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Peace Corps

Training Specialist (Language Testing and Training), FP-1712-3

Announcement Number:	DPC11-A0206-KC	Application Deadline:	01/31/2012
Locations:	Washington, Dist of Columbia	Open Date:	12/21/2011
Salary Range:	Min: 81256.0 - Max: 119327.0	Location Notes:
Pay Schedule:	Annual	Who May Apply:	US Citizens
Time Limit:	Term	Promotion Potential:	3
Number of Vacancies:	1	Work Schedule:	Full Time

Agency Marketing Statement:

Notes:

PRIOR INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY OR RELATED WORK: Individuals who have been engaged in certain intelligence activity or related work or who have been employed by or connected with an intelligence agency are ineligible for employment with Peace Corps. Acceptance of employment with Peace Corps precludes employment by certain intelligence organizations for a specific period of time, determined by the employing agency, after Peace Corps employment ceases. APPLICANTS WITH CIA CONNECTIONS. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED.
Ten Reasons to Work for Peace Corps! -- (1) Voted in the top 4 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government for small agencies in 2011, (2) the Peace Corps has a unique global mission. (3) Benefits include higher salary caps than the Federal standard with (4) quicker step increases. (5) Peace Corps employees earn non-competitive eligibility after 3 years of service and (6) have the chance to be selected for an annual Leadership Development Academy. (7) The working environment is highly flexible with alternative schedules, credit hours, tele-working. (8) There's a Distinguished Speaker Series, and (9) work-life programs including Metro and bicycle subsidies. (10) Peace Corps has a vibrant Community atmosphere; established through President Kennedy's call to service; the Peace Corps asks applicants what you can do for your country . . . and the world.
Ten Reasons to Work for Peace Corps! -- (1) Voted in the top 4 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government for small agencies in 2011, (2) the Peace Corps has a unique global mission. (3) Benefits include higher salary caps than the Federal standard with (4) quicker step increases. (5) Peace Corps employees earn non-competitive eligibility after 3 years of service and (6) have the chance to be selected for an annual Leadership Development Academy. (7) The working environment is highly flexible with alternative schedules, credit hours, tele-working. (8) There's a Distinguished Speaker Series, and (9) work-life programs including Metro and bicycle subsidies. (10) Peace Corps has a vibrant Community atmosphere; established through President Kennedy's call to service; the Peace Corps asks applicants what you can do for your country . . . and the world.

Duties:

This position is located in the Training Unit within the Office for Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS). The position reports to the Washington DC headquarters of the Peace Corps. The purpose of OPATS is to build capacity of field staff through training that will help staff better support Volunteers. Training is designed and delivered to improve post staff performance and competence. The Peace Corps language program focuses on providing guidelines, concepts and techniques for conducting training, integrating language and cross-cultural training and managing a training and certification program for measuring individual proficiency and the overall effectiveness of language training at Posts. The incumbent will: oversee the agency's language proficiency testing program using the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale; oversee the collection and evaluation of language testing results; and support other language training initiatives. The incumbent will report to the Supervisor of the Training Unit. Note: Position requires 25% overseas travel.
This position is located in the Training Unit within the Office for Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS). The position reports to the Washington DC headquarters of the Peace Corps. The purpose of OPATS is to build capacity of field staff through training that will help staff better support Volunteers. Training is designed and delivered to improve post staff performance and competence. The Peace Corps language program focuses on providing guidelines, concepts and techniques for conducting training, integrating language and cross-cultural training and managing a training and certification program for measuring individual proficiency and the overall effectiveness of language training at Posts. The incumbent will: oversee the agency's language proficiency testing program using the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale; oversee the collection and evaluation of language testing results; and support other language training initiatives. The incumbent will report to the Supervisor of the Training Unit. Note: Position requires 25% overseas travel.
Plans, evaluates, delivers, and oversees the delivery of the agency's language proficiency testing program for Volunteers who learn a language as part of their assignment. Develops policy in coordination with OPATS and the Inter-America/Pacific, Africa, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean and Asia regions and provides technical guidance on language testing and its relationship to language training and the Peace Corps mission.

Serves as authoritative consultant and troubleshooter in the planning, development, and evaluation of experimental programs, resulting in new or modified educational or vocational testing or evaluation techniques and initiatives. Oversees and coordinates all aspects of tester training workshops worldwide by cooperating with the regions and posts to schedule, implement and evaluate tester training. Monitors reliability of testing at posts by overseeing in-country self-checks, and examining test interview samples, tester certification and renewal of certification. Researches and implements innovative technological initiatives relevant to language testing appropriate for Peace Corps posts and relevant to Peace Corps' mission. Maintains a pool of qualified tester training contractors to conduct tester training in the field. Conducts periodic review of tester training as it occurs in the field.

Regularly reviews and revises tester training materials, including paper manuals and tape recorded materials to ensure that materials are appropriate, culturally sensitive and reflective of Peace Corps' initiatives in language testing and tester training.

Monitors and establishes guidelines and policy for measuring achievement of instructional objectives for major training initiatives.
Serves as the primary source for coordinating, monitoring and reporting language testing of Volunteers worldwide.
Monitors the effectiveness of language training evaluators by listening to taped interviews.
Monitors the effectiveness of language training programs by collecting and analyzing the scores received by Volunteers on their language proficiency tests.
Participates in the evaluation of PCV training by promoting continuous assessment of language training activities in order to determine those training models which are most effective in achieving programmatic goals.

Serves as technical expert in broad, complex subject areas. Conducts training-of-trainers workshops and other training activities to improve field staff abilities in designing and implementing language testing and training activities.

Reviews and analyzes language training designs and materials in response to field requests for assistance. Provides feedback to posts along with recommendations for training improvements.
Plans, evaluates, delivers, and oversees the delivery of the agency's language proficiency testing program for Volunteers who learn a language as part of their assignment. Develops policy in coordination with OPATS and the Inter-America/Pacific, Africa, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean and Asia regions and provides technical guidance on language testing and its relationship to language training and the Peace Corps mission. Serves as authoritative consultant and troubleshooter in the planning, development, and evaluation of experimental programs, resulting in new or modified educational or vocational testing or evaluation techniques and initiatives. Oversees and coordinates all aspects of tester training workshops worldwide by cooperating with the regions and posts to schedule, implement and evaluate tester training. Monitors reliability of testing at posts by overseeing in-country self-checks, and examining test interview samples, tester certification and renewal of certification. Researches and implements innovative technological initiatives relevant to language testing appropriate for Peace Corps posts and relevant to Peace Corps' mission. Maintains a pool of qualified tester training contractors to conduct tester training in the field. Conducts periodic review of tester training as it occurs in the field. Regularly reviews and revises tester training materials, including paper manuals and tape recorded materials to ensure that materials are appropriate, culturally sensitive and reflective of Peace Corps' initiatives in language testing and tester training. Monitors and establishes guidelines and policy for measuring achievement of instructional objectives for major training initiatives. Serves as the primary source for coordinating, monitoring and reporting language testing of Volunteers worldwide. Monitors the effectiveness of language training evaluators by listening to taped interviews. Monitors the effectiveness of language training programs by collecting and analyzing the scores received by Volunteers on their language proficiency tests. Participates in the evaluation of PCV training by promoting continuous assessment of language training activities in order to determine those training models which are most effective in achieving programmatic goals. Serves as technical expert in broad, complex subject areas. Conducts training-of-trainers workshops and other training activities to improve field staff abilities in designing and implementing language testing and training activities. Reviews and analyzes language training designs and materials in response to field requests for assistance. Provides feedback to posts along with recommendations for training improvements.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Significant experience as a competency-based language tester with a major testing instrument such as ACTFL OPI
- MA in Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Language Assessment, Teaching English or other languages as a Second/Foreign Language

Desired Qualifications and Experience
- Certified ACTFL OPI tester
- Certified ACTFL OPI tester trainer
- Experience designing and facilitating teacher education or professional development, ideally in international contexts.
- Experience teaching second or foreign languages, ideally in international settings.

Required Qualifications and Experience - Significant experience as a competency-based language tester with a major testing instrument such as ACTFL OPI - MA in Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Language Assessment, Teaching English or other languages as a Second/Foreign Language Desired Qualifications and Experience - Certified ACTFL OPI tester - Certified ACTFL OPI tester trainer - Experience designing and facilitating teacher education or professional development, ideally in international contexts. - Experience teaching second or foreign languages, ideally in international settings.