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The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Protective Medical Specialists (MSPLNA) limited non-career positions based on the needs of the Department.
Learn more about the Department of State and career opportunities at https://careers.state.gov.
This is a 6134 Foreign Service position, equivalent to the 0089 Emergency Management Specialist Civil Service position within the Directorate of Operational Medicine.
Learn more about this agency02/14/2024 to 03/05/2024
$98,697 - $144,940 per year
FP 03
No
No
Occasional travel - LNAs serve in the country specified and may be assigned to or perform Temporary Duty Travel overseas and at times, live away from family and/or in difficult or isolated conditions.
Yes—This is a Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA), which is restricted by statute to a maximum of five years. This Limited Non-Career Appointment is initially for 18 months and may be extended periodically up to a maximum of five years based on satisfactory performance and the needs of the Service. A MSPLNA is assigned to a specific U.S. embassy or consulate with the expectation that the MSPLNA’s appointment will permit completion of a 12-month tour of duty.
Temporary - Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA), which is restricted by statute to a maximum of five years.
Full-time
Excepted
03
No
Yes
MSPLNA-2024-0001
776160200
Must be a U.S. citizen. Applicants should read the entire announcement to ensure they meet all requirements and understand a Foreign Service Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA). 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 denials for Diplomatic Security Special Agent (SA) candidates based solely on the SA requirements.)
The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) maintains and promotes the health of employees and their eligible family members (EFM) who represent U.S. government (USG) agencies abroad. The Department assigns Foreign Service Medical Specialists, Medical Providers (MP), Regional Medical Officers (RMO), Regional Medical Officer Psychiatrists (RMOP), Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists (RMLS), Limited Non-Career Appointment Social Workers (SWLNA), Limited Non-Career Appointment Register Nurses (RNLNA) and Limited Non-Career Appointment Medical Specialists (Protective) (MSPLNA) to select posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical facilities are often inadequate to cope with them. This position is for a Protective Medical Specialist (MSPLNA). A Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) does not lead to onward employment in the State Department or conversion to another form of employment.
The incumbent serves as the Medical Specialist (Protective) at assigned U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. The position reports to the post Regional Security Officer and receives clinical supervision from the Managing Director of Operational Medicine and the Foreign Service Medical Provider or the Regional Medical Officer. The position is an integral part of medical, security, and protective details, and is responsible for providing detailed patient assessment and advanced life support assistance to Chief of Mission personnel. Incumbents are armed in accordance with host nation laws and the Mission Firearms Policy and will be required to carry and use a firearm in the performance of their duty.
This position will select and implement an appropriate medical treatment protocol, often requiring independent synthesis of a complex treatment plan from multiple treatment options, to optimize and sustain a critically ill patient from the point of injury through the medical evacuation process and determines treatment methods. This position coordinates with other medical professionals to determine treatment methods and solutions.
The essential MSPLNA functions of providing emergency care include the following responsibilities:
MSPLNAs are considered 'essential personnel' and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The position selects and implements an appropriate medical treatment protocol, often requiring independent synthesis of a complex treatment plan from multiple treatment options, to optimize and sustain a critically ill patient from the point of injury through the medical evacuation process. The position coordinates with other medical professionals to determine treatment methods and solutions.
MSPLNAs must collaborate with other medical professionals to develop detailed medical support plans for the assigned post that accounts for available local resources and incorporates contingency planning for medical support in isolation or in conjunction with interagency and international partners.
MSPLNAs work with the medical personnel at post to conduct mock emergency response simulations, coordinate medical evacuations, and maintains post emergency medical equipment. The position provides professional advice to the leadership of the Directorate of Operational Medicine (MED/DMD/OM) regarding the medical preparedness of post personnel and mass casualty teams.
MSPLNAs provide medical support as part of a protective detail under the operational control of the Regional Security Officer. As such, the incumbent is required to complete high threat tactical training and must maintain weapons qualifications to maintain their position.
The position will carry a weapon while deployed in accordance with the Mission Firearm Policy approved by the Chief of Mission. While deployed, the incumbent is expected to exercise independent judgment in assessing, diagnosing, and treating USG personnel according to previously established treatment protocols provided by the Managing Director MED/DMD/OM.
Position requires a Top Secret clearance with access to Secure Compartmented Information.
At the time of application, an applicant must have:
Applicants must be skilled and experienced NREMT-Paramedics, with excellent interpersonal skills. Applicants must be able to function well within a complex organization and have experience working in a high stress environment.
All Medical Specialists working with the Bureau of Medical Services must be willing to provide primary care services and counseling to all patients regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, disease, disability, or religion.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Serving in support of the employees of the United States Government and their eligible family members, a MSPLNA will work in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel. Education, work experience and other qualifications are evaluated for evidence of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and other requirements that have been identified as important to successful job performance as a Limited Non-Career Protective Medical Specialist (MSPLNA).
The MSPLNA duties include but are not limited to the following:
Level IV English ability (fluent) is required. Successful applicants must also 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).
Other requirements include worldwide availability, tolerance of intensive world travel, living away from family, and working and living in difficult and/or isolated conditions.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
Travel to overseas locations that are austere, including medically, at extremes of temperature and altitude, under conditions of political instability, with limited or no host nation resources. The ability to lift and carry approximately 70 pounds and potentially more for significant distances, and withstand extremely long periods of sitting and standing, as well as frequent stooping, climbing, crawling, and sitting within confined spaces. Much of the work is performed under severe time constraints with externally generated stressors.
Pre-deployment training will include field exercises which may require 40lbs or more of equipment, running, jumping, crawling, and transporting patients. When operationally deployed OCONUS, incumbent may work days in excess of 12 hours for as many as six days per week in a hot, dusty environment where the threat of terrorist attack is ever-present. The high-threat environment limits activities during off-duty hours.
At the time of application, an applicant must have:
You must submit a copy of your certification with your application. If you do not submit this documentation, your candidacy will not continue.
You must submit a copy of your high school diploma or equivalency certificate, or your university transcript(s). 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.
Official or unofficial transcripts may be submitted with your application. Your transcript must include your name, the school’s name, the degree, and date awarded. A transcript missing any of these elements or any pages will not meet 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 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 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 qualified candidates with disabilities. Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodations in advance. For more information visit https://careers.state.gov/faq-items/what-is-the-assessment-centers-policy-on-reasonable-accommodations-for-persons-with-disabilities-or-those-who-have-medical-conditions-or-other-needs-such-as-the-use-of-medical-devices-or-acc/
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.
Selected applicants will be interviewed via telephone.
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
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required documents are uploaded and the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement. Any missing required documents or incomplete applications will result in your application not being considered further.
Accomplishments Questionnaire
These required questions provide an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from your education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate your qualifications for becoming a Medical Specialist (Protective). Examples can be drawn from any part of your professional or personal experience. Each response is limited to 300 words or fewer (maximum length 2,000 characters) for each item. You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Medical Specialist (Protective) is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Answers to all of the items in the Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest are required and must be completed in the online application.
1. Clinical skills: Describe your clinical experience and self-assess your abilities to care for and stabilize multiple trauma patients prior to medical evacuation. Your response should include examples of providing prolonged field care as well as the administrative steps of managing a complex medical evacuation.
2. Clinical skills: Describe a specific, complex clinical case which demonstrates your skills in organizing patient problems and solutions.
3. Organizational Skills: Describe a specific achievement demonstrating your planning and organizational skills when it comes to medical planning.
4. Crisis management skills: Describe a situation where your medical skills were put to the test during a crisis response. Looking back on this event, what did you learn? What have you done to address any shortcomings you discovered and what positive things were found?
5. Leadership and teamwork skills: Discuss your abilities to participate as a team member working toward a common goal, as well as examples of your ability to lead a team in the accomplishment of a goal.
6. Teaching skills: Describe your ability to teach medical skills to non-medical people and how you would relate a complex subject in a way they could comprehend?
7. Interpersonal Skills: While deployed, the incumbent is operationally controlled by the security team lead, who could be junior in age, experience, and grade to your position. From time to time there will be conflict. Describe your conflict resolution skills. How would you influence someone to see your side of the story or be able to reach a happy medium where both parties are satisfied? How did you resolve past experiences?
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.
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 missing required documents or incomplete applications will result in your application not being considered further. There are no exceptions.
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.
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 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/776160200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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