FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
What you'd do
This position is located in the Defense Technology Security Administration, International Engagement Directorate. The DTSA's staff element is responsible for developing, coordinating, and interpreting Department of War and interagency positions, policies, plans, and recommendations on a broad range of strategic security and regulatory/export control matters involving the transfer of sensitive technology and classified information to international partners and allies.
Major duties
Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Provides expert advice and recommendations to DoW senior leadership on complex developments for use in internal DoW, interagency, including NSC decision-making fora, and international engagements. Prepares briefings, presentations, and decision memoranda to support deliberations and decisions by senior management. Prepares communications for senior DoW officials on complex defense policy, national security, technology security, defense trade issues, and technology release/foreign disclosure processes, both orally and in writing, for use with national and international audiences. Develops or contributes testimony or other presentations to the Congress and accurately represents DoW positions during contacts with Congressional staff. Executes independent complex analytical projects using multiple sources of information.
What you need to qualify
In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the Basic Requirements for the Foreign Affairs (0130) series which includes: 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 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 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. You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to analyze and evaluate complex national security and foreign policy issues to formulate viable policy options; coordinate and execute technology release/foreign disclosure processes; collaborate in the planning and execution of international policy and engagement projects; apply and adapt standard analytical methodologies to resolve complicated issues where guidelines may be broad; and synthesize information from diverse sources to draft policy recommendations and briefings for review by senior leadership. You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to direct and oversee the formulation of national security and foreign policy strategies; manage complex, high-visibility international engagement portfolios or directorate-level programs; establish agency-wide analytical frameworks and set policy precedents to resolve unprecedented global challenges; coordinate and execute technology release/foreign disclosure processes; and serve as a principal subject matter expert, representing the organization in high-stakes interagency or bilateral negotiations to synthesize competing national interests into unified, executive-level policy directives. You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to direct and oversee the formulation of national security and foreign policy strategies; manage complex, high-visibility international engagement portfolios or directorate-level programs; coordinate and execute technology release/foreign disclosure processes; establish agency-wide analytical frameworks and set policy precedents to resolve unprecedented global challenges; and serve as a principal subject matter expert, representing the organization in high-stakes interagency or bilateral negotiations to synthesize competing national interests into unified, executive-level policy directives. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Before you apply
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