International Program Specialist - Office of the Secretary : Job Details

SummaryThis vacancy is for an International Program Specialist in the Office of the Secretary within the Department of Commerce.This job is open to

• Internal to an agencyCurrent federal employees of this agency.
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)Federal employees who meet the definition of a surplus or displaced employee.

Clarification from the agencyThis position is open to current Department of Commerce (DOC) employees who are serving in the competitive service as permanent career or career-conditional employees, as well as current DOC employees who are eligible for reinstatement based on their career or career-conditional status in the competitive service, and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) eligibles.DutiesCLDP is looking for an energetic, innovative, adaptable, and results-oriented individual who will enjoy working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and mission-driven organization as an International Program Specialist.As an International Program Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Serve as a Contracting Officer Technical Representative for CLDP and assists CLDP's Administrator with contracting logistics and training on procurements for CLDP staff.
• Assist in managing the design and implementation of technical assistance programs related to government procurement, anti-corruption, ethics, cross-border trade, etc., with attorney advisors;
• Identifying and securing the logistical support needed to execute technical assistance programs through multiple procurement mechanisms;
• Developing, planning, and preparing program budgets based on CLDP interagency agreements, to include tracking budgets, notifying funding agencies o f spending rates, and managing procurements;
• Traveling overseas to prepare and implement trainings, workshops, and consultations;
• Monitoring federal regulations and departmental policies to ensure that all CLDP plans and expenditures comply with the relevant requirements;
• Liaising with government officials, judges, and other high-level diplomatic, community, and business leaders in foreign countries;
• Manage monitoring and evaluation, including data collection, reporting of programmatic indicators, and assisting in the design ofmonitoring and evaluation plans in collaboration with attorney advisors;
• Update CLDP website, social media, and contribute to periodic financial and programmatic reports in collaboration with attorney advisors.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other International Program Specialist GS-0301-13, GS-0301-13 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.Requirements Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation obtain and maintain a Secret clearance. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
• A probationary or trial period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Drug Test: Yes
• License required: No
• Pre-employment physical required: No
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band.

QualificationsQualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.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.To qualify at the GS-13 level:SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Communicating effectively, orally and in writing with press and high-level U.S. and foreign officials;
• Managing program budgets, logistics, and complete procurement request; AND
• Researching global economic topics and assisting in the development of presentations and/or reports.

EducationThere is no positive education requirement for this position.Additional informationThe following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA)

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

30% or more disabled veterans

Persons with disabilities

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

CTAP Eligibles: CTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career TransitionCTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

A copy of your SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action , noting current position, grade level, and duty location;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

• BenefitsA 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.Review our benefitsEligibility 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 EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation (transcripts if applicable) to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire that you completed as part of the application. However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the occupational questions, or your score will be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

• Oral Communication
• Technical Competence
• Financial Management
• Program Management

If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive due weight, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.). Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager.Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration.

• Classified or government sensitive information
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. To preview the questionnaire, click the following link:

• BenefitsA 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.Review our benefitsEligibility 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.
• Required DocumentsAs a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.A complete application consists of the following:
  • Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59. Refer to the How you will be Evaluated' section for types of information not to include in your resume/application.
  • SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, supporting your eligibility, showing tenure code, position occupied and highest grade and step.
  • If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive due weight, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.)
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
  • Education. If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to for more information.
  • Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
    • Position title;
    • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
    • Agency; and
    • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
  You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.Failure to provide such documents when requested may result in lost consideration.Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees fromschools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.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.
• How to ApplyYour complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at To begin, click the Apply button and follow the prompts to register/sign-in into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at and click on Application Status. Click on the position title, and then select Apply to continue.For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.Agency contact informationAmber [email protected] of the Secretary1401 Constitution Ave NWWashington, DC 20230USNext stepsYou will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at and clicking on Track Your Online Application. The four points of notification are:
• Application Received or Application Incomplete
• Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Not Met;
• Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Ineligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and
• Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
• Fair and TransparentThe Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required DocumentsA complete application consists of the following:

• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59. Refer to the How you will be Evaluated' section for types of information not to include in your resume/application.
• SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, supporting your eligibility, showing tenure code, position occupied and highest grade and step.
• If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive due weight, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.)
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
• Education. If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to for more information.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
  • Position title;
  • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
  • Agency; and
  • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.Failure to provide such documents when requested may result in lost consideration.Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees fromschools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.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.How to ApplyYour complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at To begin, click the Apply button and follow the prompts to register/sign-in into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at and click on Application Status. Click on the position title, and then select Apply to continue.For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.Agency contact informationAmber [email protected] of the Secretary1401 Constitution Ave NWWashington, DC 20230USNext stepsYou will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at and clicking on Track Your Online Application. The four points of notification are:

Application Received or Application Incomplete

Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Not Met;

Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Ineligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and

Selected or Not Selected.

By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).Fair & TransparentThe Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request