Country Director - Onsite Internationally

Summary

This establishes an OPEN AND CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT which will be utilized to maintain eligible/qualified applicants to be considered for current Country Director vacancies with the Peace Corps.

The Country Director (CD) is the senior Peace Corps representative in the country of assignment. The position will be located in one of the countries under Peace Corps' geographic region of operations: Africa (AF), Europe, Mediterranean and Asia (EMA), and Inter-America and the Pacific (IAP).

Learn more about this agency



Duties

A successful candidate must be able to effectively communicate and interact with others, to include: local staff and community members from the assigned country, host country government officials at very senior levels, the U.S. Embassy, Peace Corps headquarters, and with other relevant stakeholders.

The Country Director Performs The Following Major Duties

• Plans, directs, and oversees all aspects of strategic, policy, organizational, and program objectives in the country of assignment.
• Oversees operations and staff in functional areas that include: Volunteer support; program, training and evaluation; administration, logistics and financial management; medical services, safety and security.
• Represents Peace Corps at executive levels with host country government officials, U.S. embassy officials, senior Peace Corps officials, and other external stakeholders and represents at a local level with community leadership and community members.
• Ensures that the country operations create a safe and productive environment for trainees and Volunteers and staff to work successfully and perform their duties and responsibilities.
• Represents and advocates for the goals and activities of Peace Corps with host country government officials, local private and not-for-profit entities, the U.S. Embassy and other government agencies.
• With host-country partners, develops a vision for the country program and a plan for achieving the vision.
• Determines budgetary, facility, equipment, staffing and Volunteer requirements.
• Provides leadership and oversight to ensure that projects are responsive to host country development needs and are consistent with Peace Corps philosophy and Volunteer resources.
• Negotiates, approves and executes the cooperating agreements between the Peace Corps and host-country partner agencies, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel.
• Ensures quality project design, training, implementation and evaluation in all areas, making certain that projects address capacity building and sustainability, are in alignment with Peace Corps guidance, and are responsive to host country development priorities.
• Establishes criteria and oversees program management elements affecting Volunteer personal safety and security, site identification and monitoring, cultural sensitivity for host country people and culture, and other issues affecting Volunteers' successful service and Peace Corps' reputation.
• In coordination with the Office of Health Services, oversees a comprehensive medical care program that supports Volunteers with their health care needs.
• Provides expert leadership and management over institutional policies and procedures to ensure Volunteer safety and security. This encompasses, but is not limited to, promoting Volunteers' training and ability to assess and ensure their personal safety; responding to natural or man-made disasters; mitigating the potential threat of political unrest; and supporting the agency's response to Volunteer victims of crime, such as physical and sexual assault, theft, among others.
• Promotes intercultural competence among staff and Volunteers; ensures program's policies and procedures promote diversity, inclusion and belonging; develops a cohesive organization that promotes respect and dignity towards others.
• Supervises Post's senior staff and oversees the administrative and human resource functions.
• Adheres to U.S. federal laws, Peace Corps policies, and local labor laws pertaining to employee hiring, training, treatment, and disciplinary actions.
• Promotes a collaborative and positive work environment that values employee contributions.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Please read this announcement in its entirety prior to submitting your application.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• All Federal employees are required to have federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. For additional information, see www.sss.gov.
• You must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• You must go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired originalor certified copies.
• You must successfully complete a background security investigation with favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet this requirement will be grounds for employment termination.
• Prior to employment, and in compliance with statutes 5 USC 3322 and 22 USC 2507b, Peace Corps will conduct a check of Peace Corps records for both Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former Peace Corps employees.
• All new employees are required to certify and submit a state of understanding acknowledging adherence to the Peace Corps condition of employment prior to day 1 of employment with the Peace Corps
• This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Clearance.
• This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Medical Clearance.
• This job has been identified as a testing designated position under our Drug-Free Workplace Program. Therefore, you must satisfactorily complete a drug test prior to being hired. As an employee, you will be subject to random drug testing.
• This position requires the filing of a Financial Disclosure report.
• This is not a bargaining unit position.
• The incumbent in this position serves at the discretion of the Peace Corps Director.
• Worldwide Availability for Post assignment is required.
• Travel within and outside the country of assignment is required.
• The initial appointment to this position cannot exceed five years.
  
  

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by 12/31/2024 (the closing date of the announcement). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To ensure full credit for your experience, please indicate the start and end dates (month, day, and year) of employment, the number of hours worked per week, and the location of employment in your resume. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Specialized Experience

This vacancy is being announced at one grade level:

Specialized Experience at the FP-01: To be minimally qualified for this position at the FP-01 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression, FP-02 or GS-14 level which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: Experience leading, managing, analyzing, designing, or providing advisory services for international development programs or domestic non-governmental organizations (NGO), or in the private sector; Experience managing technical assistance and capacity building programs in developing or transitioning countries; Experience developing, negotiating and managing complex international or domestic community development projects; and experience developing and implementing collaborative approaches with internal and external partners and stakeholders to build coalitions and work on common agency program goals and objectives.

Examples of specialized professional experience include: held a senior level position such as Country Director, Executive Director, Regional Director, Chief of Party, CEO, Ambassador, or others in a complex organizational environment; experience leading and managing programs with an international development focus or a focus on work with underserved U.S. communities that are made up of a majority of culturally diverse members; experience providing strategic direction to complex programs; and experience that includes high-level representational duties.

Education cannot be substituted for experience at this level.

~AND~

Selective Placement Factor

Selective Placement Factors (SPFs) are knowledge, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of a particular position. Applicants who do not meet a selective placement factor will be disqualified from further consideration.

This position has one selective placement factor: Three (3) years of: 1) executive leadership experience in transitioning or developing countries involving international development work, or 2) community development experience working with underserved communities in the United States. Experience may be with private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or government organizations (local, state, and/or federal). Executive experience must include either an international focus or a focus on domestic communities that are made up of a majority of culturally diverse members.

~AND~

Time-in-Grade (TIG) Requirements

Current or Formal Federal employees, including current Peace Corps employees, must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible. To meet TIG for positions above the FP-09 (GS-05) grade level, you must have served at least one year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade (or equivalent) in the normal line of progression for the position to which you are applying.

All current or former Federal employees (including internal employees) must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

Please Note

• Past experience that satisfies the Specialized Experience and Selective Placement Factor MUST be well documented within your resume. Failure to provide this information in your resume with corresponding start and end dates (month, day, and year) of employment, the number of hours worked per week, and location of employment may result in disqualification from further consideration.
• Specialized Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or through volunteer work done with National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) or other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
• One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.
• Additional information on qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site.
• Peace Corps employees are employed using the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay scale. The FP pay plan does not follow the same structure as the GS pay plan. In the FP pay plan, as the grade-level numbers decrease the level/pay for the position increases. The FP-09 is the lowest entry-level grade and the FP-01 is the highest senior-level grade.
  
  

Education

This position has no Individual Occupational Requirements.

Additional information

The minimum and maximum salaries listed on this announcement include locality pay.

If you are a current federal employee, your agency may grant you reemployment rights in accordance with Section 310 of the Foreign Service Act, 22 USC 3950. You must request and be granted reemployment rights prior to separation from your current federal agency.

Peace Corps Information

• This is a federal civilian job in the Excepted Service. Peace Corps employees are paid on the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay scale.
• Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. See Peace Corps Manual Section 623 for agency policy regarding telework.
• The Peace Corps uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
• This is a drug-free workplace and we promote a drug-free environment.
• Additional hiring needs may be filled through this vacancy.
  
  

Intelligence Background Information

Peace Corps Manual Section 611 is applicable to this position:

• This prohibits the employment of certain persons previously engaged in intelligence activities or connected with intelligence agencies within the past 10 years.
• If you have ever worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), you are not eligible for employment at the Peace Corps in any capacity, and you should not apply for employment.
• Acceptance of employment with Peace Corps precludes employment by certain intelligence organizations for a specific period of time, determined by the employing agency, after Peace Corps employment ceases.
  
  

Applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified will be required to submit a completed Intelligence Background Questionnaire upon request, indicating whether the applicant has been involved in or has had any connection with intelligence activities or related work and, if so, the nature and dates of his or her involvement. Failure to meet this requirement will result in disqualification from further consideration. If you have any other type of possible intelligence connection, your application will not be further considered until you submit this form.

Except when the CIA or the National Security Agency (NSA) is involved (see below), if your connection with an Intelligence Agency involves an immediate family member who works or has worked in intelligence, the immediate family member should complete the form, not the applicant. Usually relying on memory is sufficient to answer most if not all of the questions.

If you have an immediate family member who works or has worked for the CIA, you should not give them this form to complete. Please contact your relative in person-not by phone, email, social networking, or any other means that is not in person- and ask him or her to contact the Office of General Counsel at the CIA.

If you or an immediate family member have been employed by or associated with the NSA, you or your family member must contact the NSA Prepublication Review Office at 443-634-4095.

Read more

• 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.

Office of Global Operations

1275 First St. NE

Washington, DC 20526

US