FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties

• Serves as Foreign Officer for the 350 SWW, develops and maintains a continuing and highly complex disclosure program requiring extensive coordination within the organization, Air Combat Command, Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs, Geographic Combatant Commands and international partners.
• Interpreting the National Disclosure Policy (NDP) as it applies to current situations and products. Provides analysis, guidance and advice to the Commander regarding appropriate classification levels and types of information to which foreign embedded, exchange, and liaison personnel may have access.
• Reviews and interprets USAF and National disclosure guidance, identify shortfalls in the guidance, and recommends modifications when necessary.
• Plans, develops, and implements foreign disclosure procedures and provides direction and guidance on assigned international programs to organizations and personnel.

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 position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume
• Student Loan Repayment may be authorized
• Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position
• Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
• Work may require travel away from the normal duty station on military and/or commercial aircraft. A current official U.S. passport is required
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance
• Incumbent must be comfortable dealing with U.S. senior leadership and high-ranking foreign representatives. The use of tact and diplomacy on all occasions is required.
• Must meet the standards of experience, training and education to qualify for an International Affairs Level II certification within four years of accepting the position.
• Must attend USAF and MAJCOM foreign disclosure training courses as required.
• A Master's Degree in Foreign Affairs, International Relations, Education, Political Science, International Politics, or Strategic Studies is highly desired.
• Disclosure on the assigned international programs is accomplished in accordance with National Disclosure Policy (NDP-1); the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR);
• Cont: Air Force Delegation of Disclosure Authority Letters (DDLs); DoD and Air Force regulations; and guidance from the Chief of the Foreign Disclosure Policy Office.

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment Continuation:
This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.

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.

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 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 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.

For positions at grades GS-12 and above, this experience must have included either (a) responsibility for the direction and coordination of research, analysis, or other professional work in one or more of the fields listed in A above, or (b) specialized professional work of a high level of difficulty and responsibility in one or more of these fields. This high level experience must have been in such specialized activities as (1) formulation of instructions and policy guidance for United States representatives in international organizations; (2) transport and communication involving knowledge of economic, political, and technical aspects of international aviation, shipping, inland transport, or radio, telephone, and telegraph, etc.; (3) cultural affairs involving formulation and operation of policy on large-scale international cultural exchange programs; (4) occupied area affairs involving problems of occupation of conquered or liberated countries, regions, or zones; or (5) other specialized international affairs such as analyzing public opinion and attitudes, evaluating specific conditions, trends, or forces in a foreign country, formulating policy on problems of petroleum resources or fisheries, etc., representing foreign interests, protecting American property or interests, arranging for conferences, or similar activities.
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-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes comprehensive knowledge of National Disclosure Policy (NDP), DOD Directives, and related Air Force policies, procedures, and goals to be able to independently review, analyze, and resolve difficult and complex foreign release problems; comprehensive knowledge of the of concepts, principles, policies and practices of the records management to analyze, interpret and apply complex laws, regulations and directives as it relates to National Foreign Disclosure Program; comprehensive knowledge of research techniques to be able to analyze and collate a variety of finished products in order that responses are accurate, operationally sound, and within US policy guidelines; comprehensive knowledge of the products and operations of other agencies within the intelligence community, international treaty organizations, the responsibilities and tasks of DoD and the Services, as well as the Unified Commands; comprehensive knowledge of current political situations, perceptive judgments on anticipated developments, and the ability to take positive action under conditions which do not permit the more leisurely processes of coordination approval; knowledge and skill in analyzing and resolving complex problems and issues where laws and regulations must be interpreted and applied; comprehensive knowledge of US political relations with individual foreign countries and extensive experience in researching background information from technical, intelligence, and open sources; and comprehensive knowledge of OPSEC principles and technology protection planning activities.

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-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 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:

Expert knowledge of the administration and performance of work involving the formulation and direction of foreign affairs of the Government and in the study and disposition of information bearing on international relations.

Expert knowledge of National Disclosure Policy (NDP-1) principles and how they are applied to issues relating to Foreign Military Sales and commercial exports of defense equipment, technology, information and assistance. Expert knowledge of a wide range of international affairs and security concepts, principles and practices, including foreign disclosure, technology transfer, industrial security and information security.

Expert knowledge of the relationship of various command entities involved in overall planning and execution of military operations, flight training, and evaluations. Expert knowledge of general Air Force and specific foreign disclosure operations, politico-military affairs, technologies used in military Command and Control systems, and information and industrial security processes for classified material handling.

Expert knowledge of complex technical material, especially of assigned weapon systems, and ability to analyzes and resolved foreign disclosure actions required for export/transfer to foreign nationals or their representatives.

Ability to design, plan, conduct and organize studies or projects and to negotiate effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations, where proposals involve substantial resources, and required extensive changes in established concepts and procedures.

Ability to communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing to be able to adjust presentations to the level necessary, using discretion and diplomacy as the incumbent interacts with a diversity of individuals with special interests and concerns.

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.

Education

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.

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 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 . 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.

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.

Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition.

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 .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click .

Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 for additional information.