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Foreign Affairs Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Policy and Strategic Engagement, Office of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, AEU-1

Summary

The incumbent is the top agency expert and focal point on U.S. civil aviation policies, practices and procedures in his/her area of responsibility. He/she must coordinate and manage aviation-related activities within their geographical portfolio with other U.S. Government agencies, industry and other civil aviation authorities and international aviation organizations.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/08/2026 to 04/10/2026
Salary
$137,681 - $213,334 per year

The salary listed above includes a 22.62% locality payment for International assignments.

Pay scale & grade
FV K
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Senegal
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - The job may require up to 50% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes— - Fully-Paid PCS - Permanent Change of Station - In accordance with applicable FAA Travel regulations, full relocation will be paid (actual expenses). Relocation expenses paid are subject to applicable taxes.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
AWA-APL-26-0499BR-98058
Control number
864203500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent FAA employees

Duties

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Is a recognized expert within FAA and is called upon to provide leadership for highly complex and challenging activities under the minimal direction of a manager or executive. May act as a technical expert to develop new and innovative concepts, approaches, methodologies, techniques, and policies, or as a senior project manager or team leader for large, challenging work activities.

Proactively implements the key focus areas of the FAA's international mission:

Develops initiatives that advance U.S. standards, policies, and procedures to achieve a safer, more efficient, and sustainable global air transportation system and competitive marketplace.

Formulates strategies to help achieve a common and modernized system of air traffic control and air navigation for both civil and military aircraft.

Identifies and executes bilateral arrangements that codify US and foreign commitments to harmonize standards, and/or adopt of US practices through targeted technical assistance and cooperative arrangements.

Collaborates with the FAA Management Board, staff offices and lines of business to advance the international component of FAA programmatic initiatives as the international standard, and to ensure interoperability, collaboration and harmonization.

Works with International Civil Aviation Organization regional offices and entities, as well as identified critical states and partners, to formulate FAA initiatives of appropriate scope and scale to US interests that efficiently leverage the FAA presence and efficacy in the world.

Communicates the latest NOTAMs, advisories and other security-related documents and information to key African nation partners, and advises FAA ASH of airspace changes or other conflict-related updates in Africa that may affect US carriers.

As a core function, supports the FAA’s international mission:

Builds critical communication networks and relationships with other governments, air navigation service providers, international organizations, US Embassy officials, and aviation industry representatives.

Collects, analyzes and distributes critical information and intelligence in his/her area of responsibility and using this information to assist FAA decision makers in effectively developing and implementing the FAA international strategic plan.

Contributes to the FAA’s strategic planning by formulating FAA initiatives of appropriate scope and scale to US interests that efficiently leverage the FAA presence and efficacy in the world.

Manages key programs and projects that advance the agency’s international goals and objectives.

Supervises the hiring, workload and expectations of locally employed staff (LES) in the FAA office. Is responsible for managing the LES’ day-to-day assignments, providing feedback and direction on projects, and assessing the employee in the State Department’s employee rating system.

As a senior official posted overseas, interacts daily with the U.S. Embassy and participates in a number of Embassy
functions, including membership in various Embassy committees. Other duties may include attending Embassy meetings, participating in briefings for members of the American business community, representing the FAA and/or the Embassy at international events, or fulfilling additional activities as directed by the Embassy leadership.

Contacts are internal and external. Often represents FAA as the primary technical authority for major projects, programs, and other areas of FAA responsibility. Formulates and recommends organizational positions on major projects/policies/issues to senior management.

Provides expert guidance and instruction, both internally and externally, to address diverse, complex issues which often cross multiple projects/programs or functional/technical areas. Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Works with senior management to identify and jointly solve problems.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
  • Travel Required: 50% (International Only)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-J, FG/GS-14 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

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SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEFINED AS:

Experience working in the international arena, especially on behalf of the FAA or other US Government organizations, to include at a US Embassy, an international organization, or for a private company or non-governmental organization.

AND;

Experience which provided knowledge of geopolitical issues and aviation organizations/issues in the countries managed in an international/foreign portfolio.

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In addition, 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 (1) below under the Education Section; 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 of a foreign country, formulating policy on problems of petroleum resources or fisheries, etc.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

Basic Requirements

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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.

If you are a current or former Federal employee, and you currently hold or previously held a position classified in the 0130 occupational series, you are not required to submit a college transcript provided you upload a copy of the SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, verifying your classification in the 0130 occupational series.

Applicants, who are not currently in the 0130 occupational series in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 0130 occupational series, you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

Foreign Education: For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

NOTES:

1. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about Core Compensation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits.

2. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate.

3. Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed.

4. This Level 3 (Critical-Sensitive; Top Secret) position requires favorable adjudication of a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Federal Aviation Administration

At the FAA, the sky is not the limit—it is just the beginning. Exciting new opportunities are emerging in aviation and aerospace. Significant investments are advancing the research and development of autonomous vehicles, environmentally friendly electric aircraft, high-speed and long-endurance solar-powered aircraft, and new types of space vehicles. Success with these new technologies and vehicle types will introduce new ways to transport people and goods expanding aviation's footprint in transportation. People are our strength. We are a diverse workforce of over 44,000 located nationwide and spanning over 120 occupations to include air traffic control specialists, aviation safety inspectors, engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals. Join us in our mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

Agency contact information

Benigno Ruiz
Phone
1 (202) 267-4452
Fax
1 (202) 267-7032
Email
benigno.m.ruiz@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
Employment Services Division
800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523
AHF-110
Washington, DC 20591
US

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