Student Trainee (Congressional & Public Affairs)

Summary

This position is part of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The Student Trainee (Congressional and Public Affairs) will be responsible for assisting in the implementation of Congressional Affairs strategy or the implementation of USTDA's digital media, public outreach, and external communications strategies.

This job is open to

• Students
  
  Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.

Clarification from the agency

Open to current students accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree or certificate at an accredited educational institution on at least a half-time basis (as determined by the educational institution) and possess a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent.

Duties

- Assist in the implementation of Congressional Affairs strategy to amplify the Agency's success in meeting its unique mission.

- Participate in meetings with the Public Affairs team and support outreach efforts and strategy to Congress.

- Help develop regular updated content that will be sent to various Congressional offices and Committees.

- Assist in evaluating data to assess the effectiveness of USTDA's communications strategies.

- Contribute to the drafting of fact sheets, success stories, and background papers, including basic research utilizing internal and external sources.

- Support other duties as required by the Office of Congressional Affairs.

- Provide general administrative support, as appropriate.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
• Direct Deposit of pay is required.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

Qualifications

Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the assessment process for this position.

Eligibility Requirements:

In order to be eligible for the Pathways Not-to-Exceed Internship Program, the following qualifications must be met:

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be at least 16 years of age;
• Be a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree or certificate seeking student taking at least a half-time academic, technical, or vocational course load in an accredited technical, vocational, 2 or 4 year college or university, graduate or professional school. The Certificate Program requirement includes post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.
• Possess and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA or equivalent on a 4.0 scale.

*If you are currently enrolled, but in your last semester/quarter of completing your degree/certificate requirements, you must show proof of continued education such as an acceptance letter or you will be disqualified.

At the GS-4 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications:

Two years of education above the high school level (i.e. 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours) or have an AA degree with major study in public engagement, congressional affairs, communications, public policy/affairs, or government relations/affairs.

At the GS-5 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications:

Completion of 4 academic years (120 semester hours) of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree with major study in public engagement, congressional affairs, communications, public policy/affairs, or government relations/affairs.

At the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications:

Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree with major study in public engagement, congressional affairs, communications, public policy/affairs, or government relations/affairs.

Only education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Education

You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

Temporary appointees with appointment of one year or less who work less than 130 hours per month are not eligible to enroll in a Federal Health Benefits plan, are not covered by the Federal Employee Retirement System, and are not eligible for Federal life, supplemental dental or supplemental vision insurance.

Telework Suitability:

The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.

Stipulations of Employment:

Appointees must sign a Participant Agreement that sets forth the expectations for the Pathways Program.

The duration of an excepted service appointment in the Pathways Program is a trial period.

This is a temporary internship to complete project work that is temporary in nature. The appointment is not-to-exceed 1 year or less and can be extended without further competition based on the need of the organization for the work to continue and provided the individual continues to meet the Pathways eligibility requirements.

Must maintain half-time enrollment status and 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Student must meet eligibility requirements throughout the duration of your appointment under the Pathways Internship Program.

This internship has an anticipated start date of January or Spring 2025. All U.S. Citizens who have been accepted for enrollment or are enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis; have at least a cumulative (overall) 3.0 grade point average; and remain in good academic standing. The applicants selected will be offered an excepted appointment not-to-exceed (NTE) 1-Year. This appointment may be extended if intern continues to meet requirements of the Pathways Program.

Work Schedule:

This position will have a part time work schedule. Student trainees will have the option to work a hybrid (in-person and telework) schedule physically based at USTDA headquarters.

Miscellaneous:

USTDA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.

• Benefits
  
  A 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 benefits
  
  Eligibility 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

For Veteran Preference: Eligible and qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager in unranked order by preference status: (1) Preference eligible veterans having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more (CPS and CP); (2) Other preference eligibles (XP); (3) Applicants eligible for 5-point veteran's preference (TP); and those (4) Applicants not eligible for veteran's preference (NV).

For Category Rating: Once the application process is complete, qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The categories for this announcement are defined as: Best-Qualified, Well-Qualified, and Qualified. Your resume and supporting documentation will then be used to determine if you are qualified for this job. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligible within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher.

Only when using category rating: Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Awareness
• Planning and Evaluating
• Problem Solving
• Written Communication

• Benefits
  
  A 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 benefits
  
  Eligibility 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.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
  
  1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
  
  2. Transcript(s): You MUST submit furnish a copy of your college transcript(s). If selected for this position, you will be required to furnish an ORIGINAL transcript prior to being appointed. (For Pathways Internship) Proof of enrollment or acceptance to a degree seeking program must be provided.
  
  *You are required to provide proof of student enrollment such as your current unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc) or an acceptance letter for future enrollment by the closing date of the advertisement or you will be disqualified from further consideration.
  
  3. Other supporting documents:
  
  
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
  
  
  Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
  
  Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
  
  It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
  
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  
  To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
  
  The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration or when the announcement reaches 150 applicants.
  
  • To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
  • You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
  • You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
  • To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • You may preview the Assessment Questionnaire at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12556295
  
  If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Mountain Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you may request an alternate application method from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon EST on the closing date of the announcement.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  Michael Robie
  
  Phone
  
  303-969-7246
  
  Email
  
  Michael_Robie@ibc.doi.gov
  
  Address
  
  US Trade and Development Agency
  
  1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100
  
  Arlington, VA 22209
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

2. Transcript(s): You MUST submit furnish a copy of your college transcript(s). If selected for this position, you will be required to furnish an ORIGINAL transcript prior to being appointed. (For Pathways Internship) Proof of enrollment or acceptance to a degree seeking program must be provided.

*You are required to provide proof of student enrollment such as your current unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc) or an acceptance letter for future enrollment by the closing date of the advertisement or you will be disqualified from further consideration.

3. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted by the closing date of the announcement.


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration or when the announcement reaches 150 applicants.

• To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
• You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
• You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
• To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• You may preview the Assessment Questionnaire at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12556295

If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Mountain Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you may request an alternate application method from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon EST on the closing date of the announcement.

Agency contact information

Michael Robie

Phone

303-969-7246

Email

Michael_Robie@ibc.doi.gov

Address

US Trade and Development Agency

1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100

Arlington, VA 22209

US

Next steps

For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request