LEAD FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Description:

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

Requirements:

Conditions of Employment (cont.):

• Employee should possess skills and demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with colleagues, counterparts in various USG agencies, high-ranking foreign representatives, and representatives of diverse cultures, and be able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions
• Employee must meet the education/experience requirements IAW OPM guidelines for the Foreign Affairs Series 0130 Occupational requirements. (Ref:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedulequalification-standards/0100/foreign-affairs-series-0130/).

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:

1. 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
2. COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: 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
3. 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 entry qualification requirements, applicants must have directly related specialized experience in the amounts required for the grade level as shown below:


SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of the USAF and AETC organizational structure; as well as a thorough knowledge of the program's guiding principles, pertinent laws, regulations, policies, and precedents in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations; International Security Assistance Training; DOD and State Department policies; and Air Force, Air Education and Training Command and specific policies, directives, and instructions governing the ability to manage quota allocations for international training users accurately; knowledge of the Security Assistance Management Manual, Joint Security Cooperation Education and Training (JSCET) Policy, and associate responsibilities of a Country Manager; knowledge of foreign governments' working, the nature of their military and civilian governmental structures, and the culture and political dynamics influencing them; knowledge of DoD, USAF, and organizational policies, goals, objectives, and directives applicable to foreign assistance laws and statutory requirements associated with Security Assistance/Security Cooperation (SA/SC) goals and objectives as they apply to plan, obtaining, and executing international student training; and knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to the Airmen pipeline management program, and the programmed flying training (PFT) and identification of student entries required to satisfy requirements established by Air Staff.

OR
EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE : 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%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of transcripts.


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-9 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

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 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 to operate student tracking programs and software and effectively manage and track student and training requirement forecasts, course flows/training tracks, and current and past production utilization rates.

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.