This position is located in the Office of Development Policy (ODP) at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and conducts environmental and social (E&S) risk assessments for projects which identify, assess, and avoid adverse E&S impacts under consideration for DFC support, across the spectrum of products, including debt finance, insurance, equity finance, or financial intermediaries.
Summary
This position is located in the Office of Development Policy (ODP) at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and conducts environmental and social (E&S) risk assessments for projects which identify, assess, and avoid adverse E&S impacts under consideration for DFC support, across the spectrum of products, including debt finance, insurance, equity finance, or financial intermediaries.
Status Candidates (this includes current or former Federal employees with career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service, Former Overseas Employees, CTAP, ICTAP, VRA (GS-11 only), VEOA, 30% or More Disabled Veterans, Schedule A, Military Spouses, Americorps, Peace Corps, Vista, Land Management, and Interchange Agreement Eligibles).
As an E&S Risk Specialist (at the full performance level), you will:
Identify, collect, and provide in-depth analysis of relevant information concerning: the potential impact of proposed projects on the environment, workers, local populations of the host country(ies).
Review and assess prospective and active DFC clients and supported projects for their alignment and compliance with DFC's environmental and social requirements, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and DFC's Environmental and Social Policy and Procedures (ESPP).
Identify suggested improvements to the approaches to management of environmental and social risks that can lead to improved social, environmental, and financial performance.
Provide or support guidance to prospective clients and DFC staff regarding DFC's E&S policies and procedures and the appropriate content, procedures, and format for conducting and presenting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, Environmental and Social Audits, Environmental and Social Management Plans, Annual Environmental and Social Reports, and Third-Party Audits.
Prepare highly technical environmental and social clearances and other assessments, reviews or studies as required.
Make or support recommendations to DFC management regarding project eligibility and conditionality on environmental and social grounds and specify environmental and social conditions of default to be included in DFC finance, insurance, equity, and investment funds agreements.
Monitor the actual environmental, health, safety, and social impacts of previously approved DFC projects through analysis of investor and third-party monitoring reports, review and tracking of deliverables and through site visits.
Prepare reports identifying issues of non-compliance with DFC contract conditions and make recommendations for appropriate corrective action.
Synthesize technical E&S analysis into succinct and comprehensible summaries appropriate for non-technical audiences.
Draft environmental and social sections of Investment Committee and Board papers. Provide clear and effective briefings, written or oral, to DFC staff, DFC management, DFC Investment Committee, and DFC's Board of Directors.
Draft environmental and social conditions for inclusion into DFC contractual agreements with its clients.
Please Note: This is a Bargaining unit position represented by AFGE, local 1534.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
Must submit resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
This position will require foreign travel to developing countries
Qualifications
Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level). Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements no later than the closing date of this announcement.
TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).
You may qualify at the GS-11 level, if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your experience in all of the following:
Experience conducting research or analysis on environmental and social sustainability/sustainable development topics in an international context.
OR
B. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.M. degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position;
OR
C. A combination of education and experience as listed above.
You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your experience in all of the following:
Experience analyzing and applying international frameworks or standards related to environmental and social sustainability and performance, such as those from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) or an international organization such as the United Nations or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Note: Education is not substitutional at this grade level.
You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your experience in all of the following:
Experience supporting environmental and social impact assessments of private investments in a range of sectors (i.e. agriculture, financial intermediaries, infrastructure, extractives) against international standards, such as the International Finance Corporation's Performance Standards; and
Experience identifying potential environmental and social risks in investments or projects and proposing mitigation and management measures to leadership.
Note: Education is not substitutional at this grade level.
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). 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.
This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement 26-ODP-DE-13061171-BN using Delegated Examining (DE) procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet DE requirements and can apply to that announcement. NOTE: You must apply separately to each announcement in order to be considered under both.
This announcement may be used to fill similar positions, if additional vacancies occur.
Education
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY?
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. 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.
PASS/FAIL COURSES:
If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION is education acquired outside of any State of the U.S., the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any territory or possession of the U.S. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification and/or eligibility requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university) with your application in order to receive credit for that education. (Foreign education transcripts will not be accepted). For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional information
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:
1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and
3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp).
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service
Telework Suitability: The duties of this position are suitable for telework. The selectee may be allowed episodic or emergency telework with supervisor approval & if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.
Stipulations of Employment: Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.
Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule.
If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent & are not guaranteed.
Recruitment & relocation incentives may be authorized for this position.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit https://www.dfc.gov/who-we-are/careers/fairchanceact for more information.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Decision Making
Flexibility
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Reading Comprehension
Reasoning
Self-Management
Stress Tolerance
Teamwork
Technical Competence
Environmental & Social Impact Assessment
Writing
Oral Communication
Environmental & Social Compliance
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
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 which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement.
2. Your responses to the application questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13061172
3. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. If using foreign education, submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (refer to the Education, Foreign Education, section in this vacancy announcement).
Your most recent Promotion, Within-Range Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), if applying as a current or former Federal Employee (i.e. status candidate), showing you are/were in the competitive service, on a permanent basis, and the highest grade or promotion potential held, is required. DO NOT submit NON-Pay Impacting Action SF-50's to include, "Organizational Code Change SF-50's, Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's, etc." or SF-52's Request of Personnel Action as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.
Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
DD-214, SF-15 Form and/or VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
Click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Read the Eligibility questions carefully. The questions address if you are eligible to apply to this JOA. Your responses will affect your consideration for the position. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. You will only be considered under the options you have selected. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility questions, you will not be considered for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content (e.g. SSN or DOB), your resume will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy.
Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.
International Development Finance Corporation
1100 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20527
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
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 which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement.
2. Your responses to the application questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13061172
3. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. If using foreign education, submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (refer to the Education, Foreign Education, section in this vacancy announcement).
Your most recent Promotion, Within-Range Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), if applying as a current or former Federal Employee (i.e. status candidate), showing you are/were in the competitive service, on a permanent basis, and the highest grade or promotion potential held, is required. DO NOT submit NON-Pay Impacting Action SF-50's to include, "Organizational Code Change SF-50's, Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's, etc." or SF-52's Request of Personnel Action as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.
Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
DD-214, SF-15 Form and/or VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
Click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Read the Eligibility questions carefully. The questions address if you are eligible to apply to this JOA. Your responses will affect your consideration for the position. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. You will only be considered under the options you have selected. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility questions, you will not be considered for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content (e.g. SSN or DOB), your resume will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy.
Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.
International Development Finance Corporation
1100 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20527
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
