Country Director (FP-02)

Job Description

Summary

The Country Director (CD) is the senior Peace Corps representative in the country of assignment. The CD plans and directs all aspects of the Peace Corps programs in the country of assignment, ensuring that the daily operations create an environment for Volunteers and staff to work successfully in the performance of their duties. The CD develops long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones and evaluates the effectiveness of programs conducted throughout the post.

This vacancy is being announced at the FP-1 and FP-2 grade levels. This posting is for the FP-2 grade level only ($101,204 to $148,621 per year). For the FP-1 posting and position-specific requirements, please click here.

The CD performs the following major duties:

• Provides leadership to achieve program goals at the Post.
• Establishes short and long range goals and objectives for the program, reviews past and future program requirements, determines future program resource requirements, and estimates short and long range Volunteer, staff, budgetary, and equipment needs.
• Ensures quality project design, implementation and evaluation in all areas of responsibility, making certain that projects address capacity building and sustainability and are in alignment with Peace Corps guidance, and are responsive to the needs and requirements of the host country.
• Approves all major expenditures, controls physical and monetary assets, implements Peace Corps policies, adopts in-country procedures, and exercises responsibility for programming, training, support, safety and security, and administrative actions relating to Volunteers and staff.
• Manages the day-to-day operations at the post, developing and implementing overall policy, procedures, goals, and objectives in accordance with Peace Corps policies and procedures.
• Manages financial management, procurement, contract negotiations, disbursements, property control, and administrative services for the Post with the assistance of post’s Contracting Officers and other administrative staff, who are directly responsible for these actions.
• Ensures compliance with Peace Corps policy, U.S. federal regulations and local law and ensures timely submission of the Integrated Planning and Budget Strategy report.
• Initiates, negotiates, and executes agreements with host country agencies and other partners in accordance with Peace Corps policies and procedures.
• Responds to host country and volunteer needs by supervising the development and implementation of programs that provide Volunteers with the training and support necessary to serve effectively.
• Oversees comprehensive studies and detailed analyses of complex functions and processes related to country program planning and management and ensures effective communication and coordination among programming and training, administrative, medical and safety and security staff.
• Represents Peace Corps with the host country government, the U.S. Embassy Country Team, USAID, and other agencies and advocates for its goals and activities.

Travel Required

• Occasional Travel
• This is an overseas position. Travel to posts within country and region (Asia, America, Caribbean, Pacific, Africa, and Europe) of assignment will be required. This is a condition of employment.
• Relocation Expenses are authorized.

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a top secret clearance.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a worldwide medical clearance.
• Ability to travel within and outside of country of assignment.
• Worldwide Availability for Post Assignment is required.
• Serves at the Discretion of the Peace Corps Director.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the specialized experience at the grade level(s) in which they choose to be considered by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement. Applicants 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. Failure to include day, month and year of employment dates will result in reduced employment time credit being granted, which may result in disqualification for this position.

This position has One (1) selective placement factor defined as follows: Two (2) years of experience, working directly in community development in the US or international development in a developing country is required. Applicants who fail to provide supporting documentation for this selective factor will not receive consideration for this vacancy.

FP-2: Qualifying experience for the FP-2 grade level is described as at least 1 year equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, the FP-3 (GS-13 equivalent) grade level, managing a staff of at least 15 employees with the responsibility for budget development and oversight, development and implementation of organizational policy, and the measurement of outcomes.

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 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/.

About the Organization

"Peace Corps staff are passionate and dedicated to the cause of service. They do critical work to support our Volunteers and provide them the opportunity for a life-defining experience. Our staff is energetic, committed, hard-working, and positive. The work they do truly makes a difference."

Top Reasons to Work for Peace Corps! -- (1) Voted in the top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government for mid-size agencies in 2017, (2) the Peace Corps has a unique global mission. (3) Benefits include higher salary caps than the Federal standard with (4) quicker step increases. (5) Peace Corps employees earn non-competitive eligibility after 3 years of service and (6) have the opportunity to pursue leadership development opportunities and many more ... established through President Kennedy's call to service; the Peace Corps asks applicants what you can do for your country ... and the world.