FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Summary

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Duties

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The primary purpose of this position is: to serves as the Foreign Affairs Specialist and Technical Advisor, Regional Affairs Division, working with an office of regional experts, both military and civilian, to build, sustain and expand relationships in throughout all Combatant Command regions on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force.

Duty 1 - Serves as senior civilian advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs on political-military matters that pertain to Geographic Combatant Command Areas of Responsibility.

Duty 2 - Determines work schedules, assigns work and makes adjustments to work schedules as necessary to ensure adequate coverage and completion of program operations.

Duty 3 - Represents the Department of the Air Force at interagency and departmental engagements and in correspondence. Represents the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs as a member of committees and working groups.

Duty 4 - Manages the financial resources allocated to the division including Foreign Military Sales Administration funds, Operation & Maintenance funds, and travel funds.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see
• Employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with Special Compartmented Information (SCI) as a condition of employment.
• 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:
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to random drug testing
• Employee must be willing to travel, and to do so by military or commercial air, as well as maintain a current government official passport.
• Incumbent must be willing to work outside normal duty hours when tasked to respond to senior leaders on short notice, high pressure issues. Overtime may be required as workload increases.
• A master's degree in foreign affairs, international relations, or a related area is desirable.
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
• This is a Centrally Managed Position in the Operations Career Field. PCS will be paid in accordance with JTR Vol. 2 and applicable Air Force Regulations
• 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.
• Incumbent must be comfortable in dealing with high-ranking foreign representatives and able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions.
• This position meets the professional exemption criteria for the Fair Labor Standards Act (5 CFR 551.207).
• This position will be part of the Security Cooperation Workforce Development Program; incumbent will be required to meet/maintain certification requirements.
• This is an Obligated Position in which an employee has return rights. Upon the employee's return, incumbent may be required to vacate this position.

Qualifications

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:

Education: 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.

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 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. 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. For qualifying experience at the GS-12 or above click here to view occupational requirements for this position:

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-14, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of Foreign Affairs field and skills sufficient to apply new analytical developments, methodologies, and research findings to broad public policy issues related to Foreign Affairs, political-military affairs and policy oversight for the Department of the Air Force plans, programs, and requirements involving international affairs for the Geographic Combatant Command Areas of Responsibility. Mastery of interagency matters involving Department of the Air Force international interests in the regions; directly addresses related Department of State and Congressional inquiries. Knowledge of international security cooperation programs in regional areas and mastery of weapon systems sales, transfers, and support provided through Foreign Military Sales.

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-14 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-15 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:

1. Knowledge of Security Cooperation laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; thorough understanding of associated acronyms, directives, and instructions.

2. Knowledge of historical and geopolitical environment of the Geographic Combatant Command Areas of Responsibility. Knowledge of and experience with Air Force operations, aircraft, and weapons system programs.

3. Ability to analyze, plan, and adjust work operations of one or more organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources.

4. Ability to gather, assemble, and analyze data to prepare budget estimates, develop alternatives, and make recommendations to resolve budget/funding problems.

5. Skill in the application of analytical methods and techniques to evaluate effects of changes in program plans and funding.

6. Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to justify, defend, present, and advise on processes/actions.

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.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

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 .

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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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