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FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD(Policy))
This job announcement has closed

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.

Find out more about OUSDP on our LinkedIn page: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy | LinkedIn.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
01/10/2025 to 01/15/2025
Salary
$120,579 to - $195,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
1 vacancy
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
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
ST-12659725-25-AR
Control number
827461300

Duties

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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. Independently identifies and focuses senior policy attention on issues with major defense policy,
    national security, or international security implications.
  • Takes a lead role in executing team projects, including actively encouraging communication, coordination, innovation, and high-quality team products.
  • Provides expert advice at the ASD or higher level on key strategy, planning, programming, budgeting, and policy matters.
  • Prepares briefings, presentations, and decision memoranda to support deliberations and decisions by senior management
  • 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.

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)
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment and are subjected to random drug testing.
  • This position has been designated as Special Sensitive. The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SCI and SAP components.
  • The incumbent must adhere to DoD Standards of Conduct
  • Advanced leave accrual, superior qualifications, relocation/recruitment incentives, and student loan repayment may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements.
  • This position may require occasional travel (up to 20%) 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.
  • 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

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.

Time in Grade:

For entry at the GS-13 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-12 or higher grade in the Federal Service.
For entry at the GS-14 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-13 or higher grade in the Federal Service.
For entry at the GS-15 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-14 or higher grade in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience:

For the GS-13, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-12 if outside the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as Supporting senior U.S. Government civilian leadership on national security matters and strategic level interests related to the Middle East; Preparing information papers, memos, briefings, and/or messaging related to the Middle East for senior U.S. Government civilian leadership engagements and bilateral or multilateral dialogues; Coordinating on U.S. Government policy positions with interagency counterparts, such as the National Security Council or State Department; and supporting the preparations of senior U.S. Government civilian leadership for engagements with Congress, think tanks, or the media on Middle East security issues.

For the GS-14, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-13 if outside the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as Analyzing and supporting senior U.S. Government civilian leadership on national security matters and strategic-level interests related to the Middle East; Preparing information papers, memos, briefings, and/or messaging related to the Middle East for senior U.S. Government civilian leadership engagements and bilateral or multilateral dialogues; Collaborating on U.S. Government policy positions with interagency counterparts, such as the National Security Council or State Department; Preparing recommendations and analysis for senior U.S. Government civilian leadership participation in the U.S. National Security Council-led interagency decision making process; Conducting research and analysis to prepare senior U.S. Government civilian leadership for engagements with Congress, think tanks, or the media on Middle East security issues.

For the GS-15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-14 if outside the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as Advising senior U.S. Government civilian leadership on national security matters and strategic-level interests related to Middle East, to include Iraq, Egypt, Israel, the Levant, Iran or the Gulf; Reviewing and preparing information papers, memos, briefings, and/or messaging related to the Middle East for senior U.S. Government civilian leadership engagements and bilateral or multilateral dialogues; Collaborating and representing U.S. Government policy priorities with interagency counterparts, such as the National Security Council or State Department; Preparing senior U.S. Government civilian leadership for participation in the U.S. National Security Council-led interagency decision making process; Preparing senior U.S. Government civilian leadership for engagements with Congress, think tanks, or the media on Middle East security issues.


In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements, qualified applicants must also possess the quality of experience as it relates to how closely or to what extent an applicant's background, recency of experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Candidates must clearly demonstrate the possession of competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level to be qualified for the position. Applicants must describe how their experience meets the competencies within the body of the resume. No separate statements addressing competencies are required.

Competencies: International Engagement Action Planning, International Engagement Implementation, International Engagement Policy Development, Oral Communication, and Writing

Qualification and time-in-grade requirements must be met at the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the qualifying experience at these grade levels.

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: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency. If selected, an official/sealed transcript will be required prior to appointment.

To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services at the time of application. National Association of Credential Evaluation Services

Additional information

  • A one year probationary or trial period may be required.
  • Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination
  • This position is subject to completion of 1 year probationary period for assignment to a supervisory position.
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment or placement.
  • Management has the prerogative to select at either grade level.
  • This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to target position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of a promotion is implied.
  • This position requires pre-employment and periodic counter-intelligence polygraph exams.
  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
  • Employee is subject to recall or call back during off-shift hours, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, if required by upper management.
  • For more information on veterans' preference click here.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (to verify your registration status click here).
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
  • The Department of Defense (DoD) policy on employment of annuitants issued March 18, 2004 will be used in determining eligibility of annuitants.
  • This position is subject to the limitations imposed by the DOD Priority Placement Program.
  • Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level.
  • PPP Application Based Preference Eligibles (Military Reserve and National Guard technicians, Military Reserve and National Guard technicians receiving disability retirement, and Retained Grade employees) will receive priority consideration at the full performance level only.
  • For more information regarding qualifications requirements please click here.
  • You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility
  • All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance.

How you will be evaluated

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

SME Panel Review
Human resources will review resumes for eligibility, and then forward eligible resumes to a Subject Matter Expert (SME Panel) for determination of minimum qualifications. Eligible candidates determined to be qualified by the SME Panel will be certified for further consideration.


Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the applicant questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies:

  • International Engagement Action Planning
  • International Engagement Implementation
  • International Engagement Policy Development
  • Oral Communication
  • Writing


You can preview the Questionnaire here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12659725

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/15/2025, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded is received, legible and accurate.

HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

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