Foreign Affairs Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Policy (OUSDP).

The USDP serves as the principal advisor and assistant to the Secretary of War for all matters concerned with the formulation of national security and defense policy with particular emphasis on the integration and oversight of DoW policy and plans to achieve national security objectives.

This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies within OUSWP. In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

Basic Requirements for Foreign Affairs Series 0130 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.

You may qualify at the GS 12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: I have one year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) requiring application of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position being filled.

Candidates for this position must clearly demonstrate in their resume that they possess specialized experience in: 1) Conducting research and analysis on political-military, national security, or international public policy issues to support policy development or international engagement activities; 2) Evaluating information from multiple sources and preparing written products such as memoranda, background papers, or briefing materials; 3) Applying established policies, guidance, and analytical methods to assess policy options or alternatives; and 4) Coordinating with internal organizational components or external stakeholders to support policy analysis or engagement objectives.

You may qualify at the GS 13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: I have one year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) requiring application of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position being filled.

Candidates for this position must clearly demonstrate in their resume that they possess specialized experience in: 1) Conducting research and analysis on political-military, national security, or foreign policy issues to support DoW or U.S.

Government decision-making; 2) Assisting in the preparation of written products (e.g., memoranda, briefing materials, background papers) for senior DoW civilian leadership; 3) Supporting the development of policy options or recommendations related to DoW, national security, or U.S.

foreign policy; and 4) Coordinating with DoW components, U.S. Government organizations, or external stakeholders to support national security objectives.

You may qualify at the GS 14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: I have one year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) requiring application of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position being filled.

Candidates for this position must clearly demonstrate in their resume that they possess specialized experience in: 1) Advising senior DoW civilian leadership on political-military or national security issues affecting U.S.

interests; 2) Conducting complex analyses related to the development, interpretation, or implementation of DoW, national security, or U.S.

foreign policies; 3) Developing substantive policy options and recommendations to support interagency or National Security Council-led decision-making processes; and 4) Preparing senior U.S.

Government civilian leadership for bilateral or multilateral engagements and supporting Congressional engagement activities.

You may qualify at the GS 15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: I have one year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-14) requiring application of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position being filled.

Candidates for this position must clearly demonstrate in their resume that they possess specialized experience in: 1) Serving as a senior advisor to DoW civilian leadership on complex political-military and national security matters with significant policy implications; 2) Leading analyses that directly inform the formulation, coordination, or implementation of DoW or U.S.

foreign policy; 3) Developing and advocating consensus policy positions within DoW and across interagency and international partners; and 4) Representing DoW in high-level engagements and overseeing or mentoring staff involved in complex policy initiatives.

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. Major Duties:

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Independently identifies and focuses senior policy attention on issues with major defense policy, national security, detention affairs, or international security implications.

Provide expert advice at the ASW and higher level on key strategy, planning, programming, budgeting, and policy matters.

Review and develop policy positions and responses to actions originating in other DoW and non-DoW offices or agencies that have implications for foreign policy and national security policy, strategy, program planning, and budgets.

Represents DoW in delegations to international meetings and conferences. Develops or contributes testimony or other representations to the Congress.