Foreign Affairs Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSDP). The USDP serves as the principal advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense for all matters concerned with the formulation of national security and defense policy with particular emphasis on the integration and oversight of DoD policy and plans to achieve national security objectives.

This position could be assigned to one or more of any number of countries or regional portfolios.

Learn more about this agency Help Overview * Accepting applications * Open & closing dates 08/25/2023 to 08/23/2024 * Salary $112,015 - $145,617 per year * Pay scale & grade GS 13 - 15 * Help Locations Many vacancies in the following locations: * Alexandria, VA * Pentagon, Arlington, VA * Remote job No * Telework eligible Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

* Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

* Relocation expenses reimbursed Yes-Recruitment/relocation expenses may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements.

* Appointment type Permanent - * Work schedule Full-time - * Service Competitive * Promotion potential 15 * Job family (Series) 0130 Foreign Affairs * Supervisory status No * Security clearance Sensitive Compartmented Information * Drug test Yes * Position sensitivity and risk Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk * Trust determination process National security * Announcement number ST--AMY * Control number 745475400 Help This job is open to * Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

* Federal employees - Competitive service Current or former competitive service federal employees.

* Land & base management Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.

* Military spouses * Special authorities Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

* Veterans Clarification from the agency WHS PPP Pilot and VEOA Help Duties This is an open continuous announcement.

Applicants will be reviewed throughout the open period of the announcement.

The first cut-off date for consideration of applicants will be 09/08/2023.

Thereafter, the cut-off for applications received will be 10/10/2023; 11/09/2023; 12/8/2023; 1/8/2024; and 2/8/2024; etc., until the job opportunity announcement closes.

Under this recruitment, applications will be accepted and selections made for vacancies as they occur.

There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.

There will be a cut-off of 100 resumes each time applications are submitted to hiring managers.

This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.

Please read this Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: * Plays a major role in the study, review, and adjustment of the strategies, concepts, programs, and budgets required to support OSD policy and program guidance; focuses senior policy attention on issues with major defense policy, national security, or international security implications.

* Takes a lead role in managing team projects, including actively encouraging communication, coordination, innovation, and high quality team products; analyses highly complex policy, strategy, and force posture alternatives and implications.

* Provides expert advice at the ASD or higher level on key strategy and various other matters; reviews and develops Policy positions and responses to action originating in other DoD and non-DoD offices or agencies that have implications for foreign policy and national security policy, strategy, program, planning, and budgets.

* Represents DoD in delegations to international meetings and conferences; represents DoD positions during contact with the Congressional staff; monitors Congressional action on DoD defense strategy, programs, and budget; and develops or contributes testimony or other presentations to the Congress.

Help Requirements Conditions of Employment * U.S.

Citizenship is required * Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see * This position is subject to provisions of the WHS/OSD PPP Pilot Program * May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period * Must be determined suitable for federal employment * Required to participate in the direct deposit program * This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing * This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI and SAP components.

* This position may require occasional travel away from your normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.

* This position may require you to work other than normal hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime.

* Student loan repayment may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements.

* Writing Sample: If you are invited for an interview, you will be required to provide a writing sample, which will be a timed writing exercise you will turn in at the end of a scheduled session.

Qualifications 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 length 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 Basic Requirement: 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 advise senior agency civilian leadership (e.g.

Director, Principal Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary) on political-military matters affecting U.S.

national security interests; support the preparation of papers, memoranda, briefings, and/or messaging for senior agency civilian leadership (e.g.

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary); and support Congressional engagement by drafting Advance Policy Questions, responses to Questions for the Record, written and oral testimony, and/or Member and staff briefings.

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 advise senior agency civilian leadership (e.g.

Director, Principal Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary) on political-military matters affecting U.S.

national security interests; conduct analyses regarding the development, interpretation, and/or implementation of agency, national security, or U.S.

foreign policies; prepare papers, memoranda, briefings, and/or messaging for senior agency civilian leadership (e.g.

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary); and support Congressional engagement by drafting Advance Policy Questions, responses to Questions for the Record, written and oral testimony, and/or Member and staff briefings.

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 advise senior agency civilian leadership (e.g.

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary) on political-military matters affecting U.S.

national security interests; conduct far-reaching analyses impacting the development, interpretation, and/or implementation of agency, national security, or U.S.

foreign policies; prepare papers, memoranda, briefings, and/or messaging for senior agency civilian leadership (e.g.

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary); develop policy options and recommendations for senior agency civilian leadership (e.g.

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary) to support the U.S.

National Security Council-led interagency decision-making process; and shape Congressional engagement through the preparation of Advance Policy Questions, responses to Questions for the Record, written and oral testimony, and/or Member and staff briefings.

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

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

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act Chapter 21 of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 2108a, requires Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, assuming the service member is otherwise eligible.

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.

The service member's military service dates are necessary in order to determine whether he or she meets the definition of "veteran" under 5 U.S.C.

2108(1). The "certification" must reflect the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of submission.

The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin (if applicable), your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e.

honorable). Further, under paragraph (h) of the rule, agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD-214 or other appropriate documentation.

Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment.

Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible." Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, 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 under the provisions of title 5, United States Code.

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.

Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: * Position title; * Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); * Agency; and, * Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

All qualifications, education, and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education Education cannot be substituted for experience.

ARE YOU QUALIFYING BASED ON A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE?

You must provide sufficient documentation of your education in your resume.

You are strongly encouraged to provide a copy of transcripts or degrees in your application package.

It is also acceptable to document your applicable course listing in your resume (course number, credits earned, etc.). Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.

Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education.

Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency.

If selected, an official/sealed transcript will be required prior to appointment.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S.

education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S.

accredited college or university.

For further information, visit: Additional information PPP PILOT: The Washington Headquarters Service is currently operating under an approved reengineered Priority Placement Program (PPP) pilot for all positions in its serviced workforce.

This pilot is application based and current PPP registrants who are registered for activity codes 293A and 295A (regardless of the location) are required to apply to the job announcement via USAJobs in order to exercise their priority placement status.

This pilot permits priority candidates to be assessed with other competitive applicants.

Anyone claiming priority status must provide a copy of their PPP registration and supporting documentation (e.g.

RIF notice, Certification of Expected Separation) at the time of application to verify priority placement and eligibility.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE: Military spouse preference applicants are required to apply to job announcement via USAJobs in order to exercise their preference status.

The application must include signed Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, Marriage Certificate or License, Sponsor's PCS orders at the time of application to be considered.

MSP applicants will receive priority consideration at the FPL, and if selected, will be placed at the FPL.

Other priority consideration programs will continue under their current operating procedures.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

If you are unable to apply online, you