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Lead Protocol Specialist

DLA Careers
Fort Belvoir, VA Full Time
POSTED ON 12/20/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/17/2026
Summary

See below for important information regarding this job.

Duties

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  • Serves as the primary protocol advisor and technical authority within the DLA Director's Staff Group (DCD) and as the team lead for the HQ DLA Protocol Special Events division (DCDP).
  • Directs and manages the Agency-wide protocol program, establishing and implementing policies for a wide range of events of direct interest to the Director, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Vice Director, and Chief of Staff.
  • Interprets and applies Department of Defense (DOD) and DLA policies and regulations to ensure the proper execution of protocol services, revising DLA protocol programs as needed.
  • Provides guidance on event policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with Agency missions and the aims and objectives of the DLA Director.
  • Directs the continuous review of programs to measure and evaluate program accomplishments, effectiveness, and compliance with Agency rules and regulations, prioritizing programs, program changes, and projects to meet the Agency's mission.
  • Directs, implements, and provides oversight of Agency policies relating to the cost, location, and special requirements for all HQ Director Level conferences, training sessions, workshops, and other programs.
  • Establishes and maintains contact with a wide range of stakeholders, including the DLA Director, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Vice Director and so on.
  • Develops and/or recommends methods, operational changes, or programs to command support functions to ensure funds are used in accordance with governing regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible (https://www.dla.mil/Careers/Join-Our-Team/Benefits/#Work)
  • Security Requirements: Non-Critical Sensitive with Secret Access
  • Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, where reciprocity cannot be applied; unfavorably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Bargaining Unit Status: No
  • Selectees are required to have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification documents to access certain federal facilities. See https://www.tsa.gov/real-id for more information.

Qualifications

To qualify for a Lead Protocol Specialist your resume and supporting documentation must support:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position. To qualify at the GS-14 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level or equivalent to other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only), time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes:

  • Evaluating and providing effective solutions to complex and highly sensitive protocol issues across diverse cultural, political, and ethnic boundaries, ensuring successful interactions with distinguished visitors.
  • Conducting agency-wide studies, providing recommendations for applicable legislation, and developing and implementing new or enhanced approaches to address complex initiatives.
  • Performing liaison duties, planning key protocol support functions, and proactively identifying and resolving potential issues related to visits, ceremonies, celebrations, and off-site events.
  • Providing effectively guide, motivating, and leading personnel assigned to the team.
  • Utilizing mastery of protocol principles, methods, practices, and techniques as demonstrated through formal instructional protocol training.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Additional information

For Important General Applicant Information and Definitions go to: http://www.dla.mil/portals/104/documents/careers/GenAppInfoDef.pdf

Reemployed Annuitants: This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/140025_vol300.PDF

Information for Veterans is available at: https://www.dla.mil/Careers/Programs/. As of 23 December 2016, Military retirees seeking to enter federal service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they would be appointed within 180 days following their official date of retirement.

Drug-Free Workplace:The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has established a Drug-Free Federal Workplace Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for DLA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with DLA for a period of six months. This policy extends to random testing for the use of illegal drugs by employees who occupy testing designated positions defined as sensitive in Section 7(d) of Executive Order 12564. The Defense Logistics Agency's Drug Free Workplace Plan's drug testing panel includes testing for the following illegal substances: marijuana, cocaine, opiates (codeine/morphine), 6-Acetylmorphine (heroin), phencyclidine, amphetamines (amphetamine/methamphetamine), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone. ADVISORY: By using cannabidiol (CBD) products you are risking a positive drug test result for marijuana.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are an eligible ICTAP applicant you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at a score of 85 or higher for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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