Supervisory International Relations Officer

DutiesThe selectee will serve as the Director of the Office of International Relations and Economic Research with primary responsibility for coordinating U.S. Government (USG) participation in the International Labor Organization and the labor components of other international organizations; providing technical and policy expertise on global labor and employment issues; overseeing research on global economic, employment and labor issues; and coordinating labor-related diplomacy. The OIRER Director works under the general supervision of the Deputy Under Secretary. Major duties for this position include but are not limited to, the following:Serves as the principal policy advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary and the Secretary on all issues relating to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the G20 Employment Working Group, the G7 Employment Task Force, the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor of the Organization of American States (IACML/OAS), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and other international organizations and UN agencies.The OIRER Director is also responsible for the conduct of bilateral relationships that enable DOL to increase knowledge of foreign labor conditions, policies, and practices, or help other countries learn about policies and practices of relevant DOL agencies. Work on bilateral relationships also entails overseeing the preparation of essential material, including background material and draft remarks, for meetings between senior DOL officials and senior governmental officials from other countries, labor unions, business organizations, and civil society organizations.The OIRER Director oversees research on the effects of international trade and economic policies and developments on earnings, employment, and working conditions of workers in the United States and on foreign labor market developments and policies relevant to workers in the United States.The OIRER Director meets with representatives of foreign governments, trade unions, business organizations, and non-governmental organizations to gather information and develop useful working relationships that support the development and advocacy of policy positions and assessment of policy options. The OIRER Director oversees the preparation of USG position papers for meetings of international organizations by reviewing analyses prepared by ILAB and other DOL agencies, including the solicitor’s office, to determine consistency with USG domestic and foreign policy, as well as conformance with various international organization procedures and practices.The OIRER Director coordinates required U.S. submissions to the ILO pertaining to ratified and unratified standards, activities that support the fundamental principles and rights at work, and responses to any complaints lodged against the United States in the ILO supervisory system, and coordinates the activities of the President’s Committee on the ILO, including efforts to promote U.S. ratification of ILO standards.The OIRER Director provides strategic leadership for the office, including by conducting short- and long-range planning activities and defining broad goals and objectives; periodically conducting comprehensive evaluation of activities with authority to make adjustments and changes as necessary; determining the organization, structure, and work groups within the office; and instituting improved control and cooperative measures as appropriate.The OIRER Director manages OIRER's financial resources effectively and efficiently through program planning and evaluation, ensures the proper use of funds, and determines means to reduce costs, especially, with the use of information technology.The OIRER Director coordinates and directs three divisions, comprised of approximately twenty-five staff, primarily at grades GS-13-15, engaged in highly technical professional and administrative work.Requirements Conditions of EmploymentCandidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.Subject to financial disclosure requirements.Requires supervisory probationary period if requirement has not been met.Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.Notification Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations. As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to submit documentation of proof of vaccination or to be in the process of requesting an exception to the vaccination requirement before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request to be considered for a legally required exception from this requirement.Currently, implementation and enforcement of Executive Order 14043 has been suspended pursuant to an injunction pending further litigation. QualificationsYou may not be aware, but in the regulations for agency ethics programs, there are requirements for supervisors. Section 2638.103 of Title 5 of the CFR states:Every supervisor in the executive branch has a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics. It is imperative that supervisors serve as models of ethical behavior for subordinates. Supervisors have a responsibility to help ensure that subordinates are aware of their ethical obligations under the Standards of Conduct and that subordinates know how to contact agency ethics officials. Supervisors are also responsible for working with agency ethics officials to help resolve conflicts of interests and enforce government ethics laws and regulations, including those requiring certain employees to file financial disclosure reports. In addition, supervisors are responsible, when requested, for assisting agency ethics officials in evaluating potential conflicts of interest and identifying positions subject to financial disclosure requirements.IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.Basic 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.ORCombination 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.ORExperience: 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.In addition to the basic requirements of this position, applicants must also possess 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.To qualify for the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, GS-14. Specialized experience is defined as experience 1) demonstrating expert knowledge of international labor issues and U.S. positions in order to develop and/or advocate policy recommendations; 2) drafting and/or coordinating the development of reports, position papers, analytical papers, talking points, and briefing materials; 3) representing positions and negotiating outcomes; 4) working with international organizations that deal with labor, employment, and worker rights issues; AND 5) experience supervising work of subordinates. EducationAny applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.Additional informationDOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEESHelp HelpA 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.