Overview
The United States is supporting the Iraqi people as they build new essential services, their economy, and government and political institutions. The President has called upon all Federal departments and agencies to participate in rebuilding Iraq through non-reimbursable details of Federal employees to the Department of State's Iraq Transition Assistance Office (ITAO)
These details offer concentrated career developmental experiences for employees, especially in the areas of communications, consensus building, and the governance processes. Professional, technical, and personal skills will be challenged and will expand into areas that you may have never considered for your professional development. Federal employees detailed to ITAO will have a unique experience and opportunity to serve our country and make a difference in the world.
If you are interested in this unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, send an email to Details-to-IRMO@state.gov and include "Inter-Agency Detail" in the subject line and the "ITAO-200X-XXXX" vacancy announcement number, if available. Please attach a resume (in MS Word), if possible.
- Where is the ITAO duty location?
- What is a detail?
- Does "non-reimbursable" mean that I have to pay for some part of the detail assignment?
- How long do details usually last?
- Will I become a temporary or permanent Department of State employee?
- Will my job title and grade change?
- What kind of security clearance do I need to have?
- Will my benefits change?
- How much will I be paid?
- Will I work a regular 40-hour per week schedule?
- Are there any limits to the amount of pay that I can earn?
- Since I will be on temporary duty travel, will I receive per diem?
- If I am scheduled to be in Baghdad for a long period, will I be able to take annual leave or come home to visit my family during the detail?
- What guarantees do I have that these conditions will be met by Department of State and by my home agency?
- Will I be able to carry a weapon while in Iraq?
- How do I find out what jobs are available and how do I apply for a detail?
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Where is the ITAO duty location?
Most ITAO positions are located in Baghdad, Iraq with some located in the outlying provinces.
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What is a detail?
A detail is a temporary assignment to a different position that is officially approved, but that does not change your official title, series, grade, rate of compensation, or permanent employer.
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Does "non-reimbursable" mean that I have to pay for some part of the detail assignment?
You will not have to pay for any part of the detail assignment. Your permanent agency will continue to pay your salary and benefits as well as certain other costs of deployment to Iraq. "Non-reimbursable" means that your agency will not receive any additional funds from, or be reimbursed by, the Department of State or any other agency to pay for salary, benefits or other costs.
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How long do details usually last?
Most details last for one year. However, some details are to complete specific tasks, such as developing a new computer application. These assignments may be shorter than one year.
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Will I become a temporary or permanent Department of State employee?
You will remain a permanent employee of your current Federal agency.
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Will my job title and grade change?
You will have a new organizational title that describes your position in ITAO, but your official title, series, and grade will not change.
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What kind of security clearance do I need to have?
Most positions require a Secret clearance. If you do not already have one, a background investigation will need to be completed before you may begin work on detail to ITAO.
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Will my benefits change?
Your benefits will remain the same. You will probably want to review all of your benefits and designations of beneficiaries to ensure that elections and designations are in order.
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How much will I be paid?
You will continue to be paid at your current salary rate. This includes base compensation and locality pay for your permanent duty station, if any. Locality pay is determined by the geographic location of your permanent job in your home agency.
In addition, you will receive 35% foreign post-differential pay and 35% danger pay in addition to your base compensation.
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Will I work a regular 40-hour per week schedule?
Significant overtime can be expected and will be paid in accordance with provisions of Title 5 and your home agency's pay policies.
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Are there any limits to the amount of pay that I can earn?
Your pay will still be subject to the annual limitations that apply to all Federal employees.- The annual premium pay limitation is the greater of the annual rate of GS-15 Step 10 for your locality, including any special rate supplement, or of Executive Level V.
- The annual aggregate pay limitation, that is, all compensation of any type including, but not limited to, base pay, locality pay, special rate pay, premium pay, awards, and bonuses is Executive Level I.
- Your pay will not be subject to the bi-weekly pay cap for each pay period since ITAO has obtained a waiver of that limit for all positions located in Baghdad.
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Since I will be on temporary duty travel, will I receive per diem?
While on extended temporary duty in Iraq, detailed employees will be provided quarters and meals at no cost. Therefore, employees will receive limited per diem for incidentals ($2 per day).
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If I am scheduled to be in Baghdad for a long period, will I be able to take annual leave or come home to visit my family during the detail?
Employees detailed to Iraq for six months or more, may be entitled to home visits, one per six months, paid for by your home agency, using annual leave and/or up to 40 hours of administrative leave per trip.
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What guarantees do I have that these conditions will be met by Department of State and by my home agency?
ITAO will request approval of details from home agencies and will execute a Memorandum of Agreement with each home agency that outlines the terms of the non-reimbursable detail.
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Will I be able to carry a weapon while in Iraq?
You may not transport a weapon to Iraq, keep a weapon in your possession, or carry a weapon while in Iraq.
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How do I find out what jobs are available and how do I apply for a detail?
All ITAO vacancy announcements are listed at on the Department of State Careers Representing America website.
To see a list of current open vacancies, go to USAJobs, and click on the Iraq Job Opportunities icon.
If you are interested in being detailed to a specific position, you do not have to submit an application through the automated resume system, Monster Hiring Management. Simply send an email to Details-to-IRMO@state.gov and include "Inter-Agency Detail" in the subject line as well as the vacancy announcement number of the job for which you would like to be considered. Please attach a resume.
If there is not a job that is currently being advertised that meets your interests, you may still submit an electronic resume to Details-to-IRMO@state.gov and include "Inter-Agency Detail" in the subject line. Your application will be reviewed periodically to determine if your skills set matches vacant ITAO needs. However, there is no guarantee that you will be considered for every position for which you are qualified unless you send an email and specifically mention the vacancy announcement of a job that has been advertised.
Below is a description of the skills that ITAO generally needs.
Needed Skills Set
The following is a list of skills for which ITAO is recruiting.- Knowledge of contracting practices, methods, and procedures.
- Knowledge of budgeting, and financial management.
- Skill in using database management systems. Ability to analyze data and develop conclusions and reports. Experience with Microsoft productivity applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Knowledge of logistics and supply chain concepts, principles, methods, and automated systems.
- Knowledge of government, ethics, and policy, gained as a member of a US bar with experience in the field of ethics and good government.
- Technical knowledge of an essential services sector, such as oil, power, electricity, telecommunications, transportation, water, sewer and sanitation, and the distribution of subsidized food, medicine and consumer goods. Knowledge of management concepts and practices, especially related to engineering and design projects. Expert knowledge of analytical and evaluation methods in order to conduct large scale studies.
- Knowledge of program planning, requirements, management, operations, and problems in an essential services sector, such as oil, power, electricity, telecommunications, transportation, water, sewer and sanitation, and the distribution of subsidized food, medicine and consumer goods. Knowledge of related finance, management, and planning in developing countries. Knowledge of governance concepts and structures, and experience working with governments.
- Knowledge of counter-terrorism/special operations (CT/SO) programs, objectives and policies. Ability to develop a CT/SO unit and build a CT/SO training facility.
- Knowledge of a wide-variety of national security affairs including structures, policies, and issues regarding police, border and internal security, and facility protection. Skill in institution building that creates stable, accountable, professional and effective internal security institutions. Knowledge of analysis methodologies and processes.
- Knowledge of critical communications networks and telecommunications, especially First Responder Networks.
- Knowledge of firefighting and emergency response infrastructure. Ability to manage large contracts in these areas.
- Knowledge and ability to manage complex scientific programs engaged in technology transfer.
