FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Summary

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Duties

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The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as a professional Foreign Affairs Specialist Country Manager in support of Department of Defense (DoD) agencies. Serves as the USAF's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for planning and executing of assigned Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case(s) training requirements including acquisition, contracting milestones, programming, logistics, finance, monitors student requirements and tracking, tracking assigned FMS cases, and training development. FMS cases are contractual agreements between the U.S. Government (USG) and a foreign nation. Involved in every aspect of cases and all work in support of global employment Security Cooperation Education Teams (SCET) pertaining to USAF International training programs. Employee performs work in support of major weapons systems sales, FMS programs, or as part of a country's International Military Education and Training (IMET), or other grant programs (e.g. Counter Terrorism and Force Protections, etc.). Employee will provide services to assigned countries to ensure training package development and provides tracking for all cases and associated manpower requirements. Monitors student requirements and support training program management goals and objectives in achieving successful instructional programs for international partners. Works in concert with the Lead Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) Case Manager and serves as a FMS analyst in support of Department of Defense (DoD) agencies. Coordinates with the International Scheduling office programming and confirming training quotas and training course pipeline and/or track for International Military Students (IMS). Assists the Mobile Training Office by ensuring the appropriate pre-coordination, qualified personnel, positioning requirements, and managerial and fiscal are accomplished for country requested Mobile Training Teams (MTTs), Mobile Education Teams (METs), Extended Training Service Specialists (ETSS) and Language Training Detachments (LTDs).

Duties

• The Case/County Manager (CM) is the focal point for case/country and IMS student activities and manages all aspects of the FMS case(s).
• The CM serves as USAF focal point for all international student issues in support of the assigned countries' training programs.
• The CM will be the liaison between managed countries' representatives, SCOs, MAJCOMs, and other USG agencies to ensure implementation of training for and by these agencies.
• Develops and initiates proper documentation, including estimated training costs, training sequences, and identification of potential problem areas based on factors unique to the requesting countries.
• Develops official correspondence, messages, and items of interest, staff summaries, sheets, andtalking papers relative to assigned programs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at:
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Employee must possess, or obtain, and maintain a Secret clearance as a condition of employment as reflected on the UMD.
• It is highly desirable that the employee has flight, aircraft maintenance, or training/student management experience.
• Employee must possess, or obtain, and maintain a current passport and an appropriate Visas, expedited at AFSAT cost in order to perform assigned duties
• Employee may be required to perform extended/long-term and/or multiple Temporary Duty Assignments (TDY) tours in foreign nations to accomplish assigned duties.
• Participate in annual Foreign Affairs career field Civilian Developmental Education process and programs is highly desired
• Completion of Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE), (ACSC, ACSC OLMP, OLC, DODELDP, etc.) within four years of accepting position is highly desirable.
• The employee must obtain the appropriate International Affairs Case Life Cycle Management certification level per established timelines and maintain certification through continuous training. This position is not a Key Position.
• It is highly desirable that the employee has a familiarity of instructional and training system principles, practices, and techniques.
• Employee must meet mandatory standards of experience and training and must participate in the squadron training plan.
• The employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Government Travel Credit Card in order to perform assigned duties.
• The employee must be required to be COVID vaccinated in order to meet multiple foreign nation 'sentry requirements.
• Employee should possess skills and demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with colleagues, counterparts in various USG agencies, high-ranking foreign representatives, (cont'd)
• and representatives of diverse cultures and be able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions.

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment: (cont'd)

• Employee must meet the education/experience requirements IAW OPM guidelines for the ForeignAffairs Series 0130 Occupational requirements.(Ref:
• Work occasionally requires global travel away from the normal duty station; travel on military orcommercial aircraft is required. The employee must able to perform multiple, long-term (up to 90-daysormore) TDYs at several global locations to attend training, conferences and meeting with foreignnationals.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions, Foreign Affairs, series 0130 .

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT : Degree: major or equivalent, or a combination of courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; or 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics/quantitative methods. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION : A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. Courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR

EXPERIENCE : Four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs. Evaluation of Experience: Qualifying experience may have been through residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or international relief work, or other experience in foreign countries.

AND

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of the International/ Foreign Affairs Security Assistance Management Manual and associate responsibilities of a Case/Country Manager (CM) as a USAF's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for planning and executing of assigned Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case(s) including acquisition, contracting milestones, programming, logistics, finance, monitors student requirements, tracking program(s), and training development. Knowledge FMS cases as contractual agreements between the U.S. Government (USG) and a foreign nation. Knowledge of DoD, USAF, and organizational policies, goal, objectives and directives as applicable to foreign assistance laws and statutory requirements associated with Security Cooperation goals and objectives as they apply to planning, obtaining, and executing international student training. Knowledge of procedures for the development, coordination and transmission of planning for the formulation of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to include cost, schedule, and availability of DoD contractor provided training. Knowledge of policies and procedures of IMS while attending Air Force or DoD contractor provided training. Knowledge of foreign student administration while in USAF training in the U.S., the various training sources available to these students, and the validation process for Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and the various Grant program training requirements.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Knowledge of USG International/Foreign Affairs objectives, Arms Export Control Act (AECA), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) processes, and/or understanding of international relations policy objectives within Security Assistance/Cooperation Programs.
• Knowledge and technical skill to develop, analyze, and evaluate training options within the legal scope of an FMS program and diplomatically communicate complex plans to USG and international stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze and coordinate a FMS cases for specific requirements, within USG and DoD regulatory policy, for money, manpower, materiel, facilities, and services needed to support the program and when necessary, apply the federal acquisition process for development, implementation, line management, execution, and closure of FMS training cases.
• Knowledge of the procedures for the development, coordination, and planning for the formulation of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) to include cost, schedule, and availability of DoD or contractor provided training options.
• Ability to work complex project management issues with foreign governments, their military, and U.S. industry with an understanding of cultural, socio-political, and economic dynamics.
• In-depth ability to use office computer software applications in the preparation of word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically in written and oral mediums.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

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

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

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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