International Relations Officer (French)

Summary

As an International Relations Officer (French) within the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, you maintain a current understanding of international issues which includes studying and monitoring relevant legislation, and communicating with pertinent international organizations, among other exciting duties.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Maintains current understanding of international issues, initiatives, programs (trade, economic policy, development finance, International Development, livelihood policies, etc.) including the international labor standards relevant to ILAB’s mission.
• This includes studying and monitoring relevant legislation, pertinent international organizations, overseas developments, reports, cables, books, articles, conversations, discussions, etc. pertinent to assigned work.
• Coordinates policy positions and work products across ILAB offices, other DOL agencies, and outside stakeholders to advance ILAB missions regarding research, technical assistance, and policy engagement.
• Provides training and technical guidance on methods, concepts, tools, usage, etc. to internal, external, and international audiences on mission-based activities (e.g., audits, evaluations, research, analysis, assessments, special and studies).
• Represents ILAB in international, interagency, and intra-agency working groups, committees, international meetings, conferences, etc. in the capacity of DOL or ILAB spokesperson to present and clarify DOL/U.S. policy related to the mission.
• Serves as a liaison, in partnership with senior team members, for the agency while coordinating with other U. S.
• Federal and State government officials and with representatives of international agencies to develop strategies and work plans to implement and affect the delivery of the technical assistance cooperation program and negotiates with key stakeholders to arrive at agreements that meet mission goals.
• Develops and prepares in-depth analyses of assigned issues, initiatives, or programs at national, regional, and global levels to provide inputs for reports and other research, as well as for the development of policies and programs.
• Applies a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to assess and improve program effectiveness.
• Coordinates policy directives with others within ILAB, DOL, and other U.S. government agencies.
• Develops and makes recommendations for analyses to be performed under contract with private organizations or independent consultants and oversees the work of private consultants hired to conduct research and analysis.
• Provides extensive research and analyses to contribute to Congressionally mandated and Executive Order reports, engaging with foreign governments or other U.S. government officials, designing technical assistance programs, or related to other strategic interests of ILAB, or as part of the analysis of trends and lessons learned that inform program evaluation, project survey, and project design activities.
• Organizes and conducts research and analyses that directly relate to assigned workload or are in support of ILABs mission-focused workforce.
• Formulates policy or program recommendations that advance the ILAB mission, programming, and other priorities in target countries and on a global level.
• Engages with a range of actors and entities (i.e., ILAB and DOL officials; U.S. or foreign government agencies; international organizations, civil society groups, and/or business representatives) to develop and strengthen strategic relationships and information exchanges.
• Monitors developments in countries of importance to the U.S. and on programs associated with the mission.
• Advises the Director, Deputy Director, Deputy Undersecretary, other DOL professional staff, ambassadors, labor attaches, or others with related responsibility, either orally or in writing, on policy, key developments, and results regarding issues and programs.
• Prepares executives to present policy positions and program results to external groups.
• Executes technical assistance, engagement, remediation strategies, and plans to advance ILAB’s mission within the international community.
• This would include the identification of problems, research and analysis, determining recommendations, designing strategies and plans, and implementing recommended interventions or solutions, etc. Participates in the negotiation of policies and agreements, including by formulating negotiating objectives, positions, strategies and tactics with U.S. government and international partners.
• Participates in the negotiation of policies, strategies, agreements, etc. that impact agency policy positions.
• Uses evaluation findings and recommendations to make appropriate adjustments to plans and ensure achievement of the intended objectives of the agency’s mission.
• Develops and coordinates official positions on assigned countries or programs including developing budget requirements, preparing papers, and briefing materials, and collaborating with other agencies, foreign counterparts, and others to ensure policies or programs respond to DOL and U.S. priorities and interests.
• Drafts and provides written feedback on documents, as assigned, and regularly prepares written communication for and on behalf of senior ILAB and DOL staff.

Education

Any 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 coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your evaluation will be based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated through your resume and supporting documentation. You may preview application questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12974146 USA Hire You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Customer Service Decisiveness Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Problem Solving Resilience The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration.

ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 -year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service).
• These requirements must be met within 30 days of 06/18/2026 the announcement closing date.
• The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): FEDERAL STATUS APPLICANTS: When applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying.
• Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status.
• Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility. *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status.
• For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
• Resumes are required – provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile.
• To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume.
• We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
• Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted.
• If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, ICTAP/CTAP applicants must submit this document – please see ICTAP/CTAP links below for more details.
• The following documents are required (if applicable): Displaced Employee Placement Documents – Only required if requesting priority consideration under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility.
• Click/Review these ICTAP/CTAP links to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.
• DD-214 – verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), and showing the character of discharge (ex.
• Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran’s preference) Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents – Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements): (a) Persons with Severe Disabilities (SCHEDULE A) (b) 30% or More Compensable Disabled Veterans (DAV) (c) Former Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) OR AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers OR Current or Former Peace Corps Employees (PCE) (d) Military Spouses (MISP) (e) Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA) (f) Other Land Management Eligible(s): a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act.
• This service must have been performed in competitive service, under a time-limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328.
• For more information, click here.
• Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) –
• If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph. D., etc.).
• If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.
• You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB.
• NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date.
• Reference the Education Section for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
• Do not upload password-protected documents.
• Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.