The Peace Corps is one of the most successful and respected development agencies in the world. More than 190,000 Volunteers have served in 139 countries since the inception of the Peace Corps in 1961. Thousands more from every background are eager to serve as teachers, business advisors, information technology consultants, health and HIV/AIDS educators and agriculture extension Volunteers.

The Peace Corps' success is due, in large part, to the leadership and dedication of the staff who serve as country directors. This challenging and rewarding position calls for people who are able to use their talent and experience to provide management and direction for the Peace Corps program in their country of assignment.  Successful country directors have well-run, productive programs that fully engage Volunteers; they also achieve significant personal and professional growth and satisfaction for themselves.

The country director position is classified at the FP 2/1 levels (equivalent to GS 14-15) with a current salary range of $77,294 - $124,010. Learn more about the country director position.

Recruitment

The Peace Corps accepts applications for country directors throughout the year. However, to be considered for the next Overseas Staff Training (OST) class an application must be submitted by (application closed). After that time applicants will be considered for the next OST the following (application closed). Interested applicants must either complete the (application closed) or complete the (application closed) and email it as an electronic attachment to cdselection@peacecorps.gov.

Country Openings

Applicants apply for the position; where they are assigned is up to the discretion of the Peace Corps. Because openings can change during a recruitment cycle, we do not provide a list of specific country positions to be filled.

Country Director Selection Criteria

The Peace Corps uses the following seven criteria to evaluate applications to determine the suitability of candidates:

• Leadership
• Management and administrative skills
• International development experience
• Communication skills
• Cross-cultural experience
• Human resource management and support skills
• Country representational capability

Please review and complete the country director selection criteria section or the KSAs section of the application, which is geared to these seven criteria.

Country directors must be United States citizens and must not have been associated with intelligence activities. Some country director postings require fluency in French, Spanish, or Portuguese.

The Application/Interview Process

The Peace Corps has the following application process:

• Review application submitted by the applicant. Applicants will be informed of their status within six weeks of submission.
• A phone interview with a former Peace Corps Country Director.
• A panel interview conducted at Peace Corps headquarters by Peace Corps senior staff. Prior to this interview, you will receive an e-mail from the Peace Corps that will contain the following forms. These forms must be submitted before the panel interview.
  • Declaration of Federal Employment (original signature)
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act (original signature)
  • Questionnaire for National Security Positions (Form 86). If applicable you will need the following information to complete this form: your naturalization certificate and passport; naturalization certificate number/alien registration numbers for spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, or child.
  • Self-Identification of Handicap (Form 256) (Optional)
  • Race and National Origin Identification (Form 181) (Optional)
• Interview with the Office of the Director.

Most job offers are made to selected candidates six weeks prior to the beginning of Overseas Staff Training (OST). Candidates must successfully complete the State Department medical clearance process and the full field security process for a Top Secret security clearance. Security clearances must be obtained prior to OST and medical clearances for you and your dependents also prior to OST.

Application Documents

The following documents are needed to apply for a Peace Corps country director position:

• Profile and Work History
• Completed Country Director Selection Criteria pages
• Signature, Certification, and Release of Information Form (original signature)
• Peace Corps Intelligence Background Information (Form 1336) (original signature)

For specific information on working overseas for Peace Corps, please view our frequently asked questions (PDF). For specific information on benefits provided to country directors, please view the country director’s benefits page.

Questions

If you have questions, please contact:

Megan Blackburn
Overseas Executive Selection and Support
Office of the Director
Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20526
Phone: 202.692.2114
Fax: 202.692.2121
E-mail: cdselection@peacecorps.gov