Contacts are usually limited to immediate Agency personnel and include minimal substantive contacts with the general public. The supervisor typically assigns projects and sets deadlines for completing the work. Findings and recommendations developed by the incumbent are reviewed for appropriateness prior to release or discussion with management officials. Although not a policy maker, at this level the incumbent influences program policy by reason of recognized expertise in the particular field of development assistance. Professional work requires knowledge in a field of science or learning characteristically acquired through education or training equivalent to the graduate or higher degree, with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field, as distinguished from general education, or five years of progressively responsible experience equivalent to this level in the professional or technical field.
Work requires the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility.
Typical assignments require developing detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration of the program, or developing the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Technical work at this level requires expertise in specialized fields. Assignments include providing technical advice in the formulation of overall country programs and strategies and in the planning, development, design, evaluation, and implementation of activities. Incumbents typically identify and develop ways to resolve problems or cope with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal program goals and objectives. Incumbents may develop new ways to resolve major problems, or plan the most significant aspects of professional or scientific programs.