FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties
As a FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST at the GS-0130-15 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Responsible for strategic planning and policy development related to Africa which include the development of policies, studies and planning concepts applicable to specific African countries and regions; conducting regional planning and developing policies of a politico-military nature; and strategic planning related to security assistance affairs, including the preparation of worldwide or inter-regional plans, implementing directives, and reports.
• Develops coordinated positions with other appropriate USG agencies prior to interagency or foreign governmental meetings in order to negotiate and positively influence national security policy in the area of long range US strategic planning, DoD policy development, security assistance programs, foreign mil-to-mil relations, and international humanitarian and peacekeeping in Africa.
• Stays informed on current developments and issues in U.S. African policy keying on issues that bear on U.S. national military strategy, military-to-military engagement, force protection, and military cooperation with regional states and organizations in order to provide subject matter expertise to senior Joint Staff officials (GO/FO level) and assume the role of "Project Manager" for specific initiatives or programs dealing with DoD policies, security assistance, and military engagement with countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Prepares Joint Staff leaders for participation in interagency discussions or congressional hearings by providing expert information, analysis, briefings, studies, and reports on current politico-military issues within the Africa Division AOR.
• Represents senior officials in interagency meetings, politico-military working groups, ad hoc committees, and in coordinating CCMD, Service positions, roles in fulfilling U.S. Government (USG) strategic objectives and national military strategy.
• Prepares and presents high level briefings of assessment conclusions; many being highly subjective and not readily susceptible to verification until actual operational situations are encountered. Identifies and researches policy positions of other interagency organizations/service commands and coordinate with them during formulation of Joint Staff policy decisions.
• Represents CJCS and the Joint Staff at discussions and meetings with other USG agencies or with other the interagency, other DoD departments, CCMDs, and countries of Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Requirements Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is NOT telework eligible
• COVID19: All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Please see, additional information.
• Employee must obtain/maintain a Special Sensitive (Top Secret/SCI) security clearance.
• Drug Testing Designated Position: Yes

Qualifications You may qualify at the GS- 15, if you fulfill the following qualifications:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service:

• Strategic planning and policy development related to Africa which include the development of policies, studies and planning concepts applicable to specific African countries and regions.
• Production of information papers, briefings, studies, and advice on strategic and, political-military issues dealing with countries throughout the USAFRICOM Area of Responsibility.
• Conducting regional planning and developing policies of a politico-military nature and strategic planning related to security assistance affairs, including the preparation of worldwide or inter-regional plans, implementing directives, and reports

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.
In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0130 series.
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.
Evaluation of Experience
Qualifying work experience may have been gained through residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or international relief work, or other experience in foreign countries.
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.
*NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.Education
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.
All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that 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 that 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: Foreign Education
Additional information
Knowledge of African languages, French, Arabic and regional specific is desired for this position but not required.
Time spent in Africa and work with host government in some capacity, i.e. security cooperation, aid, Foreign Service, INL, etc. is desired for this position but not required.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies 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 ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: .
COVID-19 - Pursuant to EO 14043, all Federal employees, regardless of duty location or work arrangement, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by November 22, 2021, or before entrance on duty if after November 22, subject to exceptions as required by law. Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following:
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see ). Selective Service Requirement: Please visit for more information.
The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.
NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.
All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.
For more information, please visit

Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:

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