Foreign Affairs Specialist - Department of Defense - Arlington, VA

Department of Defense (DoD)

Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD(Policy))

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO VETERANS CLAIMING PREFERENCE: PLEASE REFER TO THE OTHER INFORMATION SECTION FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ON VETERANS PREFERENCE CRITERIA.

Mission Statement

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is the principal staff element of the Secretary of Defense in the exercise of policy development, planning, resource management and program evaluation responsibilities. OSD includes the offices of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Under Secretaries of Defense, Deputy Chief Management Officer, Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Assistant Secretaries of Defense, General Counsel, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, Assistants to the Secretary of Defense and Director of Administration and Management.

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: This announcement is open to: All U.S. Citizens

This position may be filled at either GS-12 or GS-13 grade level, please indicate the grade for which you want to be considered. If selected at the lower grade level, incumbent may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level in the time frame allowed by regulations and upon management’s request. Promotion is contingent upon satisfactory completion of required training, regulatory requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the duties. Promotion is not guaranteed or implied.

Duties

As a Foreign Affairs Specialist you will be responsible for the following duties:

• Balance immediate -term operational and security issues with the development of a long-term strategy and implementation plans for the United States and Afghanistan defense.

• Develop the analytical underpinning for U.S. policy and strategy regarding Afghanistan, and any outreach and engagement strategy within the interagency and with Congress. Serve the lead role in supporting the development, implementation and communication of Afghanistan policy.

•Provide support and analysis of relevant political, economic, and security issues that have implications for the bilateral defense and security relationship, as well as the wider region.

• Assist the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia) (DASD/APC) in the formulation of policy positions. Represent DASD(APC) in departmental and interagency policy working groups.

• Prepare speeches, talking points and other background information for public appearances or news interviews.

Travel Required

Occasional Travel

Funds permit and mission required.

Relocation Authorized

No

Job Requirements

Job Requirements

Key Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Application materials must be received by 11:59PM EST on the closing date.

This is a drug testing designated position.

Qualifications

This position has a Basic Requirement for the (0130) series:
1. 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.

OR

2. 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

3. 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. *NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/foreign-affairs-series-0130/ for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by: Friday, June 03, 2016 .

To qualify for the GS-13: You must have one year Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private/military sector) giving the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Specialized experience required for this position is:
Advise senior U.S Government civilian leadership on political-military matters affecting U.S. national security interests.

Analyze U.S national security policies in Afghanistan and develop policy options and recommendations to support the U.S. National Security Council-led interagency decision-making process.

Prepare papers, briefings and reports for senior U.S. Government civilian leadership, Congress, and media regarding U.S. national security policies in Afghanistan. To qualify for the GS-12: You must have one year Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private/military sector) giving the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Specialized experience required for this position is:
Develop policy options to address U.S national security interest.

Assist with analyzing U.S national security policies in Afghanistan.

Gather data to assist with developing policies in relation to U.S security interests.

Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies:

1. Management of the relationship between Afghanistan and the United States.

2. Knowledge of international diplomacy and national security.

3. Ability to communicate mission requirements domestically and abroad.

4. Ability to engage directly with the Interagency and Congress on national security policy.

Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at:

http://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo.pdf

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

WORK SCHEDULE: Full Time

OVERTIME : Occasionally

TOUR OF DUTY: Flexible

RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES: Not Authorized

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA): Exempt

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Not Required

TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position is telework eligible

SELECTIVE SERVICE REQUIREMENT: Please visit https://www.sss.gov for more information. Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at:

http://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo.pdf

Other Notes:
Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. WHS job applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the WHS Reasonable Accommodation Program Manager. For more information see “Reasonable Accommodations” at http://www.whs.mil/our-services/people-services. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Delegated Examining -Additional vacancies may be filled from this announcement upon its closing for up to 90 days.

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Security Clearance

Top Secret/SCI

Additional Information