FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST with Security Clearance

Duties The primary purpose of this position is to: provide senior Air Force leaders with objective information for making strategic, planning and programming decisions on the force planning, structure, concepts, and future development of the US Air Force in order to install long term competitive advantage in regional and global efforts specifically to counter pacing threats from China, Russia, and others. * Serves as the senior strategy analyst and lead advisor to the chief, strategy competition division and lead within the strategic competition team for all issues, policies and concerns related to trans-regional efforts in support of long term strategic competition * Develops and maintains broad expertise in the following areas as they pertain to Air Force regional strategy: current and potential international programs, Politico-military affairs, Air Force operations, technologies and military applications, and potential * As Senior Strategy Analyst and Technical subject matter expert for China, Russia, or Global Affairs, represents the Strategic Competition Team, A5SS, and A5S to a wide variety of internal and external officials * Performs personnel management responsibilities Requirements Conditions of Employment * U.S. Citizenship Required * Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov * If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/ * This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program * Disclosure of Political Appointments * Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft. * Incumbent must implement, promote, and effectively support equal opportunity and Whistleblower protections for all personnel, must follow provisions of labor agreements and applicable directives pertaining to personnel management. * The incumbent is expected to travel with prior notice, often to high-level meetings with other services, contractors and the operating commands and activities to obtain resolution to problems for which decisions would have significant consequences. * This is an Obligated Position in which an employee has return rights. Upon the employee's return, incumbent may be required to vacate this position. Qualifications Conditions of Employment Continued: * This is a Term position NTE 10 AUGUST 2026; 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. * Position is designated Special Sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed. * This position has been designated by the Air Force as a 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 present a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. * This is a Mission-Essential position performing a Mission-Critical-Function, which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption of all functions.(As per Career Field Identification (CFID) Matrix dated 2021, "The 0130 series is a Mission Critical Occupational Series (MC)".) * "This position is emergency-essential (E-E). In the event of a crisis situation, the incumbent, or designated alternate, must continue to perform the E-E duties until relieved by proper authority. The incumbent or the designated alternate may be required to take part in readiness exercises. This position cannot be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the organization of function effectively. This meets the criteria of an E-E position and requires that the incumbent, or the designated alternate, be removed from any military recall status." 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 REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPECIALIST 0130 SERIES: A Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) or a degree with a 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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. Courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, as shown above. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. 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. Evaluation of Experience: Qualifying experience may have been 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. 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 equivalent to the GS-14(or higher) grade level or equivalent pay systems (may have been obtained in the federal service, military, or public sector). My experience includes Mastery of advanced management and organizational principles and practices; Thorough knowledge of DoD and service-level planning and management processes in support of service strategic planning efforts; Thorough knowledge of organizational relationships within OSD, the Joint Staff, and the headquarters staff; Detailed knowledge of at least one, preferably more, combatant command area (regional or functional) and critical aspects of Great Power Competition strategies and strategic competition with China and/or Russia. 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-14 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-15 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: * Knowledge of various aspects of DoD-wide strategies, policies, as well as service program and planning goals/objectives, specifically related to regional planning and coordination. * Knowledge of the Department of Defense National Defense Strategy process; service Strategic Planning and Programming Process, policy, procedures and schedule for developing service annual planning and programming guidance; comprehensive knowledge in one or more functional programs or geographic areas of the national security and international affairs portfolio focused on enabling the United States to compete effectively with China, Russia, and/or other malign actors. * Ability to synthesize complex, and often competing, information and viewpoints to determine best course of action and advocate recommendations across entire staff element and to senior leaders while understanding the nature of U.S. primary adversaries as identified in guidance and how to work with allies and partners to achieve national strategic goals and compete. * Skill in analyzing issues and formulating solutions to problems requiring critical thinking; ability to work as part of an integrated team working with one or more organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives. * Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, negotiate complex issues, and maintain good working relationships. * Knowledge of DoD-wide objectives and capabilities; perspectives on the present and future international security environment, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of war games with proven pol-mil processes and experience in at least one combatant command region. 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