Public Health Program Specialist

Job Description

Duties

The purpose of this position is to provide programming, training and evaluative support to improve the effectiveness of the health programs by providing technical advice on community based public health. The position will provide technical assistance to PC posts in their capacity to design and implement community health programs through innovative modes of direct and indirect learning. The position is located in the Peace Corps, Office of Global Health and HIV, reports to the Chief of Programming and Training.

The Public Health Program Specialist performs the following major duties:

• Serves as health programming resource in the identification of critical global issues and problems related to project design and implementation.
• Serves as Agency resource for both headquarters and regional Posts, in the identification of critical public health issues affecting project design, program implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
• Identifies key policy and program issues to assist field staff in host countries to evolve strategies appropriate to their individual circumstances to public health efforts.
• Conducts program studies where systems, and processes, definitions, methods, and/or data are incomplete, controversial, or uncertain, or where boundaries of the studies are extremely broad and difficult to determine in advance.
• Works collaboratively with monitoring and evaluation (M&E) Specialists in OGHH to support programmatic M&E to evaluate program/activity progress and results according to the performance monitoring framework, document results and apply lessons learned to adjust the project framework.
• Designs, develops, and delivers training related to public health. Designs and delivers courses, workshops, and other staff development activities. Plans and develops full-length courses in well-established areas of the subject matter field. Incorporates creativity, innovation, and responsiveness to emerging needs in developing trainings and other knowledge products.
• Designs need assessments to determine content and methodology for workshops or courses for face-to-face or online events.

Help Requirements Conditions of Employment

• Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned duty location) and supervisor’s approval to participate in the Telework Program. As a reminder - If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. (Birth certificate showing birth in the U.S; Unexpired U.S. Passport; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; or Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (Form FS-240))
• All Federal employees are required to have federal salary payments made by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• 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.
• 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 original or certified copies.
• Applicants must successfully complete a background security investigation with favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet this requirement will be grounds for employment termination. This position requires a Public Trust security clearance.
• A one year trial period is required.
• This is a bargaining unit position.

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.
• Initial appointment of employment cannot exceed five years.
• Qualified internal applicants will be given full consideration.
• Additional hiring needs may be filled through this vacancy.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by 08/01/2023 (the closing date of this announcement). Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: FP-03:
To be minimally qualified for this position at the FP03 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression, FP04 or GS12.Specialized experience is defined as: experience providing advisory services and technical guidance in HR policy, gathering data and research to support the development and interpretation of policy, legislative proposals, statutes, and regulatory issuances and plans; and experience conducting organizational assessments, determining appropriate actions and milestones to achieve improved outcomes.

AND

MEET EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

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/

AND

MEET TIME IN GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT: You must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible. To meet TIG for positions above the 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 you are applying to. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM’s Qualifications Standards.

Note: 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: 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 (e.g., the FP-09 is the lowest entry-level pay and the FP-01 is the highest senior-level pay).

Education

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

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

Duties

The purpose of this position is to provide programming, training and evaluative support to improve the effectiveness of the health programs by providing technical advice on community based public health. The position will provide technical assistance to PC posts in their capacity to design and implement community health programs through innovative modes of direct and indirect learning. The position is located in the Peace Corps, Office of Global Health and HIV, reports to the Chief of Programming and Training.

The Public Health Program Specialist performs the following major duties:

• Serves as health programming resource in the identification of critical global issues and problems related to project design and implementation.
• Serves as Agency resource for both headquarters and regional Posts, in the identification of critical public health issues affecting project design, program implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
• Identifies key policy and program issues to assist field staff in host countries to evolve strategies appropriate to their individual circumstances to public health efforts.
• Conducts program studies where systems, and processes, definitions, methods, and/or data are incomplete, controversial, or uncertain, or where boundaries of the studies are extremely broad and difficult to determine in advance.
• Works collaboratively with monitoring and evaluation (M&E) Specialists in OGHH to support programmatic M&E to evaluate program/activity progress and results according to the performance monitoring framework, document results and apply lessons learned to adjust the project framework.
• Designs, develops, and delivers training related to public health. Designs and delivers courses, workshops, and other staff development activities. Plans and develops full-length courses in well-established areas of the subject matter field. Incorporates creativity, innovation, and responsiveness to emerging needs in developing trainings and other knowledge products.
• Designs need assessments to determine content and methodology for workshops or courses for face-to-face or online events.

Help Requirements Conditions of Employment

• Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned duty location) and supervisor’s approval to participate in the Telework Program. As a reminder - If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. (Birth certificate showing birth in the U.S; Unexpired U.S. Passport; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; or Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (Form FS-240))
• All Federal employees are required to have federal salary payments made by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• 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.
• 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 original or certified copies.
• Applicants must successfully complete a background security investigation with favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet this requirement will be grounds for employment termination. This position requires a Public Trust security clearance.
• A one year trial period is required.
• This is a bargaining unit position.

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.
• Initial appointment of employment cannot exceed five years.
• Qualified internal applicants will be given full consideration.
• Additional hiring needs may be filled through this vacancy.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by 08/01/2023 (the closing date of this announcement). Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: FP-03:
To be minimally qualified for this position at the FP03 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression, FP04 or GS12.Specialized experience is defined as: experience providing advisory services and technical guidance in HR policy, gathering data and research to support the development and interpretation of policy, legislative proposals, statutes, and regulatory issuances and plans; and experience conducting organizational assessments, determining appropriate actions and milestones to achieve improved outcomes.

AND

MEET EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

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/

AND

MEET TIME IN GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT: You must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible. To meet TIG for positions above the 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 you are applying to. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM’s Qualifications Standards.

Note: 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: 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 (e.g., the FP-09 is the lowest entry-level pay and the FP-01 is the highest senior-level pay).

Education

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

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

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications

Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents. If, after reviewing your rsum and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience that is cause for disqualification, and you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2. Rating and Ranking

If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position). Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be assigned a numerical score (out of 100 possible). If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

3. Referral and Selection

If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Employee Development
• Planning and Evaluating
• Product Evaluation

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration, including any documentation that is being used for qualifications.

You may preview the questionnaire for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12023920 Help Required Documents

As described below, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. A detailed RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including job title and duties performed. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information must be provided in your resume: full name and address of the employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).

• If you are a current Federal employee or former Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series, and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09). TIP: A good way to ensure you include all essential information is to use Resume Builder in USAJOBS to create your resume. If your resume does not contain this information, your application will be marked as incomplete and you will not receive consideration for this position.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.

2. Other Supporting Documents: Proof of Eligibility to Apply: Your application must include the documents which prove you are eligible to apply for the vacancy. You must meet the requirements of at least one of the authorities listed in the Who May Apply section above to receive further consideration.

• If you are a current or former federal employee, you are required to submit a legible copy/copies of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. Time-in-grade documentation: If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old).
• Transcripts, there is a basic education requirement for this position. Check the Education section above to see what is allowed and what is required. Any claims you make in your resume or assessment questionnaire regarding education or degrees MUST be supported by submitting with your application official or unofficial transcripts or list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned issued from your school. While unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial application, official transcript(s) will ultimately be required if you are selected for the position. Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be used towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by recognized institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at this website.

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 08/01/2023 (the closing date of this announcement). Note: All applicants (including internal) are required to submit the applicable documents listed above as verification of eligibility. If you fail to provide the information requested, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for these positions.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/01/2023 to receive consideration.

• To begin, click “Apply Online” to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account.
• Follow the prompts to select your rsum and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, the assessment questionnaire, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Please ensure you click the “Submit My Answers” button to submit your application.
• It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. HR will not modify answers/documents submitted by an applicant. If more than one resume is received, only the last resume received and processed will be reviewed.
• Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process so please plan appropriately. You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
• Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

About the Organization

Summary

The Peace Corps shares a unique relationship with the countries and people our community has worked alongside in pursuit of world peace and friendship for more than 60 years bringing together skilled, committed Volunteers with welcoming host communities for service opportunities in more than 60 countries. Volunteers live and work side by side with community members on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives.

Come work alongside motivated and engaged employees who are passionate about the Peace Corps' mission of promoting peace and friendship. The Peace Corps provides professional development opportunities, fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace, and supports work-life balance. Be part of a team that supports volunteers and host communities across the globe.

Top Three Reasons to Work for the Peace Corps:

1. The Peace Corps has a unique global mission, perhaps the best of any federal agency-to promote peace and friendship.
2. Benefits include competitive salaries with annual step increases as opposed to the General Schedule, which has longer waiting periods between step increases.
3. Peace Corps employees earn non-competitive eligibility after three years of service. The Cornell Law School's site offers more information about NCE.

In addition to the above, 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.