Job Summary

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Job Description

This is a Security Cooperation (SC) position due to the nature of the position's duties and responsibilities. Position requires incumbent to attain DoD Security Cooperation Certification in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2017, Title 10 U.S. C., Sect. 384. Incumbent must maintain "good-standing" in an appropriate Area of Concentration (AoC) and certification level as determined by supervisor. Employee must meet DoD Security Cooperation Workforce Certification requirements applicable to the duties of the position. Incumbent must meet the education and experience requirements for the designated Certification AoC and Certification Level within one year (Basic-level) or two years (Intermediate-level, Advanced-level and Expert-level) from Security Cooperation Workforce Development-Database entry date to become certified in accordance DoD SC Workforce Certification requirements as outlined in the Implementation Guidelines for the DoD SC Workforce Certification Program signed by the Director, DSCA. Incumbent of this position is required to comply with all Department of Defense and Defense Security Cooperation Agency requirements of this certification program. This certification requirement is a condition of employment for this position. Failure to obtain DoD SC certification within the required time may subject the incumbent to adverse action. Incumbent is required to maintain 20 hours of Security Cooperation professional development continuous learning every two-year period to maintain good standing in the DoD Security Cooperation Workforce Certification Program. This position has been designated by the Air Force as Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. 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. AND 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-13, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of US statues, treaties and executive branch agreements, and US administration policy governing international cooperation in research, development, and acquisition (ICRD&A); knowledge and understanding of specific US statutes regarding ICRD&A activities such as the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), including the legal requirements for ensuring that USAF international agreement language is in compliance with accepted US standards; knowledge of DoD directives, Air Force policy directives and instructions, and international agreements governing the establishment and management or ICRD&A programs; working knowledge of precedents, practice and procedures, both formal and informal, of the ICRD&A environment; knowledge of DoD and USAF organizational structures sufficient to task appropriate agencies to support Air Force armaments cooperation actions; knowledge of other US Government agencies (Department of State, Department of Commerce. etc.) organization, structure and role sufficient to enable a productive working relationship; knowledge of international cooperative programs and principles of international finance and financial transactions; knowledge of US and DoD policies and practices pertaining to the expenditure of US funds overseas, use of foreign funds on international armaments cooperation projects, and international funds transfer policies and procedures in order to review, revise and/or approve funding needs of international armaments cooperation program managers. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. 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: Mastery knowledge of US foreign policy objectives, the US alliance structure, USAF and DoD acquisition policies and their impact on international programs, and the DoD international agreements process. Expert skill in managing and coordinating complex activities in a multi-functional environment involving interaction with senior executive and management levels of the Air Force, DoD, and international customers. Expert ability to apply knowledge and experience to a wide range of other programs and issues with particular emphasis on international activity. Expert ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, by preparing and presenting briefings and reports to senior US and foreign government officials. Ability to develop improvements in or design new work methods and procedures. Ability to analyze, plan, and adjust work operations of subordinate organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources. Skill in planning and adjusting work operations to meet changing or emergency program or production requirements within available resources and with minimum sacrifice of quantity or quality of work. Skill in analyzing organizational and operational problems and developing timely and economical solutions. Ability to represent SAF/IA both within and outside SAF/IA to gain support for SAF/IARS program goals. 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.