International Support Branch Chief

About the role

You will serve as an International Support Branch Chief with Office of the Secretary of Interior. This position is located within the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary (OS), Office of the Assistant Secretary-Insular, International, and Ocean Affairs, Office of International Affairs, International Support Branch located in Reston, VA or Washington, DC.

This vacancy announcement is open to Department of Interior (DOI) employees only.

What you will do

• This Merit Promotion announcement is open only to current Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
• This includes employees who are eligible under CTAP, ICTAP, or any of the hiring paths listed above.
• Individuals who meet a listed hiring authority but are not current DOI employees are not eligible for consideration under this announcement.
• Please refer to the Required Documents section for additional information.
• This vacancy announcement is open to Department of Interior (DOI) employees only.
• Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Acquires and manages the necessary resources, including leadership support, financial resources, and key personnel, to support DOI program goals, and reduce overall organizational risk.
• Plans work to be accomplished and establishes priorities and deadlines for employees based upon workload and abilities.
• Provides advice and counsel to employees, interviews and selects candidates for positions within the bureau/office, makes promotions and reassignments, hears and resolves complaints from employees, initiates disciplinary action if required; and ensures specialized training is provided to enhance individual and collective operational effectiveness of personnel commensurate with their responsibilities.
• Ensures reasonable equity among subordinates concerning performance standards, rating techniques, and assessment of subordinates.
• Initiates and makes recommendations pertaining to employee awards; approves/disapproves leave and hears and promotes acceptance and adherence to the provisions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
• Exercises significant responsibilities engaging with leadership and other departments, divisions, and/or branches within the bureau/office.
• Manages the planning, direction, and execution of all branch operations; and provides administrative and technical oversight to subordinate staff.
• Determines goals and objectives that need additional emphasis; determines the best approach or solution for resolving budget shortages; and plans for long-term staffing needs.
• Leads branch budget formulation and planning, developing annual and multi-year resource requirements aligned with DOI international priorities; prepares narrative justifications for submission to leadership and budget offices.
• Oversees budget execution and financial management, monitoring obligations and expenditures in DOI financial systems (e.g., FBMS); ensures compliance with appropriations law and DOI fiscal policies.
• Prepares executive level reports and briefings on budget status, resource utilization, and administrative operations; provides recommendations to leadership for strategic resource allocation and operational improvements.
• Defines program objectives, resource allocation and optimization, strategic alignment, and performance measurement.
• Develops branch strategies and annual operating plans that align with DOI and divisional priorities; establishes performance metrics, monitors progress and implements corrective actions to achieve mission outcomes.
• Directs risk management and internal controls, identifying operational risks, establishing mitigation strategies, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and audit recommendations.
• Oversees the development, execution, and implementation of international agreements that include foreign assistance to ensure consistency and alignment with Interior's international engagement strategy and administration priorities.
• Maintains a comprehensive database of international agreements such as Memoranda of Understanding, Memoranda of Agreement, Project Annexes, and Letters of Agreement.
• Salary Range Information (Per Annum): $143,913 - $187,093. *Pay will vary based on duty location for which you're selected.
• First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.* This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• To learn more, visit ***
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary OR 2-year trial period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
• This probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.
• In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
• Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• This is a supervisory position that may require completion of a supervisory probationary period. *Additional Requirements located under qualifications*

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

How you will be evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages.

Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Your resume must contain sufficient information in these areas to be found qualified.

Your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required.

All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).

To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Documents you must provide

• Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time).
• Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank.
• Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted.
• The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text.
• All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression.
• Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
• Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements.
• If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level.
• More information on how to write a Federal Resume: *** Complete All Required Assessment(s).
• Performance Appraisals and Awards: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor dated within the past 18 months.
• If unavailable, a written explanation is required (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
• Performance awards dated within the past 5 years may also be submitted for due weight consideration.
• Eligibility Documentation: Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held.
• Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s.
• If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year.
• Do not submit award SF-50s.
• Veterans Preference Documentation: Veterans eligible under VRA (GS-11 & below only), VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program must submit the most recent Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions (e.g. DD-214) as listed on the SF15.
• If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15.
• You may request a copy of the VA letter from ***
• If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
• Special Appointing Authorities: If you are applying under a special appointing authority (i.e. Schedule A, Peace Corps, Military Spouses, etc.), you must submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.
• If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration.
• If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation for that specific authority.
• Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal.
• To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified.
• For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
• Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
• Do not submit photographs with your application package.
• Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.

What to expect next

Please refer to your USAJOBS account for application status; the Human Resources Office cannot respond to individual status inquiries. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position.

After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at *** Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration.

We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

(***) All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions.

Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior. Physical Demands/Work Environment: The work is sedentary. Travel may be required to attend meetings.

The pressure of peak workload periods can impose emotional stress. Occasional international travel to developing countries is required. Such travel can be arduous and dangerous.

Work is performed in an office environment, though occasional domestic and international travel may be required. The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.