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The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Foreign Service Medical Provider (MP) (Family Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) positions. A Recruitment Incentive of 10 percent of annual salary is available. Learn more about Foreign Service medical careers at https://careers.state.gov/med.
Joining the Foreign Service is more than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information.
Learn more about this agency01/31/2024 to 02/20/2024
$111,084 - $158,097 per year
FP 03
No
No
Occasional travel - Foreign Service Specialists generally spend the majority of their careers assigned to our overseas missions and may at times, live away from family and/or in hardship conditions.
Yes—After completing orientation and initial training in Washington, D.C., an MP usually is assigned to two overseas tours, each two years in length, directed by the Department. After the initial two tours, assignments will be for periods of one to three years overseas or in the United States.
Permanent - Permanent after tenure granted by a Foreign Service Specialist (FSS) Tenure Board.
Full-time
Excepted
MC
Yes
Yes
MP-2024-0002
773077800
Must be a U.S. citizen. Potential applicants should read the entire announcement to ensure they meet all requirements and understand a Foreign Service career. Applicants may not reapply for one year after their previous application for the same position. If a State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years, you may not apply (except Diplomatic Security Special Agent (SA) candidates whose denial was based solely on the unique requirements for SAs).
The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) maintains and promotes the health of employees and their eligible family members who represent U.S. government agencies abroad. The Department assigns Medical Providers (MPs) to posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards.
A Medical Provider works either independently or as a member of a team of Medical Specialists to provide medical support. A Medical Provider is considered “essential personnel” and is expected to be available on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MPs duties may include, but are not limited to:
Providing Primary Health Care Services
Managing Occupational Health and Preventive Medicine Programs
Administering Health Unit Functions
Coordinating Emergency Medical Response
Embassy or State Department Specific Responsibilities
Essential Physical Requirements
Basic physical ability requirements are vision, hearing, speaking, mental endurance, dexterity, and mobility. In addition, MPs may need to perform other physical essential functions effectively with or without reasonable accommodation, in environments that pose physical or other occupational challenges. These duties may include:
Licensure and Certification
Applicants must be currently licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Physician Assistant (PA) in a state, a territory of the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia and must have current national certification as a FNP or the PA-equivalent from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Applications will not be accepted from Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants who are not currently licensed and certified. Licenses and national board certification and re-certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant must be maintained during employment with the Department’s Bureau of Medical Services. Once hired, applicants will be required to obtain and maintain a District of Columbia license.
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
MPs receive at least 25 hours of Category 1 CME credit through an annual State Department-sponsored Continuing Medical Education conference.
Specialized Experience
Applicants must have a minimum of five (5) years of full-time clinical experience within the past seven (7) years, post NP or PA family practice certification. Full time is defined as a minimum of 40 hours/week with at least 75% of the time involved in direct primary care or 30 hours/week with 100% of time involved in direct primary care. Otherwise qualified clinicians who have practiced primarily emergency medicine, hospital based practice or other non-ambulatory settings must demonstrate thorough understanding of primary care practice fundamentals as defined in the next paragraph.
"Primary care” encompasses adult and pediatric diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and management of chronic diseases, routine gynecologic care, prenatal care, adult health maintenance and preventive health care, well child care and immunization management. It embraces the total family unit across the lifespan, including emotional and physical aspects that impact overall well-being. The Medical Provider utilizes and coordinates sub-specialty professional consultations when needed.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)
The Department has conducted extensive job analysis research to determine KSAs and other attributes conducive to successful performance as an MP. An applicant’s education level, work experience, and other qualifications will be considered as part of the hiring decision-making process based on these KSA criteria.
Applicants must have demonstrated a high degree of clinical and management expertise. The patient population covered is unique because of background and lifestyle as part of a diplomatic community overseas. This population also differs in terms of clinical and administrative needs and the national security concerns inherent in their employment. Previous experience working in similar occupational settings and/or in an overseas setting is advantageous.
The candidate must demonstrate the ability to manage administrative aspects of a HU as well as the ability to cope with extraordinary medical crises, often in remote and isolated settings. Education and experience must demonstrate that the applicant can function as a public/community health provider.
The applicant must be a skilled and experienced primary health care practitioner with excellent interpersonal skills. The applicant must be able to function well within a complex organization and have experience working in a high stress environment, and recognize and understand the problems of delivering healthcare to Americans posted in locations where local medical resources are limited or non-existent. The ability to logically and objectively analyze patient problems, and apply sound clinical judgment is required. Experience in providing long distance triage and care via electronic communications such as telephone, telemedicine, radio, and e-mail is preferred.
Applicants must have the capacity to gain the cooperation and confidence of patients, co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates. Individuals must have experience working in a multidisciplinary practice as well as experience in team building, leadership and management. Effective written and oral communication skills are essential, as well as the ability to present medical findings in a clear and concise manner to medical and non-medical personnel. Demonstrated ability to teach or lecture to groups on medical issues is preferred.
Applicants must be able to develop, coordinate, and administer healthcare delivery programs. These include but are not limited to individual and community health promotion and disease prevention programs to include teaching health topics to both small and large groups.
Applicants must be able to organize and supervise a diverse group of health care providers with varying degrees of expertise, education, and command of English. Applicants must understand the unique cultural differences related to healthcare delivery in varied countries and address these differences in a positive manner. Applicants must be able to assess, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases.
Applicants must possess a high degree of integrity, decisiveness and fairness in order to equitably apply the regulations and policies of the medical program to all eligible persons.
Knowledge and hands-on familiarity with computer systems are preferred.
Specific medical knowledge areas required by the job include: family practice, pediatrics, women’s health issues, obstetrics, infectious disease, orthopedics, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, urology, laboratory/radiology/other diagnostic testing, pharmacology, general surgery, mental health conditions, alcoholism and drug abuse, nutrition, emergency medical techniques, immunizations, health-related environmental factors, food and water safety, occupational safety and health, and quality assurance procedures.
Specific medical skills required by the job include: family practice, clinical interviewing, physical assessment, performing medical clearance examinations, performing medical procedures, operating medical equipment, planning of evaluation and treatment, triage, data interpretation, and research techniques. Applicants must provide comprehensive health assessments and medical care to individuals and families across the lifespan.
Management skills required by the job include: supervision, leadership, teaching others, managing personnel and financial resources, contingency planning and crisis management, organizing and managing events/programs/projects, time management, collaborating, working with limited resources, acclimating to different cultures, and computer use.
Personal skills required by the job include: reading comprehension, active listening, oral and written communication, public speaking, active learning, complex problem identification, critical thinking, judgment and decision making, math, social perceptiveness, interpersonal skills, persuasion, service orientation, monitoring, coordination, and process operation and control.
Other attributes required by the job include: compassionate, resilient, self-confident, firm convictions, independent but integrated with the department, interest in continuous learning and change, interest in foreign service work, tolerance of on-call and emergency demands, tolerance of travel, worldwide available, and tolerance of living away from family.
Superior oral and written communication skills: Applicants must demonstrate a strong command of the English language to include grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Foreign Service Specialists must consistently meet a high standard for English, both written (overall structure as well as grammar, spelling, and punctuation), and spoken (overall structure as well as delivery, clarity, and succinctness).
At the time of application, applicants must possess:
You must submit a copy of your university transcript(s) with your application. If you do not submit this documentation to demonstrate your educational achievements, your candidacy will not continue. Please review below the full list of required documents.
Unofficial or official transcripts are acceptable. Your transcript must include your name, the school’s name, the degree and date awarded, and have nomissing pages. A transcript missing any of these elements will not pass the minimum qualifications and the candidacy will not continue. Copies of diplomas may not be submitted in lieu of transcripts for education above high school level. Documents sent via link will not be accepted.
Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited at the time of program completion by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation.
Education completed in foreign high schools, colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Only accredited organizations recognized as specializing in the interpretation of foreign education credentials that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) are accepted. If documentation from an accredited organization is not provided, your candidacy will not continue.
NACES: https://www.naces.org/index
AICE: https://aice-eval.org/
For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, please refer to the Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of State neither endorses nor recommends any individual evaluation service.
OPM: www.opm.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
*EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee’s information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated.
**The Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov/
***For more information about Veteran’s Preference and how it is applied in the selection process, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/about/diversity-inclusion/veterans-program-office/.
No applicant will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under sections §607, §608, §610 or §611 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions. In addition, no applicant will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section §306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof.
A Foreign Service Specialist separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section 306 may not re-apply to be a Foreign Service Specialist in the same skill code but may apply for another skill code or to be a Foreign Service Generalist.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors.
The Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or hiring process should so advise the Department at OAA@state.gov, within one week of receiving their invitation to the specialist assessment. Decisions for granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
Medical Credential Verification and Indemnification
Applicants are subject to a credential verification process conducted by the Quality Management Staff Unit of the Bureau of Medical Services. This process includes query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and independent verification of state licenses and national certifications. Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act, so long as they are acting within their scope of work.
Active Bureau of Medical Services clinical privileges, specific to the position, are a condition of employment for all Foreign Service Medical Specialists
Required Documents:
Please ensure all required documents are uploaded and the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement. Missing required documents or incomplete applications will result in your application not being considered further.
Accomplishments Questionnaire
The required questions provide an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from your education, work, and/or life experience that demonstrate your qualifications. Responses are limited to 300 words (2,000 characters) for each item. You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Foreign Service Specialist is the ability to write clearly and concisely. These items must be completed in the online application, not as attachments.
Clinical Experience:
Statement of Interest
Required narrative Statement of Interest which discusses your:
Submit your application early, not waiting for the deadline, as application packages must be complete, submitted, and received by the closing date to be considered. There are no exceptions.
1. From this Vacancy Announcement, click on “Apply.” Go to the USAJobs Log In screen and log in to your USAJobs account or follow the link and instructions to create an account.
2. Follow the USAJobs Application Process and provide your required USAJobs federal online resume.
3. USAJobs will transfer you to the State Department agency online application site, Monster Government Service (MGS). Follow the instructions to answer the online questions. Your Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest responses must be completed in the online application. You may save your work and can return to the application from USAJobs at any time prior to the deadline.
4. Submit required documentation using one of the three methods the application system allows: Transfer documents from a USAJOBS portfolio; upload documents from your computer; or resubmit documents from a previous application. PDF documents are strongly recommended; illegible documents will not be accepted. Documents sent via link will not be accepted.
Proof of certification for Physician Assistants should be obtained from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants' (NCCPA) website via the "verification of current certification status" option. The verification document can be emailed to your personal email address and then uploaded as a PDF attachment.
5. After attaching all required supporting documentation, answering all required application questions, and completing the application steps, review the entire application packet, including the links for submitted documents.
6. Confirm and submit your application package, which will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required documents are submitted and the application is complete before the closing deadline. Any illegible or missing required documents or incomplete applications will result in your application not being considered further. There are no exceptions. PDF documents are strongly recommended. Documents sent via link will not be accepted. Illegible documents will not be accepted and are grounds for application termination.
Submit your application early and verify that your documents are attached. You may make changes as often as needed, up until the closing date of the announcement.
If you are having technical difficulty with the application process, please contact the Monster Help Desk by calling 1-866-656-6830 or by emailing mgshelp@monster.com. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
For more information on the Foreign Service Specialist selection process, please visit http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/specialist/selection-process.
After the close of the announcement, the application status in USAJobs will say "Reviewing Applications." This status on USAJobs will not be updated further. You can click on "Track this application" for more information. Applicants will be notified by e-mail from the U.S. Department of State about the outcome of the initial application review and if they will be further considered for this Foreign Service position. We recommend adding the Department of State domain (@state.gov) as an approved sender.
Due to the high volume of applications, we ask all applicants to remain patient and await communication. It is not uncommon for several months to pass before you are informed of the results of your applications.
The Department will invite candidates who pass the qualifications review process to participate in the Virtual Foreign Service Specialist Assessment (VFSSA). For more information, please visit our FAQs at http://careers.state.gov/faqs.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/773077800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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