Crisis Operations Specialist - job 3 of 4

Duties

Provides expert advice, guidance, and support to Missions, implementing partners, host countries, and others on technical issues regarding the communications of international civilian-led humanitarian assistance programs and/or operational functions.
Captures and reports the analysis of complex qualitative and/or quantitative data relating to international humanitarian programs and/or operational functions and recommends actions to improve information and messaging coordination.
As an expert, may be deployed to international humanitarian disaster locations to perform direct humanitarian interventions or support humanitarian operations by communicating disaster developments and response efforts.
Assesses effectiveness or recommends improvement around the strategic messaging of issues that affect aspects of major international humanitarian response and/or operational functions.
Exercises independence and applies good judgment in developing and maintaining relationships with various stakeholders in the international civilian-led humanitarian response community such as the government, implementing partners, and others.
Maintains liaison with sources of information inside and outside of the Agency to assess and review new or unusual circumstances, variations in approach and incomplete or conflicting information.
As appropriate, represents the Agency to external stakeholders, in meetings with host governments, Congress, and public and private organizations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

United States Citizenship is required.
Relevant experience (see Qualifications below).
Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. The security clearance level requirement for this position may vary based on the nature and responsibilities of the job.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
You may be required to serve a two-year probationary period if selected.
Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer is required
All applicants selected for this position will be subject to random drug testing once they begin working for the Agency.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

The first step in the evaluation process requires meeting Basic Requirements, Specialized Experience, and Selective Placement Factor stated below. Please refer to the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for further details. Ensure that all relevant experience is clearly stated in your resume and unofficial transcripts are submitted to verify your education level.

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Degree: major or equivalent, or a combination of courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; or 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics/quantitative methods.

OR

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

OR

Experience: four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.

Specialized Experience:

GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the next lower level for this position includes:

(a) Demonstrated experience identifying strategic humanitarian messages and synthesizing information from a variety of sources to develop communications materials (i.e., talking points, press releases, press guidance, fact sheets, remarks, social media, etc.) that best highlight an organization's lifesaving work and program successes;

And

(b) Demonstrated experience conceptualizing and developing content that best showcase an organization's lifesaving work, such as blogs, fact sheets, social media, success stories, graphics, videos, and multimedia content;

And

(c) Demonstrated experience providing messaging guidance and communications support to high-level principals-such as media preparation, blogs, talking points, and speech writing-on topics critical to the delivery of humanitarian assistance;

And

(d) Demonstrated communications experience supporting an organization through a high-profile crisis and/or a fast-paced, breaking news event;

And

(e) Demonstrated experience analyzing communications-related strategies and recommending solutions during crisis communications situations;

And

(f) Demonstrated experience liaising and communicating-both written and oral-with key stakeholders regarding complex and sensitive subjects that impact humanitarian/emergency response.

Please note that qualifying specialized work experience may have been gained through a variety of activities, including residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or international relief work, or other foreign work experience. Make sure to document your experience thoroughly in your resume.

Selective Placement Factor:

This position has a Selective Placement Factor, which is a skill, knowledge, ability, or other characteristic essential for the job's satisfactory performance. The Selective Placement Factor represents the minimum requirements for this position and is a prerequisite for appointment. Applicants who do not meet the Selective Placement Factor are ineligible for further consideration.

Selective Placement Factor: Your resume must demonstrate progressively responsible experience researching, writing, developing, and producing communications materials for civilian-led international humanitarian organizations in a fast-paced environment.

Experience includes both paid and unpaid activities, such as volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work provides training and experience that can translate directly to paid employment. Qualifying experience, including volunteer experience, that aligns with the duties of this position will be considered.

Education

Review the Basic Requirements of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. Unofficial transcripts are required at the point of submission since these positions do have a minimum education requirement. An official transcript will be required if you are selected for the position.

If you have received your education at a foreign college or university, you may use it to meet the education requirements as long as you can demonstrate that the foreign education is similar to that you would have received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. You must provide such evidence with your application. Find a list of accredited organizations recognized for interpreting foreign education credentials at www.naces.org/members.php.

Benefits

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.
Review our 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.

Our assessment process for these positions consists of two phases: a resume review and a competency-based assessment. During the resume review phase, subject matter experts evaluate your application against the specialized experience and selective placement factor statements for the grade level(s) you applied for. The experts only review the first five pages of your resume, so it is important to note relevant experience in that space. After the first phase, only applicants who clearly document experience equivalent to the specialized experience requirement will move to the competency-based assessment.

To be considered among the most qualified candidates, please ensure that you thoroughly document your KSAs, including the QRF, in your resume. SMEs can only evaluate applicants based on what is documented in their resume, so it is important to carefully review the requirements noted in the announcement prior to submitting your application.

Please review the full announcement on the USAID Careers Page to apply and for more information on the assessment process.

Benefits

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.
Review our 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.
Required Documents

As 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.

To apply for this position, you need to prepare a complete Application Package that includes a detailed resume that covers your name, dates of employment, hours worked per week, and duties performed. You should review "What should I include in my federal resume?" for guidance on developing an outstanding federal resume. Uploading a PDF copy of your resume is highly recommended. Additionally, your application package must include supporting documents such as a cover letter (optional), Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable), and Schedule A Eligibility Letter (if you are applying as a Schedule A candidate).Please review the full announcement on the USAID Careers Page for more details on how to apply and what supporting documents are required.

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 from schools 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 Apply

Please note that this post serves for informational purposes only. If you're interested in applying for a position in USAID's crisis operations, please visit our career page here. Kindly note that we do not accept applications through this flyer, and all applications must be submitted through the USAID official career portal via the provided link.

Agency contact information

USAID HR Help Desk
Phone

202-712-1234 X2
Email

hr-helpdesk@usaid.gov
Address

Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20523
US

Next steps

Thank you for taking the time to apply for this position. We appreciate your interest in joining the USAID team. After the application deadline, we'll review all resumes and applications to identify candidates whose qualifications match our needs. If your qualifications match the position's requirements, a hiring manager may reach out to you to schedule an interview. Please note that only eligible candidates will be contacted.

If you are not selected for this position, don't be discouraged. Your application and resume will remain on file, and we may consider you for future job openings if your qualifications match our needs. Your information will remain in our system for up to eight months.

Thank you again for your interest in USAID. We wish you the best in your job search.

Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you need to prepare a complete Application Package that includes a detailed resume that covers your name, dates of employment, hours worked per week, and duties performed. You should review "What should I include in my federal resume?" for guidance on developing an outstanding federal resume. Uploading a PDF copy of your resume is highly recommended. Additionally, your application package must include supporting documents such as a cover letter (optional), Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable), and Schedule A Eligibility Letter (if you are applying as a Schedule A candidate).Please review the full announcement on the USAID Careers Page for more details on how to apply and what supporting documents are required.

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 from schools 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.

Help

This job is open to

Individuals with disabilities

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No prior federal service required.

By US Agency for International Development

On behalf of the American people, we promote and demonstrate democratic values abroad, and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. In support of America's foreign policy, the U.S. Agency for International Development leads the U.S. Governm...

5 jobs

INDUSTRY

National Agencies

TEAM SIZE

No info

LOCATION

Hybrid, based in Washington, DC

DATE POSTED

July 22, 2023