FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties

• The Employee serves as an expert, senior-level Training Program Manager (TPM) for security assistance and cooperation training programs.
• As a senior-level professional with major program responsibility, the TPM prepares and documents the technical and economic data to support the acquisition of complex, multi-functional training equipment, and services for international customers.
• As an expert-level analyst with mastery level knowledge, the TPM applies technical training principles and job experience to manage and/or review the development or revision of instructional materials for international customers.
• As a senior specialist with significant international program responsibility, the TPM accomplishes major special projects as assigned.
• Develops official correspondence, messages, items of interest, staff summaries, and talking papers relative to assigned programs, plans, additional duties, and special projects as directed.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• 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: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Employee must possess, or obtain, and maintain a Secret clearance as a condition of employment as reflected on the UMD.
• It is highly desirable that the employee has flight, aircraft maintenance, or training/student management and program or project management experience.
• Employee must possess, or obtain, and maintain a current passport.
• Work occasionally requires global travel away from the normal duty station; travel on military or commercial aircraft is required.
• Employee may be required to perform extended/long-term and/or multiple Temporary Duty Assignments (TDY) tours in foreign nations to accomplish assigned duties.
• Participate in annual Foreign Affairs career field Civilian Developmental Education process and programs is highly desired.
• Completion of Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE), (ACSC, ACSC OLMP, OLC, DoD ELDP, etc.) within four years of accepting position is highly desirable.
• The employee must obtain the appropriate International Affairs Case Life Cycle Management certification level per established timelines, and maintain certification through continuous training. This position is not a Key Position.
• It is highly desirable that the employee has a familiarity of instructional and training system principles, practices, and techniques.
• Employee must meet mandatory standards of experience and training and must participate in the squadron training plan.

Qualifications

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.

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, Series 0130.

BASIC 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.

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.

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 expert-level knowledge of the International/Foreign Affairs Security Assistance Management Manual and associate responsibilities of a Training Program Manager (TPM) as a USAF's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for planning and executing of assigned Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case(s) including acquisition, contracting milestones, programming, logistics, finance, monitors student requirements, tracking program(s), and training development; Expert/mastery level knowledge of DOD, USAF, and organizational policies, goals, objectives, and directives as applicable to foreign assistance laws and statutory requirements associated with Security Cooperation goals and objectives as they apply to plan, obtaining, and executing international student training contracts; Expert/mastery level knowledge and familiarity with instructional principles and techniques required to make effective training program recommendations.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click . 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 for more information.

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 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 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.

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 .

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