RPCV-PCE Job Opportunity

Summary These positions allow returning Peace Corps and certain Peace Corps Response volunteers the opportunity to gain experience in the Federal Government while continuing to support the Peace Corps mission. Many staff positions relate to the recruitment and selection of Volunteers, as well as a wide range of roles in program management, administrative services, finance, security, human capital, communications, legal services, health services, and information technology. Duties These entry-level and early career positions offer recent Volunteers an opportunity to explore a career in federal service. Many roles include assignments designed to further develop analytical and evaluative skills beyond those gained during volunteer service. These roles offer strong opportunities for professional growth. While promotions are performance-based, employees receive the support and resources they need to excel and advance in their careers.

Applicants will be asked to indicate preferred job categories, including communications, contract management, country desk operations, data management and analysis, finance/budget, administrative support, health services, human resources, information technology, training administration, and volunteer recruitment. You may select more than one category; however, placement will depend on the needs of individual Peace Corps departments.

Communications - Work involving written and oral communication, such as marketing, public affairs, and social media. Tasks may include contributing to training materials, reports, and web-based content.

Contract Management - Work related to procuring supplies and services; evaluating contract proposals; and administering or closing out contracts. Tasks may include verifying financial transactions, purchase orders, contracts, travel obligations, and other agency expenditures.

Country Desk Operations - Work supporting overseas posts, including administrative coordination, operational support, and program assistance to overseas staff, trainees and volunteers. Tasks may include compiling data for program requirements, preparing status reports, and coordinating training activities.

Data Management and Analysis - Work focused on data collection processes and technical assistance in using data systems. Tasks may include performing quality checks, managing and analyzing data, running basic statistical tests, and preparing tables and graphs for publication.

Finance/Budget - Work in financial management, reporting, accounting, budgeting, auditing, and related areas. Tasks may include recording financial data, tracking transactions, and monitoring budgets.

General Administrative Support - Work supporting the management of an organization, office, or program. Tasks may include analysis, research, writing, and applying judgment to assigned duties.

Health Services - Work supporting functions within the Office of Medical Services. Tasks may include assessing applicants entering service or assisting with patient evaluations before or after medical care.

Human Resources - Work related to hiring and developing employees. Tasks may include recruitment, placement, onboarding, managing HR systems, administering benefits, evaluating performance, and communicating with staff at all levels.

Information Technology - Work involving computer and network systems, including design, development, implementation, support, and maintenance. Tasks may include managing workstation setup, troubleshooting issues, testing software, and supporting IT projects.

Training Administration - Work supporting the design and delivery of training programs to prepare individuals for Peace Corps service. Tasks may include assisting domestic and overseas offices with volunteer registration, orientation, and preparation for overseas assignments.

Volunteer Recruitment - Work related to identifying and screening qualified volunteer applicants and promoting Peace Corps programs. Tasks may include conducting candidate searches, using recruitment databases and social networks, and informing prospective volunteers of responsibilities, benefits, and working conditions.

Qualifications

In your application, identify all work experience and education (degree(s), GPA, credit hours, honor societies, etc.) to assist in determining minimum qualifications. Supporting documentation must also be provided. You may qualify for some positions based on experience, education, or a combination of the two; others may require additional experience or education (e.g. specific coursework).

Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for disqualification.

You must meet the specialized experience at the time of your application. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To ensure full credit for your experience, please indicate dates of employment by month, day, and year and the number of hours worked per week in your resume.

Applicants meeting minimum qualifications may be selected at one of the following grade levels depending on the position they are referred for.

FP-7 (Equivalent to GS-07)

FP-6 (Equivalent to GS-08)

FP-5 (Equivalent to GS-09/GS-10)

Qualifying experience includes one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the next lower grade 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 may include: Providing general clerical support (e.g., greeting visitors, maintaining files, and typing routine correspondence); or gathering program data or information following routine search procedures.

A combination of successfully completed post-high-school education and specialized experience that combined account for a total of 100% may be generally used to meet the total experience requirement.

While this announcement indicates the 0301 job series, positions may also be filled in any job series including the following: 0306, 0501, 1035, 1001, 1084, 0343, 0303, 1712, 2210, 0342, 0510, 0560, 0203, 0201, 0080, 2101, 0346. Some positions may require a different set of specialized experience and/or specific education depending on the job category and/or grade level. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

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 at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications. Education Depending on the series of the position being filled, some positions may include Individual Occupational Requirements such as specific education and/or experience in addition to the minimum federal qualification requirements in the 'Qualifications Required' section.

If additional documentation is required, applicants must provide upon request.

Requirements

Applicants selected for this position are subject to the following Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service (see www.sss.gov).
• Prior to employment, Peace Corps will review records for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and former employees, as required by statutes 5 USC 3322 and 22 USC 2507b.
• You must submit a signed statement acknowledging adherence to the Peace Corps Conditions of Employment before your first day.
• You must successfully complete a background security investigation with favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet this requirement will be grounds for employment termination.
• A one-year probationary period is required, unless the appointment is less than 5 years.
• The initial appointment to this position cannot exceed five years.
• Additional conditions of employment, depending on the position, include:
• A security clearance may be required.
• A drug test may be required. Likewise, you may be subject to random drug testing while employed.
• Travel may be required.
• The position may be in the bargaining unit.
• The position may be eligible for situational telework.

How you will be evaluated 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, your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or missing information may affect our ability to verify your eligibility or qualifications. We use a multi-step application review process:

Applicants can apply for a non-competitive appointment under this announcement if they meet one of the following criteria and have not already used Peace Corps Eligibility (PCE) to obtain employment with the Peace Corps:

• You are within 90 days of completing a qualifying Peace Corps volunteer assignment; OR
• You completed a qualifying Peace Corps volunteer assignment within the last three (3) years.

Qualifying Peace Corps Volunteer assignments: Satisfactory completion of a full term of Peace Corps service or satisfactory completion of at least twelve months, including training, when termination is determined to be for reasons beyond the volunteer's control.

Qualifying Returned Peace Corps Response Volunteer assignments: Satisfactory completion of a full term of service regardless of length.

PCE only applies to positions within Peace Corps. For more information about Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) for positions in the federal government, other than at Peace Corps, please refer to the Non-Competitive Eligibility page on the Peace Corps website - Noncompetitive Eligibility (peacecorps.gov). How to apply When a position is requested to be filled utilizing this RPCV/PCRV standing register, eligible applicants will be forwarded to management for review and possible selection.

Positions filled through this announcement may be at the FP-7 through FP-5 grade levels (equivalent to GS-7 through GS-10). Your resume and any submitted documents will be retained for 90 days after your first application. You will need to certify your continued interest every 90 days to be considered for future opportunities.

• 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.
• Applications are valid for 90 days. To be considered for a position, you must recertify your eligibility by updating your application every 90 days. Failure to do so will remove you from consideration.
• Check your application status by logging into your USAJOBS account. Return to your application to update your eligibility by clicking Apply Online in the vacancy announcement and selecting your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account.

Please note:

• It is your responsibility to ensure your application package (resume, supporting documents, and questionnaire responses) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date.
• We will not modify answers or documents submitted by an applicant.
• Additional information on how to submit your online application may be found on the USAJOBS Help Center.

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.

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. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Likewise, the Peace Corps provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any other part of the hiring process, please contact the Office of Civil Rights at 202-692-2139. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation are made on a case-by-case basis.Other information

Position Information:

• The minimum and maximum salaries listed on this announcement include locality pay. The starting grade, pay and promotion potential will vary by position and location. NOTE: While most positions will be filled at the Washington, DC Headquarters location, other locations may also be available depending on the type of position and the office in which the vacancy exists.

Peace Corps Information:

• This is a federal civilian position in the Excepted Service, and the incumbent will serve as a member of the Foreign Service.
• Peace Corps employees are paid under the Foreign Personnel (FP) pay system, which differs from the General Schedule (GS) pay system. In the FP pay system, lower grade level numbers indicate higher levels of responsibility and pay. The FP-09 is the lowest, entry-level, grade and the FP-01 is the highest, senior-level, grade.
• If this is your first federal appointment, you may request credit for prior applicable non-federal service toward your leave Service Computation Date. Approval of credit must be granted prior to your first federal appointment and is subject to agency review and documentation requirements.
• The Peace Corps uses E-Verify 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.
• The Peace Corps is a drug-free workplace.
• 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 at the Peace Corps.
• Acceptance of employment with Peace Corps precludes employment by certain intelligence organizations for a specific period after Peace Corps employment ceases.

Applicants who indicate on the announcement questionnaire that they, or a family member, have an intelligence connection will be required to submit a completed Intelligence Background Questionnaire. The Peace Corps Office of Human Resources will provide instructions for submitting this form after the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide the completed questionnaire will result in disqualification from further consideration. If you have any type of possible intelligence connection, your application will not be processed until this form is submitted. 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 is employed or has been employed in intelligence, the immediate family member should complete the form. If you have an immediate family member who is employed or has been employed with the CIA, please contact your family member 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.