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Permanent employees of executive branch agencies who are interested in being considered for a temporary assignment (one-year) in Iraq should apply on-line at USAJobs.gov. An ITAO recruiter will contact those who are selected for further consideration regarding additional steps which need to be taken. Before a detail can be considered, employees must have the written approval of both their first and second line supervisors. Some details are reimbursable to the parent agency, others are not.
- Where is the ITAO duty location?
Positions are located throughout Iraq.
- What is a detail?
Although a detail is a temporary assignment to a different position, this assignment does not change the employee's official title, series, grade, rate of compensation, or permanent (current) agency.
- Does "non-reimbursable" mean that the employee has to pay for some part of the detail assignment?
Employees do not pay for any part of the detail assignment. The employee’s permanent agency will continue to pay the salary and benefits as well as certain other costs of deployment to Iraq. "Non-reimbursable" means that the employee’s 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. Reimbursable details are those in which the Department of State reimburses the home agencies for these costs.
- How long do details usually last?
Most details last for one year but, on rare occasions, some may be shorter.
- Does the person who is detailed become a Department of State employee?
No, detailees remain permanent employees of their current Federal agency.
- Will the employee’s job title and grade change?
Detailees will have a new organizational title that describes their position in ITAO, but their official title, series, and grade will not change.
- What kind of security clearance is needed?
Most positions require a Secret clearance. If an employee does not already have this level of clearance, a background investigation will need to be completed before that person may begin work on detail to ITAO.
- Will there be a change in benefits?
No, benefits will remain the same. Detailees are advised to review all their benefits and designations of beneficiaries to ensure that elections and designations are in order.
- How much are detailees paid?
Employees detailed to ITAO continue to be paid at their current salary rates. This includes base compensation and locality pay for their permanent duty station, if any. Locality pay is determined by the geographic location of their permanent job in their home agency. In addition to base compensation, detailees receive 35% foreign post-differential pay and 35% danger pay.
- What are the provisions regarding overtime?
If overtime is required, it will be paid in accordance with provisions of Title 5 and the home agency's pay policies.
- Are there any limits to the amount of pay that can be earned?
Pay is subject to the annual limitations that apply to all Federal employees, as follows:
- The annual premium pay limitation is the greater of the annual rate of GS-15 Step 10 for the employee’s locality, including any special rate supplement, or of Executive Level V.
- The annual aggregate pay limitation (i.e. all compensation of any type including, but not limited to, base pay, locality pay, special rate pay, premium pay, awards, and bonuses) is limited to that of an Executive Level I.
- Pay is not subject to the bi-weekly pay cap for employees serving in Iraq.
- Do employees on temporary duty travel in Baghdad receive per diem?
While on extended temporary duty in Iraq, detailed employees are provided quarters and meals at no cost. Therefore, they receive only limited per diem for incidentals ($2 per day).
- Are employees on detail allowed to take annual leave or return to the US for a visit during the detail?
Employees detailed to Iraq for one year are entitled to three consultation visits to Washington, DC. Employees are granted travel days and 160 hours of administrative leave per year in connection with these trips.
- What guarantees are there that conditions described herein will be met by Department of State and the home agency?
ITAO will execute a written Memorandum of Agreement with the employee’s home agency that outlines the terms of the detail.
- Are employees allowed to carry a weapon while in Iraq?
No, employees may not transport, carry, or possess weapons while in Iraq.
- How does one find out what jobs are available and how to apply for a detail?
All ITAO vacancy announcements are listed at www.USAJobs.gov. Once there, enter the keywords "State" and "Iraq".
To apply for a specific position, submit an application through the on-line application system on the USAJobs.gov website.
- What skills are needed for ITAO jobs in Iraq?
Below is a list of the skills for which ITAO commonly recruits:
- 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 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.
- Ability to manage large contracts.
- Knowledge and ability to manage complex scientific programs engaged in technology transfer.
