Foreign Affairs Specialist
What you'd do
The position is located in the Office of Policy, International Affairs, and Environment (APL), Office of International Affairs, and serves as the FAA desk officer and a focal point on U.S. civil aviation policies, practices and procedures in his/her geographic area of responsibility within the incumbent¿s assigned regional portfolio. The Foreign Affairs Specialist is assigned to the Asia Pacific Staff, Western Hemisphere Staff or the Europe, Africa, and Middle East Staff.
Major duties
Plans, develops, evaluates and recommends FAA policies for meeting international civil aviation objectives and operational responsibilities. Consults with FAA operational services, FAA representatives and International Area Offices; other U.S. Government agencies, such as the Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense; U.S. industry associations and representatives of U.S. Embassies and foreign governments, including civil aviation officials in those countries; and representatives of international and regional groups such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the Latin America Civil Aviation Commission, etc. Applies experience and advanced technical knowledge applicable to his/her discipline to accomplish assignments and to develop plans and techniques to improve programs and policies. Develops and presents analysis supporting proposed agency policies, positions and specific programs directed toward attainment of FAA international aviation objectives. Coordinates or leads FAA participation in, and assists in developing U.S. policy and positions for our attendance in regional international civil aviation organizations' activities, to ensure adequate FAA representation and to further our civil aviation objectives. Assists in developing recommendations on extent to which the FAA should and will accept responsibility for execution of international programs or projects. Coordinates with responsible officials internal and external to the FAA to determine and articulate responsibilities to be assumed by the FAA in connection with foreign aviation technical assistance of the United States Government. Plans and/or coordinates programs and documents decisions and arranges for the resources (personnel, equipment, funding) required to execute agreed FAA responsibilities in the foreign technical assistance field. Contacts are internal and external. May act as a key technical point of contact for assigned activities. Contributes to the preparation of management/technical reports or contractual documents, and may communicate the overall results of a project or work activity to FAA management, the aviation and aerospace industries, and other external parties. Works closely with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, with other FAA offices and with U.S. aviation industry on developing cooperation efforts and agreements, including but not limited to the fields of aviation safety, air traffic control, environment, and emerging technologies. Answers correspondence and inquires received from Congress, the public and foreign governments and their representatives on a wide variety of FAA international program activities. Develops and assists with presenting briefings, background and issue papers on technical, policy and political aspects of international aviation issues, in preparation for and in support of anticipated meetings, travel, or decision-making by senior FAA officials. Prepares special studies, speeches and arranges the necessary logistical support for such events. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments, but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es) or recommend new approaches. Assignments often require reviews of policies and precedents under limited guidance of a manager or other employee. As assigned, the incumbent serves as back-up to counterpart employees in the staff for the performance of the above duties for countries other than those for which he/she has primary responsibility. Resolves all but unique technical problems with limited intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-10-12 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEFINED AS: Experience in developing presentations, briefings, issue papers, reports, speeches and other correspondence on civil aviation program activities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, this experience must have included either (a) responsibility for the direction and coordination of research, analysis, or other professional work in one or more of the fields listed in (1) below under the Education Section; or (b) specialized professional work of a high level of difficulty and responsibility in one or more of these fields. This high-level experience must have been in such specialized activities as: (1) formulation of instructions and policy guidance for United States representatives in international organizations; (2) transport and communication involving knowledge of economic, political, and technical aspects of international aviation, shipping, inland transport, or radio, telephone, and telegraph, etc.; (3) cultural affairs involving formulation and operation of policy on large-scale international cultural exchange programs; (4) occupied area affairs involving problems of occupation of conquered or liberated countries, regions, or zones; or (5) other specialized international affairs such as analyzing public opinion and attitudes, evaluating specific conditions, trends, or forces of a foreign country, formulating policy on problems of petroleum resources or fisheries, etc. You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification. *Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.* Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. **All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.** Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.
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