FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties

The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as program manager/international affairs analyst for the Air Component to Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) AOR. The AOR is designated as Central America, South America and the Caribbean; 31 countries and 10 territories. Applies military experience, analyzes, develops and evaluates issues, and develops recommendations to resolve substantive problems and issues of effectiveness and efficiency of work operations in an air component to a Geographic Combatant Command program.

Duties:

• Serves as 12th AF(AFSOUTH) Significant Security Cooperation initiative (SSCI) and Security Force Assistance/ Air Advisor Program Manager.
• Lead Integration Analyst for stakeholder Integration into Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) Planning Process.
• Serves as expert, senior-level international affairs analyst/regional expert for Latin America.
• Documents planning and programming decisions in appropriate formats to meet air component to a Geographic Combatant Command, COCOM, and Air Force requirements.

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
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
• 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.
• May travel by military or commercial air to conferences, meetings, or other functions away from the duty site.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an official Passport.
• This position may require employee to work overtime.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an appropriate security Top Secret (SCI) clearance.
• Spanish language and interpretation/translation skills are required.
• Portuguese language and interpretation/translation skills are desired.
• May perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment (Cont):
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.

This position is designated as a key position IAW AFI 36-507 . Duties of this position are essential to the accomplishment of wartime/contingency operations. Incumbents of key positions must be removed from their military recall status if alternative for filling of the position during an emergency are not available.

SCW: SC4A2 - This is a Non-Key Security Cooperation (SC) position based on the duties and responsibilities. The position requires DoD SC Workforce (SCW) Certification. The incumbent must complete certification related training requirements in the SC Functional Area (FA) within the timeframe associated with the position's SCW certification level: SC Policy and Resourcing (FA).

Practitioner Level : 1 year (Awareness/Foundational); 2 years (Practitioner, Expert/Advanced); and complete certification-related continuous learning requirements in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2017, Title 10 United States Code, Section 384. Incumbent(s) of this position is required to comply with all Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and Department of the Army requirements of the SCW certification program.

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 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-12 or equivalent. Specialized experience should include, but is not limited expert knowledge of the mission, organization and work processes of programs throughout a military command, and the relationships of administrative support activities to such missions. Knowledge is applied when assessing programs/projects, analyzing findings and making recommendations on substantive operating programs. The work requires skill in preparing staff reports/briefings and skill in organizing and delivering briefings to managers to encourage understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations. Expert/mastery level knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques for analyzing and measuring effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of administrative and technical programs; as well as for the assessment and improvement of critical command plans and programs for participating in or conducting major operations such as mission and flight operations, tactical airlift, tactical training, rescue, deployment, mobilization, PPBS, acquisition, special operations, exercise, flying training systems both manned and unmanned, rescue, foreign military sales, contingency, or similar operations.

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 a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of command level plans and programs for conducting major operations such as rescue, mission and flight operations, tactical airlift, deployment, mobilization, exercise, flying training systems both manned and unmanned, rescue, foreign military sales, PPBS, acquisition, special operations, or similar operations.

Expert knowledge of DoD Security Cooperation programs, authorities, and implementation mechanisms, as well as the sequence and timing of key events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions related to actual events; and the relationship of the various entities involved in overall program planning and execution of security cooperation operations and evaluations.

Knowledge of military command structure, missions, programs, and organizational relationships and program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions as related to actual events.

Knowledge of the various command entities involved in overall planning and execution of operations and evaluations. Expert knowledge of the significant security cooperation initiative design, staffing, and approval processes, as well as knowledge of the SSCI program management process.

Expert knowledge of the Assessments, Monitoring & Evaluation process as it relates to the SSCI. Skill in designing and conducting comprehensive studies; and preparing solutions to especially broad, important, and severe military operational and contingency areas.

Expert ability to plan, organize, and lead others in studies or projects and to negotiate effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations, where proposals involve substantial resources, and require extensive changes in established concepts and procedures. Ability to speak, read, and understand the Spanish and English language and possess interpretation/translation skills in both languages. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; negotiate complex issues; and maintain good working relationships.

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

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

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.

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 .

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