FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Summary

This position is part of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The incumbent will be assisting in the formulation of Joint Staff positions across a broad spectrum of national security concerns to the President and other national leaders and to ensure those recommendations are informed by a larger strategic context coordinated with interagency and alliance partners, account for the view and requirements of Combatant Commanders.

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Duties

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As a FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST at the GS-0130-15 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Trains and mentors new 0-6 Division Chiefs on NATO structures and procedures and on how the Division functions and operates within the Joint Staff and with the U.S. Combatant Commands (CCMDs), Services, the U.S. Military Delegation and U.S. Mission at NATO Headquarters, and the U.S. Interagency.
• Supports the CJCS in his role as one of 29 NATO Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) in the NATO Military Committee by providing expert advice, information, analysis, briefings, studies, and reports on the following specific areas: NATO deterrence and defense posture; NATO Enhanced Forward Presence; NATO's Readiness Action Plan; NATO Advance Plans; NATO's operations planning process; NATO's current and future operations in the South and the Middle East; NATO-Russia relations; NATO's response to hybrid threats; and the NATO Crisis Response System.
• Prepares, evaluates, and coordinates formal correspondence for the CJCS and senior members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the National Security Council (NSC), the Department of State (DOS), the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the U.S. Military Delegation at NATO Headquarters, Defense agencies, the Services, and Combatant Commands (CCMDs).
• Reviews NATO draft political-military documents to ensure U.S. military equities and Joint Staff policies are properly reflected and assists in the development of USG guidance to the U.S. Mission at NATO Headquarters concerning those documents to enable representatives from the U.S. Mission to negotiate with their Allied counterparts to achieve consensus on those documents in a manner that will best reflect U.S. military equities and Joint Staff policy.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is SITUATIONALLY telework eligible
• SECURITY- Employee must obtain/maintain a Special Sensitive (Top Secret/SCI) security clearance
• Drug Testing Position: Yes
• May be required to work other than normal duty hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and will be compensated within the scope/guidelines of government civilian employment.
• Incumbent without previous Joint Staff experience must also attend the Joint Staff training course for new employees
• Periodic travel away from the duty station, overnight and longer, is required, including both CONUS and OCONUS.
• Occasional travel with little notice may be required to coordinate initiatives and to represent the division at meetings and events and to do demonstrations and presentations about the division's efforts.
• Staff work is subject to short, sometimes immediate deadlines, fast turn-around times for many staff actions, unpredictable and varied workloads, and occasional working hours of an irregular nature.
• Must be designated as a classified courier

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS- 15, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service:

• Applying policy and strategy development process within the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the U.S. Interagency, and NATO sufficient to provide authoritative and immediate assistance to senior JS military leaders on a broad range of strategy and policy issues regarding NATO and impacting the nation and the Department's contribution to national security;
• Researching current NATO and European issues, with regards to NATO deterrence and defense posture; NATO Enhanced Forward Presence; NATO's Readiness Action Plan; NATO Advance Plans; NATO's operations planning process; NATO's current and future operations in the South and the Middle East; NATO-Russia relations; NATO's response to hybrid threats; and the NATO Crisis Response System to develop recommendations and formulate strategies and policies on documents to be agreed at NATO and in the Interagency and for use in meetings and conferences;
• Applying knowledge on working on a senior staff to determine military operational requirements, scoping problems for study, developing analysis plans, and delivering high quality outputs that support senior decision makers;
• Applying current NATO operations, NATO readiness, and NATO partnership issues to provide expert advice, information, analysis and recommendations;
• Applying the legislative process and CJCS statutory guidance with respect to the development of operational plans and requirements.

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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0130 series.

• Degree: major or equivalent (Political Science, European or Eurasian studies, strategic studies or other relevant studies), 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 OR
• Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education 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.

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

*NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Education

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

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.

Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.

When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities. For further information, visit: Foreign Education

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs : This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities : For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:

Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A

Special Hiring Authority for Veterans

Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses

Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.

NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Selective Service Requirement: Please visit for more information.

For more information, please visit

Other Notes:

Re-employed Annuitant: This position /Does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:

This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.

You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

As required by 5 C.F.R. § 302.106., DLA will provide Section 508 conformant ICT to employees with disabilities. All ICT interfaces with the public related to vacancy announcements and career transition opportunities must conform to the applicable requirements in the current ICT Standards and Guidelines (36 C.F.R. § 1194).

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

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.

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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.