FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Conditions of Employment Continued: Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance. Position is designated Special Sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A nondisclosure agreement must be signed. This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. 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 REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: EDUCATION: 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 EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: 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. NOTE: You must submit copies 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 FOR GS-13: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 (or higher) grade level or equivalent pay systems (may have been obtained in the federal service, military, or public sector). Which includes mastery/expert knowledge of national security issues to ensure National and Joint objectives are incorporated across Air Force strategies, plans, policies, and processes. Mastery knowledge of the formulation and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations, primarily of a political-military nature, of the United States with other governments. Expert knowledge and ability to research and analyze information/situations to provide sound advice and recommendations in support of senior Air Force officials’ decision-making. 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-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-14: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 (or higher) grade level or equivalent pay systems (may have been obtained in the federal service, military, or public sector). Which includes mastery/expert knowledge of national security issues to ensure National and Joint objectives are incorporated across Air Force strategies, plans, policies, and processes. Expert knowledge of the formulation and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations, primarily of a political-military nature, of the United States with other governments. Ability to research and analyze information/situations to provide sound advice and recommendations in support of senior Air Force officials’ decision-making. 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-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 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: FOR GS-13 Knowledge of national security issues to ensure National and Joint objectives are incorporated across Air Force strategies, plans, policies, and processes. Knowledge of the formulation and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations, primarily of a political-military nature, of the United States with other governments. Ability to research and analyze information/situations to provide sound advice and recommendations in support of senior Air Force officials’ decision-making Skill to plan, organize, and direct team study work and to negotiate effectively with other action officers, senior analysts, and management to accept and implement recommendations, where the proposals involve substantial agency resources, require extensive changes in established procedures, or may be in conflict with the desires of the activity studied. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to justify, defend, present, advocate and/or advise on AF positions including to very senior audiences. Ability to synthesize complex, often competing, information and viewpoints to determine best course of action and advocate recommendations across the Air Staff and broader DoD, and to senior Air Force leaders. FOR GS-14 Knowledge of national security issues to ensure National and Joint objectives are incorporated across Air Force strategies, plans, policies, and processes. Knowledge of the formulation and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations, primarily of a political-military nature, of the United States with other governments. Skill and ability to research and analyze information/situations to provide sound advice and recommendations in support of senior Air Force officials’ decision-making Skill and ability to plan, organize, and direct team study work and to negotiate effectively with other action officers, senior analysts, and management to accept and implement recommendations, where the proposals involve substantial agency resources, require extensive changes in established procedures, or may be in conflict with the desires of the activity studied. Skill and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to justify, defend, present, advocate and/or advise on AF positions including to very senior audiences.
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