Foreign Affairs Officer

Summary

The Office of Strategic Stability and Extended Deterrence Affairs (SSD) Bureau of ArmsControl and Nonproliferation (ACN) within the Department of State is responsible for increasing American security and prosperity by enhancing strategic stability around the world by using bilateral and multilateral arms control treaties agreements and enhancing cooperation among allies and partners with regard to weapons of mass destructionspace and cyber capabilities and certain conventional weapons.

Duties

• Formulates coordinates and implements Bureau Department and U.S. Government policies related to diplomatic engagements with Asia Pacific South Asian and European states on strategic military issues.
• Coordinates public and private messaging drafts congressional reports and correspondence writes internal decision and position memoranda and prepares demarches to foreign governments and guidance to U.S. Embassies and Delegations.
• Negotiates on behalf of the Office Bureau and/or Department in interagency meetings as well as representing the United States in international negotiations conferences meetings working groups etc.
• Works discreetly and collaboratively on highly sensitive technically complex and contentious issues.
• Provides advice and recommendations on deterrence nuclear arms control and strategic issues.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Obtain/maintain eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions per 5CFR 300 Subpart F.

Applicants must have the required experience or education as described below and meet any selective factors when specified. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelors or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law international relations political science economics history sociology geography social or cultural anthropology law statistics or in the humanities;

OR Have a bachelors or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that included a combination of courses with 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 Have 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics / quantitative methods.

OR Have a combination of education and experience where your coursework was equivalent to a major or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours (as shown above) PLUS appropriate relevant experience OR additional education.

OR Have completed at least 4 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.(NOTE: qualifying work experience may have been gained 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.)

Note: If you are qualifying based on education you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility you WILL lose consideration for this position.

IN ADDITION to the basic requirements this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience developing U.S. policy positions on nuclear arms control or strategic deterrence issues.

• Experience representing an organization in interagency or international meetings involving strategic security or defense-related matters.

• Experience preparing written policy analysis briefing materials or correspondence on foreign affairs or national security topics.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.

When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience (for example 6 months equals 50%) and the percentage of graduate study (for example 9 graduate hours for a GS-07 equals 50% where 18 graduate hours constitute a full time year) must total at least 100%.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials visit: information

• To request a reasonable accommodation foradditionaltime on thetimed sections of theassessment pleasesubmityour request using the Request a Reasonable Accommodation button within theAssessment Application.

  Forall otherreasonable accommodationsat the U.S. Department of State please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations(OAA)at .

  OAAis responsible forreviewing andadjudicatingreasonable accommodation(RA)requests for the Assessment Battery being usedfor this following applies to all RA requests:

  • RA requestscoveradditionaltime on timed sections only.

  • Applicantssubmittinga RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed treatingmedical provider. The documentation should describe the nature severity and expected duration of the conditionidentifythe relevant medical condition or diagnosis and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do notcontainsupporting medical documentation attachmentsatthetime ofinitialrequest may be subject to further review.

  • Note:the following documents do not on their own qualify for automatic approval oftheRA request:Schedule A letters VA benefits lettersorSSA letters.

  • Applicants MUSTsubmittheir application before the vacancy closes even if pending anaccommodationdecision.

  • Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.

  • Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request isadjudicatedto complete the assessment generated after the allottedtimeframewill not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.

  • If a different type of RA is needed please contact OAA directly at .

• If eligible situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in this Bureau for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
• Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP):View OPMs CTAP & ICTAP eligibilitywebsite for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an85 or above meet Minimum Qualifications and demonstrateproficiencyin some but notall major aspects of the position.

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.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority