FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties
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• Manages and oversees the work of four foreign discourse officers (including incumbent) in the Disclosure Section of SAF/IAPD in the disposition of DoD assigned export licenses.
• Develops national, DoD, and USAF disclosure policies, advisories, Air Force instructions, Delegation of Disclosure Authority Letters (DDLs), export license positions, exemptions to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), release guidelines, and disclosure guidance.
• Authorizes disclosure of documents, briefings, and other forms of classified and controlled unclassified information to foreign governments and international organizations.
• Develops and maintains broad expertise in the following areas as they pertain to Air Force disclosure initiatives: current and potential international programs, politico-military affairs, Air Force operations, and technologies with military applications, in particular Joint Strike Fighter (F-35), F-16, F-15, AIM-120, AIM-9X and electronic warfare equipment.
• Develops and guides development of disclosure oversight, education, and training guidelines and materials.

Requirements
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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
• 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.
• Employee must possess and maintain a TOP SECRET clearance as a condition of employment.
• Overtime may be required as workload increases
• Incumbent may be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft.
• Incumbent must be comfortable in dealing with high-ranking foreign representatives and be able to use tact and diplomacy on all occasions
• Mobility is a condition of appointment; employee must sign an AF-wide Mobility Agreement
• A Master's Degree in International Affairs or Strategic Studies is highly desirable
• Employee must meet the mandatory standards of experience and training, and the desired standards of education for an International Affairs level II certification within four years of accepting the position
• Completion of an Intermediate Service School, (i.e., ACSC, ELDP, AFIT, etc.) within six years of accepting the position is highly desirable
• Employee should be able to sustain periods of high stress without danger to the individual. Work is primarily sedentary in nature and no special physical ability is required to do the work.
• Majority of the work is performed in an office setting; however, the position does require extensive travel (as much as 25% of the time), both within CONUS and overseas, often on short notice and for extended (1-2 week) periods of time.
• Regular travel in the United States and abroad is mandatory
• Drug Test requirement was modified to comply with AFI 90-508 Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program, 28 August 2014
• This is a Centrally Managed Position in the International Affairs Career Field. PCS will be paid in accordance with JTR Vol. 2 and applicable Air Force Regulations

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment (cont.):
This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to random testing for drug testing. This position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions present a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. It is required that you (a) refrain from the use of illegal drugs and (b) if requested, submit to urinalysis testing.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST 0130 SERIES: A Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) or a degree with a 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. 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-13, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience should include, but is not limited to Mastery of National Disclosure Policy, Arms Export and Control Act, International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy as well as DoD and AF policies, directives and instructions governing release of classified military information (CMI), controlled unclassified information (CUI) and associated weapons systems, capabilities and advanced technologies to foreign governments and international organizations; Expert knowledge of USAF security assistance and foreign military training programs, US defense alliances, personnel exchange management, intelligence sharing programs, U.S. government and commercial international cooperative research, development and acquisition (ICR&DA) programs, U.S. country and regional defense policies, combined exercise programs and current U.S. peacekeeping and trade sanctions enforcement activities; detailed technical understanding of the roles and missions of USAF major commands, and the operational capabilities, vulnerabilities/limitations and classification of USAF combat power projection weapons systems; extensive familiarity with advancements in military critical technologies as they apply to sustaining a qualitative edge for US and allied/friendly combat forces.

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-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 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 National Disclosure Policy (NDP-1), the Arms Export Control Act, and other DoD and Air Force policies and directives which govern the release of military information to foreign governments and international organizations.

Practiced knowledge of politico-military affairs, Air Force operations, and technologies used in military weapons systems, in particular the F-35, F-22, F-16, F-15, their associated munitions and associated electronic warfare equipment.

Aptitude to research, analyze, and weigh the relative importance of the subjects in #2 above and reach sound judgments based on an evaluation of both objective and subjective factors.

Ability to integrate the findings in #3 above and develop policy recommendations and guidelines.

Exceptionally strong speaking and writing skills.

Ability to lead, manage, guide and integrate the work of a team of employees.

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

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 here 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 here . 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 here 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 here 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 here 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.

Disabled veteran leave 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 here .

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