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Foreign Affairs Specialist

Department of Defense
Washington Headquarters Services
Human Resources Directorate
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Human Resources Directorate, Diversity, Disability and Recruitment Division. The employee will be supporting agencies serviced by WHS and the Office of the Secretary of Defense(OSD).



Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/02/2020 to 04/06/2020
Salary
$48,670 to - $93,638 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
Arlington, VA
3 vacancies
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
No
Appointment type
Term
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
DE-10785224-20-CB
Control number
564442700

Duties

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The purpose of the position is to serve as a Post-Secondary Student or Recent Graduate in the Washington Headquarters Services(WHS), Special Employment Programs. The WHS Special Employment Programs are planned, progressive educational programs that provide for the integration of a student's academic studies and federal work experience with the potential of noncompetitive conversion into the federal career service. Work assignments are designed to permit the knowledge acquired through education/ training to be applied to particular work situations as set forth in the Participant Agreement and/or Individual Development Plan(IDP). The incumbent completes on-the-job training and/or self-development.

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment, applications will be accepted for each location and/or installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.

This Public Notice will be used to fill part-time (24 hours per week) and/or full-time (40 hours per week) direct hire positions.

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

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


Your typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Conduct research and provide support to higher specialist on foreign affairs issued associated with specific functional area(s) to include but not limited to geographic areas, national security, international security, security affairs, special operations, strategic affairs; Congressional, Policy, DoD and USG interagency processes; and defense resource and planning activities
  • Assist with research coordination, analysis and evaluation of assigned projects
  • Prepare reports documenting issues and develop and communicate options and recommendations to peers, colleagues, supervisors, and leadership
  • Provide analysis of policy, strategy, concept, and program issues, force posture alternatives, and implications of changes to the international environment and defense programs

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • Total salary varies depending on location of position
  • 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 may require you to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime.
  • You must be able to travel and work outside of the continental U.S.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Positions are open to:


Post-Secondary students who are currently enrolled in, and in good academic standing at, a full-time program at an institution of higher education and making satisfactory progress toward receipt of a bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution and have completed at least one year of the program.

Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. Short-term training programs (e.g., several two-week programs completed) are not considered an academic course of study.
Applicants can be selected at either the GS-07, GS-09 or GS-11 level. The target grade of this position is GS-11.

Basic Requirement: A 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

A 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

4 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-07) level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement, in addition to the Basic Requirement:

One year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) requiring application of 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 providing analysis of policy, strategy, concept and program issues, force posture alternatives and implications of changes in the international environment.

OR

Completion of a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (or expect to complete within 9 months) or equivalent degree or one year of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree. (Transcripts are required at the time of application.)

OR

A combination of specialized experience as described above and education as described above. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Transcripts are required at the time of application.)

You may qualify at the (GS-09) level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement, in addition to the Basic Requirement:

One year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) requiring application of 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 conducting research in foreign policy issues and assisting with research coordination, analysis and evaluation and preparing reports documenting issues.

OR

Completion of a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or two years of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree. (Transcripts are required at the time of application.)

OR

A combination of specialized experience as described above and education as described above. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Transcripts are required at the time of application.)

You may qualify at the (GS-11) level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement, in addition to the Basic Requirement:

One year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) requiring application of 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 conducting research and providing support on foreign affairs issued associated with geographic areas, national security, international security, security affairs, special operations, and strategic affairs.

OR

Completion of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or three years of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree. (Transcripts are required at the time of application.)

OR

A combination of specialized experience as described above and education as described above. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Transcripts are required at the time of application.)


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.

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

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study

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: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

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, Sponsor's PCS orders, Certification of Expected Separation) at the time of application to verify priority placement and eligibility.

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.

Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify

If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application. Please view the following link for information on how to obtain an alternative application https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?%20title=Alternate_Application_Information

Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resumes and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed in this announcement.

Veterans' Preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. 2108 and 2108a applies and is treated as a positive factor when making a selection from external sources. When making final selections, any candidate with Veterans' Preference should be granted preference in selection over non-preference eligible candidates with substantially equal qualifications as described in the Best Meets Mission Requirements definition below. If you are a veteran claiming Veterans' Preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.

Best Meets Mission Requirements definition: Applicant has the knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies to substantially exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. This equates to the best qualified assessment criteria established for the vacancy and based on overall demonstrated experience, education, training, appraisals/evaluations, job-related awards, certifications, honors and relevant outside activities.

When the application process is complete, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this announcement. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to the Occupational Questionnaire, along with your supporting documentation to determine your ability to demonstrate the following competencies:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Decision Making
  • Oral Communication
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Writing


Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility and qualifications for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

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