Program Specialist (Protocol)

Full Job Description

About the Position: The U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, headquartered in North Chicago, IL, is a jointly staffed command, staffed by representatives of all branches of the Armed Forces.

The command, through its 66 military processing locations (Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS)/Remote Processing Stations (RPS)), determines whether applicants are qualified for enlistment based on standards set by each of the services.

This position will be filled on a permanent basis. DEVELOPMENTAL: Management may select at any of the grade levels announced.

This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management.

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job.

You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected.

See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the experience and/or education 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.

Experience Required for GS-9: To qualify based on your work experience, your resume must clearly describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that ypically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, including: Assisting in planning official or social events for an organization; Performing administrative duties for the office such as preparing written correspondence, utilizing a suspense system to control taskers for office, etc.); Preparing briefings for official visitors to organization including briefing/graphic charts; Preparing detailed itineraries for visitors, to the organization.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).

OR Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify.

For this job, you may qualify if your education meets the definitions below: Education Substitution for Specialized Experience for GS-09: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, from an accredited college or university, in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position such as Public Affairs, Political Science, Communications, International Relations or Affairs, Business Management or Business Administration.

(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Experience and Education Substitution for Specialized Experience for GS-09: If you have some, but not all, of the experience or education described above, you may still qualify by combining the amount of creditable experience and education that you possess.

To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12.

Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.

(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Experience required for GS-11: To qualify based on your work experience, your resume must clearly describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, including: Planning official or social events for a large organization; Delivering briefings to senior leadership and/or official visitors; Managing official complex events including quickly addressing changes/problems that may arise; Preparing official correspondence geared towards high level officials and/or foreign dignitaries.

The definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the Federal service (GS-09).Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify.

For this job, you may qualify if your education meets the definitions below: Education Substitution for Specialized Experience for GS-11: Successful completion of a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as: Public Affairs, Political Science, Communications, International Relations or Affairs; Business Administration or Business Management.

(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Combination of Experience and Education Substitution for Specialized Experience for GS-11: If you have some, but not all, of the experience or education described above, you may still qualify by combining the amount of creditable experience and education that you possess.

To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education in excess of 36 hours (total semester hours minus 36) by 18.

Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.

(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) GS-9 Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07).

GS-11 Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09).

If you are a current Federal employee, you must include your pay plan, series and grade in your work experience(s) on your resume submission and/or upload supporting documentation (within-grade increase SF50) to show that you meet the time-in-grade requirement.

In addition, if your step reflects '00', you must include your current salary for each position. Major Duties:

• As a Program Specialist (Protocol), you will:
• Plan and coordinate protocol support for visiting senior U.S. foreign, military, and civilian dignitaries.
• Plan and organize a wide variety of events for HQ, USMEPCOM and remote stations (MEPS) such as conferences, ceremonies, luncheons, dinners, briefings, and visits
• Research and compile information packages for visitors to include, but not limited to, their positions, unique religious, physical and dietary customs and/or restrictions, linguistic abilities and name pronunciation.
• Execute logistical protocol support requirements including billeting availability, accommodations, VIP rooms, adequacy of facilities, seating arrangements, parking, and contingency plans for inclement weather or other interruptions.
• Develop detailed itineraries considering many factors such as arrival details, size and significance of visitors, backgrounds, and interests.
• Utilize a variety of oral and written methods and techniques to compose invitations, compile various reports, maintain and publish rosters, and prepare briefings.
• Coordinate the formulation, revision, maintenance and execution of the annual protocol budget
• Preparing and presenting briefings to Leadership and official visitors
• These duties are at the full-performance level. If selected at the GS-9 level, you will perform these duties under closer supervision to prepare you for the full performance level.