The primary mission of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to promote effective management, accountability, and positive change in the Department of State, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), and the foreign affairs community through conducting independent audits, inspections, evaluations, and investigations. This position serves as the Assistant Inspector General for Overseas Contingency Operations and Strategic Initiatives (AIG/OCO). The closing date has been extended to 02/10/2025
The primary mission of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to promote effective management, accountability, and positive change in the Department of State, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), and the foreign affairs community through conducting independent audits, inspections, evaluations, and investigations. This position serves as the Assistant Inspector General for Overseas Contingency Operations and Strategic Initiatives (AIG/OCO). The closing date has been extended to 02/10/2025
The area of consideration for this position is all groups of qualified individuals within the Civil Service, Excepted Service, Senior Executive Service (SES) reinstatement eligible, and SES Candidate Development Program certified graduates with noncompetitive eligibility. A person is considered to be in the Civil Service only if occupying a Civil Service position at the time of application.
Serves as leader, expert, and advisor to the IG, DIG, and executive staff on LIG-OCO and current and emerging strategic areas of potential oversight. Assists Chief of Staff (CoS) and the Office of Corporate Communications and Congressional Affairs (CCA) in the design and execution of strategies to keep Congress and the public informed of LIG-OCO activities and leads OIG's efforts to publish the mandated quarterly reports of the LIG-OCO's activities.
Leads and manages the staff and operations of the Office of OCO. Serves as OIG’s liaison/representative representing OIG at senior levels within the Department and at other Federal agencies on LIG-OCO matters.
Assists the AIG for Management and Resources and program offices with resource management for work relating to strategic oversight priorities and LIG-OCO activities, including developing budgets, tracking budget execution, and ensuring effective deployment of allocated funds; Advises on congressional engagement on matters involving strategic oversight priorities, collaborating with CCA to help develop and implement an engagement strategy that promotes timely and effective engagement and consistency of messaging.
Directly engages with Congress as requested by the IG/DIG/CoS to provide information on strategic oversight priorities and LIG-OCO matters, including through briefings and hearings on the status of work related to such priorities, funding requests or other resource needs. Provides guidance and input on responses to information requests from congressional staff and the news media concerning OIG products, activities, and achievements relating to LIG-OCO and strategic oversight priorities.
Assists with the drafting of presentations, briefings, and/or testimony by the IG, DIG, or other senior OIG officials to the Administration, Congress, senior Department leaders, and professional associations relating to LIG-OCO and strategic oversight priorities. Assists with communication strategies relating to LIG-OCO and strategic oversight priorities, seeking input from the IG, DIG, and CoS, and coordinating with CoS and CCA to develop and implement such communication strategies.
Primary liaison with program offices conducting work related to LIG-OCO and strategic oversight priorities, coordinating efforts across OIG program offices conducting work related to strategic oversight priorities, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and stakeholder needs/expectations, deconfliction, and consistency of messaging. Provides input and guidance on OIG written products relating to LIG-OCO and strategic oversight priorities to ensure alignment with strategic goals and stakeholder needs/expectations, and consistency of messaging. Assists program office leadership in addressing challenges as they arise that would jeopardize fulfillment of strategic goals relating to oversight and LIG-OCO priorities.
Serves as OIG’s representative on working groups, task forces, or at other meetings or gatherings convened to support internal and/or external coordination of oversight work related to LIG-OCO and strategic oversight priorities. Ensures sufficient internal coordination to avoid duplication of efforts and gaps in oversight coverage and ensure satisfaction of key stakeholder needs/expectations, consistency of messaging, etc.
RESPONDING TO EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQ) AND MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQ):
When responding to the ECQs and MTQs, you must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position by submitting narrative responses in which you detail your experience in each of the MTQs and the ECQs. Your examples should be clear and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives, level of contacts, and results of your actions.
You should limit your narrative to two pages per MTQ and ECQ. Applicants who use "see resume" as a response will not receive consideration for this position.
A. Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ):
Unless you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, you must submit a narrative statement covering each of the Executive Core Qualifications (last five questions in the assessment questionnaire). All applicants must submit a narrative statement covering each of the Mandatory Technical Qualification questions in order to receive consideration for the position. To view additional information on the proper preparation of Executive Core Qualification statements available on the Office of Personnel Management's website please click here. When responding to the Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications, you must clearly show that you possess the experience, knowledge, skills and ability to perform the duties of this position by submitting narrative responses in which you detail your experience in each of the Technical Qualifications and the Executive Core Qualifications. Your examples should be clear and emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts. You should limit your narrative to two pages per Mandatory Technical Qualification and Executive Core Qualification. Applicants who use "see resume" as a response will not receive consideration for the position.
- Context: Talk about the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to tackle a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).
- Action: Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge.
- Result: Give specific examples of the results of your actions. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.
Additional information on the ECQs is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf.
To view ECQs, please click here.
B. Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ):
All applicants must submit written narrative statements describing your accomplishments against each of the MTQs. You must address each MTQ separately and are required to respond to all MTQs. When addressing the MTQs, applicants should include one or two notable examples (within last 10 years) using the Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) model.
For this position ALL applicants must address each of the following MTQs:
MTQ 1 - Broad knowledge of State Department and USAGM programs and issues and LIG-OCO matters in order to integrate internal and external program/policy issues and provide advice, assistance, and make recommendations to OIG’s executive team.
MTQ 2 - Extensive hands-on knowledge and experience in Congressional relations, operations, legislative activities, external affairs as well as the requirements contained in the quality standards relative to inspector general work generally.
MTQ 3 - Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience with, the principles and techniques of long-term and short-term planning and project execution in to develop plans, assess needs, establish objectives and priorities, meet project deadlines, develop and meet performance metrics and gather, analyze, and report on information.
IF YOU DO NOT POSSESS THE MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQ) DESCRIBED ABOVE, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE FOR THIS POSITION.
Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will be evaluated by the Executive Review Board (ERB) consisting of senior officials. The Board will rate applicants on the basis of the quality and extent of total accomplishments, experience and education. The Board will determine the degree to which candidates possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the mandatory technical requirements of the position and the Mandatory Executive Core Qualification requirements. Among the factors the evaluation board will consider in determining the applicant's relative capacity and fitness for the position are education, training, experience and demonstrated executive level qualifications. The Panel will rate your application against each of the Mandatory Executive Core Qualifications and Mandatory Technical Qualifications to determine the best qualified candidates. Candidates determined to be best qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration for the position.
All required documents listed below must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" prior to the closing date of this announcement, which is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. See Step 3 under "How to Apply."
PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS BELOW PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE RATED AS “INELIGIBLE” AND WILL NOT RECEIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION:
Your resume serves as a basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience as it relates to this job opportunity. Your resume must demonstrate executive potential such as experiences, accomplishments, activities, recognition, and awards related to each Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) and breadth and scope of professional accomplishments. 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and/or the number of hours worked/volunteered per week. For assistance with creating a resume, please click here. Please note that if a cover letter is submitted, it counts towards the 5-page limit.
If you are currently serving under a federal career or career conditional appointment, a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the career SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, you must submit an SF-50 that shows current series and grade level or proof of non-competitive eligibility, i.e., conversion to career SES SF-50 or SES Certificate. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as "ineligible." Do not submit cash or performance award SF-50.
ALL CANDIDATES (INCLUDING CURRENT AND REINSTATEMENT SES) MUST PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE MTQs.
To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit a resume and an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the Department of State's Gateway to State Automated Application System.
You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the following four-step application process:
STEP 1: Select the "Apply On-line" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.
STEP 2: Submit a detailed resume or any other written format you choose documenting your job-related qualifications, experience, and education (if applicable). Cover letter is optional. If you submit a cover letter, you must also submit a resume. Please see the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.
STEP 3: Answer the job-specific self-assessment questions (ECQs) on-line through the Gateway to State automated application system. These questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications and experience for this job opportunity.
STEP 4: Submit narrative statements for each MTQ as indicated in the Qualifications section of this announcement. Upload the statements under the SES Mandatory Technical Qualification Narratives cover sheet. These questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications and experience for this job opportunity.
STEP 5: Submit all required documentation, applicable to you, listed in the Required Documents section of this job opportunity to the Department’s automated application system "Gateway to State" prior to the closing date of this announcement. For instructions on how to view the status of your supporting documentation, please click here.
Technical assistance with your on-line application can be obtained by contacting the Help Desk at mgshelp@monster.com OR by calling (866) 656-6830 or (703) 269-4944 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET
ALTERNATE APPLICATION PROCEDURES
NOTE: If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
After all application packages are received, we will review applications and evaluate applicants’ qualifications. Then, in approximately two weeks after this announcement closes, we will refer candidates, as described in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section, to the hiring manager for selection consideration. Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases:
For the selected candidates who receive a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation that generally takes an average of at least two to six months.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
