Foreign Affairs Specialist.

Duties

• Apply the national security strategy, campaign plan, security objectives, integrated country strategy (ICS) to develop engagement plans.
• Serve as a broad policy expert in the area of responsibility and provides insight to other stakeholders on various obstacles encountered in achieving USAFRICOM objectives.
• Lead joint planning teams in order to coordinate AFRICOM cross-directorate, multi-functional response to policy and develop plans for assigned countries.
• Host conferences on assigned region and assist other directorates with planning and conducting various studies.
• Review requests for funding of programs to ensure that the activity plans align with the mission.
• Ensure that U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) programs and policies in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) are aligned with USAFRICOM and U.S. Government (USG) strategic objectives.
• Evaluate, prioritize, and synchronize proposed security sector assistance activities in assigned African states and provide branch/division chief with concise and thorough recommendations to approve or deny each activity.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in the DoD Instruction 1315.19.
• Must be able to satisfy the requirements of the 26JUL12 DODI 1400.25 V1230, DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Employment in Foreign Areas and Employee Return Rights.
• The incumbent requires a top secret/sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI) security clearance.
• This is a testing designated position. Employee must pass screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment and subsequent periodic drug screening thereafter.
• Duties of this position entail alternative duty schedules (e.g., extended shifts exceeding 12 hours; nights, weekends, or holidays; being recalled for urgent situations; working overtime without notice in response to time-sensitive matters).
• Must obtain/maintain Country/Theater Clearance per the Foreign Clearance Guide, maintain no-fee passport and Visa, obtain pertinent vaccinations and immunizations and complete any pre-employment screening.
• This position requires the incumbent to possess, or obtain and maintain, a valid regular or official U.S. Passport.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job.

• 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
• Current Army Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Employee
• Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Applying to OCONUS Positions
• Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
• Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
• Excepted Service Overseas Family Member Appointment
• Family Member Preference (FMP) for Overseas Employment
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
• Military Spouse Preference (MSP) for Overseas Employment
• Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
• People with Disabilities, Schedule A
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below.

Basic Requirement For Foreign Affairs Specialist:

• Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher 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.

OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

OR C. Experience: Four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields, as shown in A above, in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.

AND Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) Preparing reports and other written analytical and technical material in areas such as foreign affairs or strategic national security concerns to support deliberations and decisions by management; and 2) Ensuring programs and policies in an Area of Responsibility (AOR) are aligned with strategic objectives.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• International Engagement Action Planning
• International Engagement Assessment & Analysis
• International Engagement Policy Development
• Resource and Program Management

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-12).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• U.S. citizens overseas under ordinarily resident status are not eligible for appointment under the Status of Forces Agreement.
• Locality pay does not apply in the overseas area.
• Employees (and family members) who require medical or dental care in the overseas location will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care.
• Pay retention may be offered to selected applicants for positions at overseas locations.
• Selectees may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc.
• This is a(n) 60 - Foreign Affairs & Strategic Planning Career Field position.
• The initial length of this overseas tour is 36 months.
• Defense National Relocation Program will not be authorized.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• 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.
• Recruitment/ Advanced Rate In-Hire/Advanced Leave Accrual incentive may be authorized if determined to be in the organization's interest.
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.