical constraints to engineering and infrastructure projects and recommend professional, sound courses of action.
  • Coordinate program development, implementation and performance monitoring plans. Support contracting activities for architecture and engineering, construction management and construction services and monitor progress to ensure compliance with design and contract specifications, safety, and environmental standards.
  • Coordinate assigned activities with other USAID Bureaus and Offices, the Department of State, other USG agencies, other Donors and governments, and the private sector.
  • Perform a variety of duties related to special projects involving program issues that contain complex elements. Assist in managing special cross-cutting initiatives and task force groups to accomplish programmatic goals. These groups may review specific programs at the organization or develop new initiatives in various program areas.
  • Provide technical guidance to several areas of emphasis within the overall portfolio, e.g. water and sanitation infrastructure, roads and transportation, energy, hospitals, clinics, schools, and other public facilities, housing, etc.
  • Provide cost estimates and determine project feasibility. Supports project management activities, direction of construction, operations and maintenance activities at project sites.
  • Assist in the preparation and presentation of engineering reports, such as bid requests, cost-benefit analyses, environmental impact statements, and feasibility studies.
  • Serve as a technical resource in developing programs and operational plans for national, regional, and/or local service delivery objectives.
  • Support policy reform efforts that include but are not limited to: operation and maintenance, utility management and administration, cost recovery and sector commercialization.
  • Throughout a Foreign Service career, assumes positions that entail supervision of one or more staff and management of a team or office. Supports professional development of staff, conducts annual evaluation reviews , and addresses any conduct or performance issues.
  • Act in a diplomatic, professional, persuasive, and respectable manner as a U.S. Government representative in formal and informal settings.

Foreign Service Officers generally spend the majority of their career assigned to the Agency's overseas Missions and work in assigned developing countries with a variety of challenges (conflict, political transition, lack of reliable infrastructure, etc).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
  • United States Citizenship is required.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security clearance.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
  • Must be between 18 and 59 years old at the time of application and not yet age 60 on the day of appointment as a Foreign Service Officer.
  • Applicants who are Veterans must be between 18 and 64 years old at time of application and not yet age 65 on the day of appointment.
  • Prior to being hired, a medical clearance is required for this position that would allow the applicant to serve at any USAID overseas post. - If a medical clearance is not granted by the State Department Bureau of Medical Clearances,
  • Medical Cont www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-medical-services/medical-clearances/ the applicant may seek a reasonable accommodation from USAID. If a reasonable accommodation cannot be reached,
  • Medical Cont - then a waiver may be requested. Additional details can be found in ADS 414mab, Waiver Process for Medical Clearance Requirements for Initial Appointments, Tenure Review and
  • Medical Cont - Overseas Assignments in the Foreign Service. ( www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/414mab_021324.pdf )
  • Worldwide Availability. Worldwide availability is a requirement of the position. While USAID uses a bidding system for assignments, Foreign Service Officers must be willing and available to accept assignments to any country where USAID operates.
  • Relevant education and experience (see Qualifications below).

Qualifications

This is a Foreign Service announcement. USAID's Foreign Services has a Reverse grading structure where the lower grades are the more senior grades, e.g., the grade 04 is the more senior grade than the grade 05.

Relevant overseas experience includes working and living outside the United States while supporting international development. Relevant diverse experience includes working and living in an economically disadvantaged community in the United States working with members of historically disadvantaged groups.

Relevant work experience includes specialized experience through paid or unpaid position(s) in the public and/or private sector in the field of engineering and infrastructure on public and/or private sector projects. Relevant work experience is defined experience in one or more of the following areas: assisting in the planning, analysis, implementation and evaluation of engineering and infrastructure projects; managing implementation teams and contractors to achieve specific infrastructure outcomes; researching, reviewing and analyzing technical constraints to engineering and infrastructure projects and recommending professional, sound courses of action; supporting contracting activities for architecture and engineering, construction management and construction services, and monitoring progress to ensure compliance with design and contract specifications, safety, and environmental standards; providing cost estimates and determining project feasibility for infrastructure/engineering activities; supporting engineering project management activities and, directing construction, operations and maintenance activities at project sites; assisting in the preparation and presentation of engineering reports, such as bid requests, cost-benefit analyses, environmental impact statements, and feasibility studies; and supporting policy reform and development efforts that include but are not limited to: operation and maintenance, utility management and administration, cost recovery and sector commercialization and/or reform.


The applicant will need to demonstrate that the overseas and diverse experience is relevant to the technical skills in the backstop, and is relevant to the technical skills in the engineering competency. The experience in (1) and/or (2) above must have been achieved after the Bachelor's degree and by the close of the announcement date.

Volunteer experience. Experience includes RELEVANT paid as well as 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). 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, that meets the criteria as defined under "relevant work experience".

A well-qualified candidate will not necessarily meet the definition of highly or best qualified when evaluated against other candidates who apply for a particular position. In the absence of selective and quality ranking factors, selecting officials will document the job-related reason(s) for qualification determinations.

The skills and abilities described in USAID's Foreign Service/Senior Foreign Service Skills Framework are required of all foreign service officers and form the basis for the foreign service performance management and promotion systems. During the recruitment process, candidates are evaluated on the following skills which can be found in the Skills Framework:

Engineering Officers must demonstrate the following competencies:

Oral Communication: Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively and in a clear and concise manner, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others; attends to nonverbal clues; and responds appropriately.

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.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

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

Technical Skills in Engineering: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods required to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain built infrastructure such as buildings, transportation systems, water and sanitary systems, energy, and other types of projects.

Planning and Evaluating: Organizes work, sets priorities and determines resource requirements, and establishes short/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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates will be referred to the selecting official if they are found well qualified. Well-qualified means an eligible employee who possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities which clearly exceed the minimum requirements of the position. A well-qualified employee must meet the qualification and eligibility requirements of the position, including any medical qualifications, suitability, and minimum education and experience requirements, meet all selective factors (where applicable); meet quality ranking factors and are assigned to the Silver Category or higher Category; be physically qualified with reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position; meet any special qualifying U.S. OPM-approved conditions; AND be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry without additional training.

  • If the applicant is invited to interview, they will also be provided an opportunity to be tested in a USAID tenuring language (as identified in ADS 438maa, USAID Tenuring Languages). If they have demonstrated in a pre-test that they may have tenure level proficiency in reading and speaking at the level required for that language. Descriptions of these levels can be found in 13 FAH-1 H-242 Rating Scales. Passing the language test at the tenure level will qualify the candidate for bonus points in the selection process. It will also meet the requirement for tenure if the applicant is selected and later onboards as a Foreign Service Officer.

Proficiency in a USAID tenuring language is not required to apply for or be selected for the foreign service with USAID. It is required to achieve tenure. All career candidates have five years to achieve the requirements for tenure, which includes language proficiency. USAID will fund language training and testing for career candidates if they do not already have language proficiency. This training takes place after other required training and prior to departure to the first overseas post. Additional information may be found in ADS 438 Foreign Language Program

Education

FS-05: Applicant must have one of the following:

  • A. Master's or Doctorate Degree, AND three (3) years of relevant work experience, to include one (1) or more years overseas, or in a diverse U.S. working environment. The Master's or Bachelor's degree must be in architecture or engineering.
    B. Bachelor's Degree in architecture or engineering, AND six (6) years of relevant work experience, including at least three (3) years overseas or in a diverse U.S. working environment.
    C. Professional Engineer license (P.E.) AND a Bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering, and have three (3) years of relevant work experience, to include one (1) or more years overseas, or in a diverse U.S. working environment.

FS-04: Applicant must have one of the following:

  • Master's or Doctorate Degree, AND four (4) years of relevant work experience, to include three (3) or more years overseas, or in a diverse U.S. working environment. The Master's or Bachelor's degree must be in architecture or engineering.
  • Bachelor's Degree in architecture or engineering, AND seven (7) years of relevant work experience, including at least four (4) years overseas or in a diverse U.S. working environment.
  • Professional Engineer license (P.E.) AND a Bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering, AND four (4) years of relevant work experience, to include three (3) or more years overseas, or in a diverse U.S. working environment.

Applicants must hold a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Environmental engineering, or architecture or architectural engineering degree from an accredited program through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements. Transcripts from any and all foreign educational institutions must be accompanied by an official Evaluation of Educational Credentials in order to be considered for the position. It is your responsibility to provide evidence that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States when applying. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of accreditation of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. There are two nationally recognized associations whose members can provide this accreditation: the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (https://www.naces.org/members) and the Association of International Credential Evaluators (https://aice-eval.org/). More information about this process may be found at https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded as part of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application being eliminated from consideration. A transcript is only required for the degree you are using to meet the education requirement. The unofficial transcript must include the name of the applicant, the name of the college/university, the degree awarded, and the completion date. The degree must be completed at the time of application. If we are unable to determine that you meet the required education, you will be found ineligible for further consideration. If you proceed past the initial application phase, official transcripts must be received by USAID from your university/institution during the final selection process.

Additional information

Benefits and Allowances. USAID offers generous federal benefits that include health and life insurance; annual, sick and home leave; contributory government pension system (Foreign Service Pension System); Thrift Savings Plan (with agency matching funds), a student loan repayment program; and while serving overseas, government-provided housing, shipment of household effects, education allowances, country specific incentive pay and allowances, and other support.

Telework. USAID defines telework as a work flexibility arrangement in which an employee performs the duties of their position of record on-site as well as from an approved alternative worksite other than the location from which the employee would otherwise work, on an approved work schedule. During the initial training period in Washington which can last 12-24 months for most new employees, new foreign service officers will be allowed to telework a portion of each two week period if their training and supervised work arrangements allow and there is prior approval from their supervisor. There will be times when they must report in-person 100% of the time based on training and work requirements. This includes all language training at the Foreign Service Institute, and the initial Orientation in the first five weeks on the job. When assigned overseas, telework flexibility is determined by the policy for the U.S. Embassy in that country.


Medical Clearance. A medical clearance or waiver for the applicant is required prior to being hired for this position verifying that the applicant is able to serve at any USAID overseas post. Many USAID assignment locations are remote, unhealthy, or have limited medical support. Therefore, prior to being appointed to the Foreign Service, applicants must have a thorough medical examination and must be able to receive a medical clearance for worldwide availability or obtain a waiver of this requirement.

Foreign Language Proficiency is not required to apply and has no effect on whether or not you are selected for an interview. However, to reach required tenured status, you must be able to achieve minimum proficiency levels in a USAID tenuring language. Applicants who demonstrate proficiency in a USAID tenuring language will have an opportunity to test via phone for bonus points to be added to their interview score.

Minimum and Maximum Age at Appointment, and Mandatory Retirement Age Career appointments in the Foreign Service are covered by the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended which requires an applicant to be 18 years old at time of application and which directs mandatory retirement at age 65 (chapter 8, section 812). Given this mandatory retirement age and the fact that five years must be allowed to achieve tenure in the agency, Individuals must be appointed on or before their 60th birthday, unless the applicant is a preference-eligible veteran who may be hired up to age 65.

Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer is required.

Moving/relocation expenses are authorized for individuals who are not currently living in the Washington, DC area and are not current federal employees with a duty location in the Washington D.C. area.

Applicants who previously applied for this position and were interviewed will not be invited for another interview within one year from the prior interview for the same position.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the education and experience qualifications. Qualified applicants receive a score of 70 to 100 before veterans preference points are applied, if applicable.

Veteran's preference. Qualified veterans will be considered consistent with the requirements of the Foreign Service Act. If you are claiming a disability, you must provide proof of disability rating with a letter from the Veteran's Administration showing disability percentage rating.

To claim veteran's preference, you must provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility. Acceptable documentation include:

  • a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions;

  • a "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed; OR

  • a Standard Form 15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. If you are claiming 10 point preference, you must submit a SF 15. You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or online.

For more information on veteran's preference and eligibility, visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/#content

We will review your application package to ensure you meet the job and eligibility requirements including the education and experience required for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, you will be rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the relevant education and experience you report and the degree to which you possess the required competencies listed on this vacancy announcement. A technical review panel of subject matter experts will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire to verify qualifications. USAID will invite candidates for an interview based on the competitiveness of the overall application package.

USAID must be able to conduct reference checks as part of its assessment process. Applicants who do not permit reference checks from previous employers may be disqualified.

IMPORTANT: If you are found to have rated your self assessment higher than the information in your on-line application, supporting documentation narratives, and/or any other relevant part of your application package, including attachments, this may eliminate you from the list of those referred for an interview.

USAID envisions a world where all individuals are valued, have equitable access to opportunities, and are included, respected, and safe in their societies. USAID embraces diversity as outlined in USAID's EEO Statement. We seek to elevate and include the voices of the USAID workforce, recognizing and valuing the unique contributions of all stakeholders. USAID also strives to improve equity for underrepresented communities that have historically been denied fair and just treatment and improve accessibility in all facets at USAID.

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