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FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
Air Combat Command
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
01/06/2026 to 01/12/2026
Salary
$91,205 to - $118,569 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Davis Monthan AFB, AZ
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
Term - 13 MONTHS
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
4V-AFPC-12853277-071683-SLN
Control number
853595200

Duties

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The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as Foreign Affairs Specialist for the Component MAJCOM to Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). The AOR is designated as Central America, South America and the Caribbean; 31 countries and 10 territories. Advise, analyzes, program, develops and evaluates issues, and provides recommendations to resolve substantive problems and issues of effectiveness and efficiency of work operations in a C-MAJCOM program.

Duties

  • Serves as AFSOUTH Significant Security Cooperation initiative (SSCI) Program Manager
  • Lead Integration Analyst for stakeholder Integration into TSC Planning Process
  • Security Force Assistance and Air Advisor Program Coordinator.
  • Documents planning and programming decisions in appropriate formats to meet C-MAJCOM, COCOM, and Air Force requirements.
  • Serves as Foreign Disclosure Officer for AFSOUTH Staff.
  • Serves as Security Cooperation Workforce Development Training Manager for the AFSOUTH A5 Division.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • A security clearance may be required
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • May travel by military or commercial air to conferences, meetings, or other functions away from the duty site
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain an official Passport
  • This position may require employee to work overtime
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain Secret clearance
  • Spanish language and interpretation/translation skills are required
  • Portuguese language and interpretation/translation skills are desired
  • May perform other duties as required

Qualifications

Conditions Of Employment: (cont'd)

  1. This position is designated as a key position IAW AFI 36-507. Duties of this position are essential to the accomplishment of wartime/contingency operations. Incumbents of key positions must be removed from their military recall status if alternative for filling of the position during an emergency are not available.
  2. This is a Term position NTE 13 MONTH; the individual selected for this position may be extended without further competition. Current Federal civilian employees may apply for this position using "Reinstatement" eligibility and if selected, a break in service of at least 4 calendar days may be required prior to appointment to this position.

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:
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. For positions at grades GS-12 and above, this experience must have included either (a) responsibility for the direction and coordination of research, analysis, or other professional work in one or more of the fields listed in A above, or (b) specialized professional work of a high level of difficulty and responsibility in one or more of these fields. This high level experience must have been in such specialized activities as (1) formulation of instructions and policy guidance for United States representatives in international organizations; (2) transport and communication involving knowledge of economic, political, and technical aspects of international aviation, shipping, inland transport, or radio, telephone, and telegraph, etc.; (3) cultural affairs involving formulation and operation of policy on large-scale international cultural exchange programs; (4) occupied area affairs involving problems of occupation of conquered or liberated countries, regions, or zones; or (5) other specialized international affairs such as analyzing public opinion and attitudes, evaluating specific conditions, trends, or forces in a foreign country, formulating policy on problems of petroleum resources or fisheries, etc., representing foreign interests, protecting American property or interests, arranging for conferences, or similar activities.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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 and skills sufficient to perform a wide range of responsibilities and duties, evaluate and present divergent professional opinions affecting significant public policy issues and define and describe feasible options, including the consequences of their adoption; Knowledge of the significant security cooperation initiative design, staffing, and approval processes, as well as knowledge of the SSCI program management process; Knowledge of the Assessments, Monitoring & Evaluation process as it relates to the SSCI; Knowledge of political science and understanding of international relations to develop and devise strategies, plans and methods that integrate Air Force Security Assistance Center, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Air Combat Command, USSOUTHCOM, and AFSOUTH policies, interagency policies and international partner's policies and strategic guidance to support the AFSOUTH mission.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-inĀ­-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.

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:

1. Knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of command level plans and programs for conducting major operations such as rescue, mission and flight operations, tactical airlift, deployment, mobilization, exercise, flying training systems both manned and unmanned, rescue, foreign military sales, PPBS, acquisition, special operations, or similar operations.

2. Knowledge of DoD Security Cooperation programs, authorities, and implementation mechanisms, as well as the sequence and timing of key events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions related to actual events; and the relationship of the various entities involved in overall program planning and execution of security cooperation operations and evaluations.

3. Knowledge of military command structure, missions, programs, and organizational relationships and program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions as related to actual events.

4. Knowledge of the various command entities involved in overall planning and execution of operations and evaluations.

5. Skill in designing and conducting comprehensive studies; and preparing solutions to especially broad, important, and severe military operational and contingency areas. Ability to plan, organize, and influence others in studies or projects and to negotiate effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations, where proposals involve substantial resources, and require extensive changes in established concepts and procedures.
6. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; negotiate complex issues; and maintain good working relationships.


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.

Additional information

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. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

The resume/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.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

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