Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The purpose of this position is to serve as Country Director in the Americas/Africa Division (Foreign Affairs Specialist).

Duties

Responsible for recommending and implementing policy guidance for the direction, integration, management and supervision of international programs and activities affiliated with the Department of the Air Force concerning country and/or regional responsibility. Areas of direct responsibility include implementation of US and USAF policy, military contacts and cooperative activities, country and regional reviews, USAF security assistance, disclosure policy and related activities, technology transfer, and other USAF international programs with foreign countries, coordination of senior AF official's international travel and visits of senior foreign officials to the United States. Reviews and establishes policy on current developments in the Americas/AFRICOM Division. Identifies items that impact USAF bilateral or regional programs. Represents USAF at weekly, monthly, and annually occurring interagency and departmental conferences and meetings. Represents SAF/IA as a member of appropriate committees and working groups.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a secret clearance
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• This is a Centrally Managed Position in the Operations Career Field
• This position has been identified as a designated position under the Air Force Drug Testing Plan. Incumbent(s) of this position is/are subject to the possibility of a random drug testing.
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Employee must be comfortable in dealing with high-ranking foreign representatives and able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions
• A Bachelor’s Degree in International Politics, International Affairs, or Education is highly desired; Spanish language skills/regional experience highly desired; ability to converse in and understand the French and/or Portuguese language is desired.
• Completion of an Intermediate Service School, (i.e. ACSC, AFLEP, ELDP, AFIT, etc.), within six years of accepting position is highly desirable
• Employee should be able to sustain periods of high stress without danger to the individual’s health. Work is primarily sedentary in nature and no special physical ability is required to do the work.
• Majority of work is performed in an office setting; however, the position does require extensive travel (as much as 25% of time), both within CONUS and overseas, often on short notice and for extended (1-2 week) periods of time.
• Work may require travel away from the normal duty station on military and commercial aircraft
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
• Superior Qualifications may be authorized upon request
• All current federal employees must have a minimum performance rating of acceptable or higher to be considered for placement

Qualifications

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, 0130. BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-12: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of national security, strategic policy, international relations, foreign affairs, foreign assistance programs, and related fields. Specific experience is required in performing these functions with the Americas/AFRICOM area of responsibility countries; able to develop and analyze political-military alternatives as they relate to the USAF and the Americas/Africa region. OR EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree 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%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. 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-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 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 GS-13: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of national security, strategic policy, international relations, foreign affairs, foreign assistance programs, and related fields. Specific experience is required in performing these functions with the Americas/AFRICOM area of responsibility countries; able to develop and analyze political-military alternatives as they relate to the USAF and Europe. OR EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree 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%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. 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. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs) GS-12/ GS-13: 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 foreign affairs and national security policies and objectivities; US defense programs and policies doctrine, strategy, and political-military structures as they pertain to the Americas/AFRICOM region. 2. Knowledge of US foreign policy, legislation/directives, the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), and other DoD and Air Force directives/regulations governing the sale of military articles and services to foreign governments. 3. Ability to research and analyze information/situations to provide sound advice and recommendation in support of senior Air Force officials' decision-making. 4. Skill and diplomacy in dealing with senior officials in the Federal Government, industry and the international community. 5. Ability to communicate effective, both orally and in writing to justify, defend, present, advocate, and/or advise on Security Assistance processes, actions, and decisions. 6. Ability to perform work requiring a professional knowledge of the formulation and implementation of foreign policy of the United States in the conduct of the relations, primarily of a political or politico-economic nature, of the United States with other governments. 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.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Contacts

• Address HQ USAF and Support Elements - Pentagon 1720 Air Force Pentagon Washington, DC 20330 US
• Name: Total Force Service Center
• Phone: 1-800-525-0102
• Email: [email protected]