Foreign Affairs Officer (WSU)

Foreign Affairs Officer, GS-130-7-11 Personal Services Contractor PLEASE NOTE: This is a personal services contractor position. All interested parties should apply directly by submitting their r'sum clearly indicating they are a U.S. citizen to the point of contact listed in this opportunity. This position is in the Washington Support Unit in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) Office of the Arabian Peninsula (NEA/ARP/WSU). NEA is responsible for the general conduct of foreign relations with countries in their respective geographic region. The incumbent serves as a Foreign Affairs Officer using principles, methods and practices learned through training and practice to be responsible for one or more of the following: 1) specifically assigned countries ( as country desk officer); 2) press issues; 3) public diplomacy programs; 4) regional affairs which include issues affecting the region as a whole or cutting across lines of responsibility of the various country desk directors , and provide specialized functional support to other elements of the Bureau. Duties The incumbent receives several developmental assignments. Assists senior staff members in analyzing policy options and developing strategies for achieving short or long-term USG policy goals. Proposes options and alternatives to current or proposed policies. Participates with higher-grade professionals in compiling, analyzing, and presenting data to senior officials for use in policy formulation. Supports higher-grade professionals as a liaison with policy-level officials within the agency, with embassies and posts to ensure that the Department's views and interests are promoted with respect to current and emerging policy issues, and to ensure that the Department's views are taken into consideration in policy development. Effectively manages assigned programs. Maintains currency in advancements in the field and accurately projects the impact of it on programs. Within overall plans developed at higher levels, drafts analytical reports, correspondence, briefing materials and other documents. Develops general expertise in area of assigned responsibility by analyzing data received from various sources. Completes assigned research projects and program studies of increasing difficulty. Ensures effective execution of program requirements by self and subordinates. Establishes systematic methods of activities to determine funding requirements and to determine whether funding is warranted and available. Coordinates the transfer of funding as appropriate. Analyzes budget proposals, prepares justification/memoranda for review committee's recommendation and appropriate official's approval. Evaluates program effectiveness in relation to the funding expended. Exercises approval authority for authorized expenditures, accepts accountability for transfer of funds, procurements, and other financial related decisions for which the incumbent has authority. Requirements U.S. Ctitzenship is required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. Qualifications Time-in-Grade Requirements: Applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; OR Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that included a combination of courses, with 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 Have 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics / quantitative methods. OR Have a combination of education and experience where your coursework was equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, (as shown above), PLUS appropriate relevant experience OR additional education. OR Have completed at least 4 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. NOTE: 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. Applicants Applying to GS-07: IN ADDITION to meeting one of the basic entry qualifications requirements listed above, applicants applying for the GS-07 MUST also meet one of the requirements listed below: Have at least 1 year of specialized experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience must be related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Plan and organize activities to independently accomplish assignments according to established policies and practices. Establish liaison with analysts and officials in other organizations to provide opportunities for exchanging information of mutual interest. Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position. Applicants applying to GS-09: IN ADDITION to meeting one of the basic entry qualifications requirements listed above, applicants applying for the GS-09 MUST also meet one of the requirements listed below: Have at least 1 year of specialized experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience must be related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience drafting foreign policy documents. Skill in written communication to develop and present analyses, memoranda, briefing materials, responding to inquiries and a wide range of other written materials. Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position. Applicants applying to GS-11: IN ADDITION to meeting one of the basic entry qualifications requirements listed above, applicants applying for the GS-11 MUST also meet one of the requirements listed below: Have at least 1 year of specialized experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience must be related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience drafting foreign policy documents Experience researching information to provide background information for senior leadership. Skill in oral communication to solicit information, defend proposals, participate in meetings and discussions. Knowledge of the theories and principles of political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, or other related disciplines applied in analyzing and evaluating factors and conditions involved in the administration of U.S. foreign policy programs. Knowledge of basic U.S. foreign policy objectives and programs to identify and provide analyses of essential issues and developments in the assignment area. Knowledge of the missions, roles, and responsibilities of employees of the U.S. foreign affairs agencies in order to relate them to the Bureau 's programs. OR Have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position to be filled. OR Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience which is equivalent to the work of the position and equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service. This education and experience must meet 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position. Education See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience (for example, 6 months equals 50%) and the percentage of graduate study (for example, 9 graduate hours for a GS-07 equals 50% where 18 graduate hours constitute a full-time year) must total at least 100%. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Knowledge of the theories and principles of political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, or other related disciplines applied in analyzing and evaluating factors and conditions involved in the administration of U.S. foreign policy programs. Knowledge of basic U.S. foreign policy objectives and programs to identify and provide analyses of essential issues and developments in the assignment area. Knowledge of the missions, roles, and responsibilities of employees of the U.S. foreign affairs agencies in order to relate them to the Bureau 's programs. Knowledge of a geographic or functional specialty area sufficient to assess the relevancy and significance of issues and developments within the specialty area to U .S. foreign policy interest. Knowledge of research and analytical methods to validate, evaluate, and interpret information obtained from a variety of sources. Ability to plan and organize activities to independently accomplish assignments according to established policies and practices. Ability to establish liaison with analysts and officials in other organizations to provide opportunities for exchanging information of mutual interest. Skill in written communication to develop and present analyses, memoranda,briefing materials, responding to inquiries and a wide range of other written materials. Skill in oral communication to solicit information, defend proposals, participate in meetings and discussions.