FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Full Job Description

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Conditions of Employments: (cont'd) The employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (TS) security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) as a condition of employment.

This position is designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.

The employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing.

Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions, Foreign Affairs Series, 0130.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST 0130 SERIES: A Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) or a degree with a 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.

NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

Courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, as shown above. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

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.

Evaluation of Experience: Qualifying experience may have been 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.

AND In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-14, or equivalent in other pay systems.

Examples of specialized experience includes Mastery of National Disclosure Policy, Arms Export and Control Act, International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy as well as DoD and AF policies, directives and instructions governing release of classified military information (CMI), controlled unclassified information (CUI) and associated weapons systems, capabilities and advanced technologies to foreign governments and international organizations; Expert knowledge of USAF security assistance and foreign military training programs, US defense alliances, personnel exchange management, intelligence sharing programs, U.S.

government and commercial international cooperative research, development and acquisition (ICR&DA) programs. U.S. country and regional defense policies, combined exercise programs and current U.S.

peacekeeping and trade sanctions enforcement activities; Working knowledge of aerospace weapons systems, aerospace weapons, foreign military sales law, principles and policies, national and international politics, and economic and military operations sufficient to serve as a technical expert.

Provides recommendations on agency policies that are the basis for development and implementation of international programs.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.

One year at the GS-14 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-15 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1.

Knowledge of the National Disclosure Policy (NDP), the Arms Export Control Act, and other DoD and Air Force policies and directives which govern the release of military information to foreign governments and international organizations.

2. Knowledge of politico-military affairs, Air Force operations, and technologies used in military weapons systems. 3.

Ability to research, analyze, and weigh the relative importance of the subjects in #2 above and reach sound judgments based on an evaluation of both objective and subjective factors. 4.

Ability to integrate the findings in #3 above and develop policy recommendations and guidelines. 5. Exceptionally strong speaking and writing skills.

A master's degree in international relations or national security affairs is highly desirable. Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally. 6.

Ability to assess Division operations and manage finances. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.

You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as Chief, Disclosure Policy and Plans Branch, Foreign Disclosure, Weapons, and Technology Transfer Division.

Incumbent provides leadership, guidance and direction to military and civilians in the development of policies, programs and procedures covering the release of military information or equipment to foreign nations and international organizations.

These releases may be to support Foreign Military Sales, foreign training, international research and development, international co-production, combined operations, military intelligence sharing, and other areas.

Incumbent also acts as senior analyst and policy expert for the Foreign Disclosure, Weapons, and Technology Transfer Division.

Acts as the Chief of Air Force Disclosure in the absence of the Disclosure Chief and assumes duties of the Division Chief when necessary.

Duties: Guides the development of national, DoD, and USAF disclosure policies, advisories, guidelines, Air Force instructions, delegation of disclosure authority letters, export license applications, exemption certifications to the International Traffic and Arms Regulations, release guidelines and disclosure guidance Plans, directs and oversees the work of eleven employees in grades ranging from Lt Col and Major, and GS-12 through GS-14.

Develops and maintains broad expertise in the following areas as they pertain to Air Force disclosure initiatives: current and potential international programs, politico-military affairs, AF operations, technologies with military applications, and potential risks to the safeguarding of US equipment or information in the possession of other nations.

Functions as a senior staff resource management officer and oversees the management of the Foreign Disclosure and Technology Transfer Branch's Technology Transfer budget.

Manages disclosure oversight, education and training involving the Air Force Foreign Disclosure program.