Foreign Affairs Officer

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Office of Regional, Global and Functional Affairs (H/RGF).

The Office of Regional, Global, and Functional Affairs (RGF) advances the Secretary's legislative agenda in accordance with the Administration's foreign priorities, and other interests to Congress.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants must have the required experience or education as described below and meet any selective factors, when specified.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; OR Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that included a combination of courses, with 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 Have 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics / quantitative methods.

OR Have a combination of education and experience where your coursework was equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, (as shown above), PLUS appropriate relevant experience OR additional education.

OR Have completed at least 4 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: qualifying work experience may have been gained 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.) Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement.

If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.

IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience providing guidance, defending proposals, and engaging Congress on legislative initiatives.

Experience coordinating testimony, briefing materials, and written and/or oral communications relating to the development of legislative initiatives to Congress and responding to constituent related inquiries.

Experience working with the interagency (other federal agencies, the National Security Council, and/or White House).

Experience in applying federal policies, laws, and regulations that govern immigration law, passport services, and/or consular support to U.S. citizens overseas. Major Duties:

• Serves as the chief action officer and is the initial point of contact regarding policy issues of the client bureaus and the daily coordination of legislative initiatives with potential impact to the Department and the current Administration.
• Monitors and evaluates developing foreign policy, legislative, and political issues as reported or identified in the various notifications received to determine impact to client bureau(s)/portfolio mission objectives.
• Monitors significant foreign developments and trends and analyzes political, social, and military reporting to understand the current situation and its implications for U.S. interests.
• Advises on functional/regional program issues and problems (impact of sanctions, personnel assigned to U.S. missions overseas, etc.); develops and proposes resolution of policy and legislative issues and coordinates implementation of policy decisions
• Prepares written products and oral presentations to foreign policy decision-makers and decision-making entities of assigned regional portfolio for inclusion into briefing materials to prepare for congressional testimony and briefings.