FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Conditions of Employment (cont.): Must be willing to work outside normal duty hours when tasked to respond to senior leaders on short notice, high pressure issues; overtime may be required as workload increases. Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft. 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. 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, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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. Examples of specialized experience includes mastery knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of foreign affairs complex management processes, providing political-military affairs expertise and policy oversight of Air Force plans, programs, and requirements involving international affairs for assigned AOR; directs Security Assistance programs in the regions and national security issues to ensure National and Joint objectives are incorporated across Air Force strategies, plans, policies, and processes; expert knowledge of analysis, formulation, and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations, negotiating effectively with management to accept recommendations relating to the political-military nature of the United States with other governments working with the US Ambassador's staff and their Country Teams to assess and support country requirements in the regions. 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: Knowledge of national security issues and of Security Cooperation laws, regulations, policies and procedures to ensure National and Joint objectives are incorporated across Air Force strategies, plans, policies, and processes. Knowledge of the formulation and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations, primarily of a political-military nature, of the United States with other governments; having experience with Air Force operations, aircraft, and acquisition of weapons system programs. Skill and ability to research and analyze information/situations to provide sound advice and recommendations in support of senior Air Force officials decision-making. Skill and ability to plan, organize, and direct team study work and to negotiate effectively with other action officers, senior analysts, and management to accept and implement recommendations, where the proposals involve substantial agency resources, require extensive changes in established procedures, or may be in conflict with the desires of the actively studied. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to justify, defend, present, advocate, and/or advise on AF positions-including to very senior audiences. Ability to synthesize complex, often competing, information and viewpoints to determine best course of action and advocate recommendations across the Air Staff and broader DoD, and to senior Air Force leaders. 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. Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.