International Relations Officer (Mandarin)

Position description

As an International Relations Officer (Mandarin) 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 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.

Qualifications

Conditions of employment

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• Applicant must be able to speak, read. and write in Mandarin.

Qualifications

This position has a language proficiency requirement, applicants MUST be able to speak, read, and write in Mandarin in order to be considered.
You must meet the language requirement above, AND the Basic Requirements listed below, AND the Specialized Experience to qualify for International Relations Officer (Mandarin), as described below.

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. This position has a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the Specialized Experience/Education Substitution Statement(s):

• Degree:

  major or equivalent, or a combination of courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; or 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics/quantitative methods.

or

• Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in one or more of the social sciences, or in the humanities, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

or

• Experience: four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.

In addition to the basic requirements of this position, applicants must also possess 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service or private sector.

For GS-09: Applicant must have 52 weeks of experience equivalent to at least a GS-7 in the Federal Service or private sector.

• Conducting research and writing reports for public consumption on international policy issues; OR
• Preparing talking points, memos, letters, and background materials for senior officials on international policy issues.

OR

• 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree (related to the position to be filled.);

OR

• Combination of education and experience.

For GS-11: Applicant must have 52 weeks of experience equivalent to at least a GS-9 in the Federal Service or private sector.

• Conducting research and writing reports for public consumption on international policy issues; AND
• Preparing talking points, memos, letters, and background materials for senior officials on international policy issues.

OR

• 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (related to the position to be filled);

OR

• Combination of education and experience.

For GS-12: Applicant must have 52 weeks of experience equivalent to at least a GS-11 in the Federal Service or private sector.

• Conducting research and writing reports for public consumption on international policy issues; AND
• Preparing talking points, memos, letters, and background materials for senior officials on international policy issues; AND
• Negotiating international policy issues with senior officials.

For GS-13: Applicant must have 52 weeks of experience equivalent to at least a GS-12 in the Federal Service or private sector.

• Researching or reporting on business and human rights issues, AND
• Investigating forced labor or child labor in supply chains, AND
• Evaluating social compliance systems or tracing of supply chains.

Application instructions

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