Foreign Affairs Specialist

The purpose of this position is: To serve as a Country Director in the Regional Affairs Directorate (Foreign Affairs Specialist). Reviews analyzes and makes recommendations on the political-military economic and security assistance aspect of the United States Air Force relations with and interests across various areas of responsibility

Duties

1. Responsible for recommending and implementing policy guidance for direction integration management and supervision of international programs and activities affiliated with the Department of the Air Force concerning country and/or regional responsibility
2. Areas of direct responsibility include implementation of US and USAF policy military contacts and cooperative activities country and regional reviews
3. Reviews and establishes policy on current developments in their country portfolio.
4. Representee of USAF at weekly monthly and annual interagency and departmental conferences and meetings

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service see
• A security clearance may be required
• 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: position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• 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.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
• This position is designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. The employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. (contd)
• Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force national security and public safety.
• Employee must be comfortable in dealing with high-ranking foreign representatives and able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions.
• Majority of work is performed in an office setting; however the position does require extensive travel (as much as 25% of time) both within CONUS and overseas often on short notice and for extended (1-2 week) periods of time.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft/vehicle to conferences meetings or functions away from the duty office/location. Travel may include overnight stays.
• Mobility is a condition of employment. The employee must sign an Air Force-wide mobility agreement.
• A bachelors degree in international politics International Affairs or Education is highly desired. Language competency and regional experience highly desired.
• Completion of an Intermediate Service School (i.e. ACSC AFLEP ELDP AFIT etc.) within six years accepting position is highly desired.
• his is a Security Cooperation Workforce job; employees will be required to complete Security Cooperation Workforce Development (SCWD) 2.0 certification within two years of accepting this position.
• Employee should be able to sustain periods of high stress without danger to the individuals health. Work is primarily sedentary in nature and no special physical ability is required to do the work.

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-12 or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes comprehensive knowledge in national security strategic policy international relations foreign affairs and foreign assistance programs; Comprehensive knowledge of the administrative laws policies regulations and precedents applicable to the administration of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and DoD Security Cooperation enterprises; Comprehensive knowledge of the intricate relationships between various agencies and programs including the DoS OSD NSC DSCA CCMD and US Embassies; Expert knowledge of overarching national and defense strategy guidelines-including the National Defense Strategy National Security Strategy Security Assistance Manual and DAF International Engagement Plan-to interpret policies evaluate program effectiveness and translate basic legislation and treaties into actionable USAF security cooperation goals.

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-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 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 foreign affairs and national security policies and objectives; US defense programs and policies doctrine strategy and political-military structures internationally.
2. Knowledge of US foreign policy legislation/directives the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) and other DoW and Air Force directives/regulations governing the sale of military articles and services to foreign governments.
3. Ability to research and analyze information/situations to provide sound advice and recommendation in support of senior Air Force officials decision making.
4. Skill and diplomacy in dealing with senior officials in the Federal Government industry and the international community.
5. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to justify defend present advocate and/or advise on Security Assistance processes actions and decisions.
6. Ability to perform work requires a professional knowledge of the formulation and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations primarily of a political or politico economic nature of the United States with other governments.


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.