FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties

The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as a command Foreign Disclosure Program Officer (FDO), International Affairs section within Directorate, Information Protection (IP) at Headquarters Air Mobility Command (HQ AMC), and to plan, direct and develop goals and objectives that integrate organization planning, programming, and acquisition for assigned international programs.

Duties

• Plans, develop, implement foreign disclosure procedures and provides direction and guidance on assigned international programs to AMC personnel.
• Reviews visits and redelegates visits originating from the Foreign Visit System (FVS).
• Directs and approves all aspects of the USAF Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP) within AMC.
• Reviews and approves classified and unclassified export-controlled documents and information for release and transmission to foreign governments, agencies, and nationals.
• Reviews and evaluates request for exemption to ITAR Licenses.
• Reviews and interprets USAF disclosure guidance, identifies shortfalls in the guidance, and recommends modifications when necessary.
• Represents the Command in MPEP and foreign disclosure-related administrative and technical meetings at local, major command, Air Force and DOD levels

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
• 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 require significant travel by military or commercial air to conferences, meetings, or other functions away from the duty site.
• The employee is required to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.
• Incumbent must be comfortable in dealing with high-ranking foreign representatives and able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions.
• A Master's Degree in International Affairs or Strategic Studies is highly desired.
• Employee must meet the mandatory standards of experience and training, and the desired standards of education for an International Affairs level III certification within six years accepting position.
• Employees must maintain current Foreign Disclosure Officer certification.
• Exceptionally strong ability to write clear, concise and logically sequences reports and other correspondence.

Qualifications

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 Foreign Affairs 0130.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR 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 copies of your transcripts.

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%. 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 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. 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 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 Comprehensive mastery/expert level knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of National Disclosure Policy and its implementation through the Air Force Foreign Disclosure Program, as well as thorough knowledge of the program's guiding principles codified in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations; DoD and State Department policies; and Air Force, Air Mobility Command and specific policies, directives and instructions governing the release of classified and unclassified, controlled military information; the establishment and management of various international programs supporting Foreign Military Sales, commercial weapon systems sales, and development and acquisition programs; and establishment and implementation of multinational agreements with foreign governments. Expert level knowledge to effectively and efficiently implement the Air Force Foreign Disclosure Program for AMC training programs managed by or under the cognizance of Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron. Expert level knowledge of the importance of international programs to National Military Strategy, interoperability, coalition building, and promoting affordability of US defense acquisition programs. Expert knowledge of foreign countries political, social, economic and cultural make-up in order to be and effective liaison and enable interaction with foreign government officials, representatives and senior military official in work and social events.

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:

1. 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.

2. Experience planning, administering, and monitoring conference, visits, travel teams, and other multiple tasks associated a high-ranking international audience. Ability to lead, review complex technical material and approve the disclosure and/or export to foreign entities.

3. Expert/mastery level knowledge of general Air Force and specific foreign disclosure operations, politicomilitary affairs, Air Force operations, technologies used in military Command and Control systems, technologies used in military weapons systems, information and industrial security processes for classified material handling, MPEP procedures and guidance, and general management practices.

4. Expert/mastery level knowledge to plan and implement an Air Force foreign disclosure program, and to understand and work effectively with an industry export compliance program.

5. Ability to effectively write and orally communicate foreign disclosure, export information, and MPEP to various audiences, to include U.S. and foreign staff, management, senior executives, and corporate officers.

6. Ability to perform work requiring a professional knowledge of the formulation and direction of foreign affairs of the Government or in the study and disposition of information bearing on international relations.

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 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.

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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