Specialized Experience: 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 for the 0131 series:
EDUCATION:
A. 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
B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in one or more of the social sciences, or in the humanities, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
C. 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.
-AND-
To qualify at the ZA-2 or GS-07 level:
ZA-2 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the
ZA-1 or GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized Experience will must include ALL of the following:
- Working with international partners;
- Researching international policy;
- Supporting planning international meetings; and
- Writing clear and concise reports.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Combination of education and experience as described above.
To qualify at the ZA-3 or GS-11 level:
ZA-3 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized Experience will must include ALL of the following:
- Assisting in development and implementation of international partnerships, including supporting negotiations, coordinating and tracking contributions, and drafting reports;
- Monitoring international policies;
- Supporting planning for international meetings including foreign visits and travel; and
- Assisting in the development of policy positions and briefing materials.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Combination of education and experience as described above.
