Foreign Affairs Specialist

Air Education and Training Command • Randolph AFB, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a professional Foreign Affairs Specialist Country Manager in support of Department of Defense (DoD) agencies. This role acts as the USAF's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for planning and executing assigned Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case(s) training requirements. This includes managing acquisition, contracting milestones, programming, logistics, finance, monitoring student requirements and tracking, tracking assigned FMS cases, and training development. FMS cases are contractual agreements between the U.S. Government (USG) and a foreign nation. The specialist is involved in every aspect of cases and all work in support of global employment Security Cooperation Education Teams (SCET) pertaining to USAF International training programs. The employee performs work in support of major weapons systems sales, FMS programs, or as part of a country's International Military Education and Training (IMET), or other grant programs (e.g., Counter Terrorism and Force Protections, etc.). The employee will provide services to assigned countries to ensure training package development and provides tracking for all cases and associated manpower requirements. The role monitors student requirements and supports training program management goals and objectives in achieving successful instructional programs for international partners. The specialist works in concert with the Lead Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) Case Manager and serves as an FMS analyst in support of Department of Defense (DoD) agencies. This role coordinates with the International Scheduling office for programming and confirming training quotas and training course pipeline and/or track for International Military Students (IMS). The specialist assists the Mobile Training Office by ensuring the appropriate pre-coordination, qualified personnel, positioning requirements, and managerial and fiscal aspects are accomplished for country-requested Mobile Training Teams (MTTs), Mobile Education Teams (METs), Extended Training Service Specialists (ETSS), and Language Training Detachments (LTDs). The Case/Country Manager (CM) is the focal point for case/country and IMS student activities and manages all aspects of the FMS case(s). The CM serves as the USAF focal point for all international student issues in support of the assigned countries' training programs. The CM will be the liaison between managed countries' representatives, SCOs, MAJCOMs, and other USG agencies to ensure implementation of training for and by these agencies. The role develops and initiates proper documentation, including estimated training costs, training sequences, and identification of potential problem areas based on factors unique to the requesting countries. The specialist develops official correspondence, messages, and items of interest, staff summaries, sheets, and talking papers relative to assigned programs.

Requirements

• 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.
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program.
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Employee must possess, or obtain, and maintain a Secret clearance as a condition of employment as reflected on the UMD.
• Employee must possess, or obtain, and maintain a current passport and an appropriate Visas, expedited at AFSAT cost in order to perform assigned duties.
• Employee must meet mandatory standards of experience and training and must participate in the squadron training plan.
• The employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Government Travel Credit Card in order to perform assigned duties.
• The employee must be require to be COVID vaccinated in order to meet multiple foreign nation's entry requirements.
• The employee must obtain the appropriate International Affairs Case Life Cycle Management certification level per established timelines, and maintain certification through continuous training.
• Work occasionally requires global travel away from the normal duty station; travel on military or commercial aircraft is required.
• Employee should possess skills and demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with colleagues, counterparts in various USG agencies, high-ranking foreign representatives, and representatives of diverse cultures, and be able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions.
• Employee must meet the education/experience requirements IAW OPM guidelines for the Foreign Affairs Series 0130 Occupational requirements.
• 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. 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, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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.
• One (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems.
• Knowledge of the International/ Foreign Affairs Security Assistance Management Manual and associate responsibilities of a Case/Country Manager (CM) as a USAF's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for planning and executing of assigned Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case(s) including acquisition, contracting milestones, programming, logistics, finance, monitors student requirements, tracking program(s), and training development.
• Knowledge FMS cases as contractual agreements between the U.S. Government (USG) and a foreign nation.
• Knowledge of DoD, USAF, and organizational policies, goal, objectives and directives as applicable to foreign assistance laws and statutory requirements associated with Security Cooperation goals and objectives as they apply to planning, obtaining, and executing international student training.
• Knowledge of procedures for the development, coordination and transmission of planning for the formulation of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to include cost, schedule, and availability of DoD contractor provided training.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures of IMS while attending Air Force or DoD contractor provided training.
• Knowledge of foreign student administration while in USAF training in the U.S., the various training sources available to these students, and the validation process for Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and the various Grant program training requirements.
• Knowledge of USG International/Foreign Affairs objectives, Arms Export Control Act (AECA), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) processes, and/or understanding of international relations policy objectives within Security Assistance/Cooperation Programs.
• Knowledge and technical skill to develop, analyze, and evaluate training options within the legal scope of an FMS program and diplomatically communicate complex plans to USG and international stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze and coordinate a FMS cases for specific requirements, within USG and DoD regulatory policy, for money, manpower, materiel, facilities, and services needed to support the program and when necessary apply the federal acquisition process for development, implementation, line management, execution, and closure of FMS training cases.
• Knowledge of the procedures for the development, coordination, and planning for the formulation of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) to include cost, schedule, and availability of DoD or contractor provided training options.
• Ability to work complex project management issues with foreign governments, their military, and U.S. industry with an understanding of cultural, socio-political, and economic dynamics.
• In-depth ability to use office computer software applications in the preparation of word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically in written and oral mediums.

Nice To Haves

• It is highly desirable that the employee has flight, aircraft maintenance, or training/student management experience.
• Participate in annual Foreign Affairs career field Civilian Developmental Education process and programs is highly desired.
• Completion of Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE), (ACSC, ACSC OLMP, OLC, DOD ELDP, etc.) within four years of accepting position is highly desirable.
• It is highly desirable that the employee has a familiarity of instructional and training system principles, practices, and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a professional Foreign Affairs Specialist Country Manager in support of Department of Defense (DoD) agencies.
• Act as the USAF's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for planning and executing assigned Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case(s) training requirements.
• Manage acquisition, contracting milestones, programming, logistics, and finance for FMS cases.
• Monitor student requirements and track assigned FMS cases and training development.
• Be involved in all aspects of FMS cases and work in support of global employment Security Cooperation Education Teams (SCET) pertaining to USAF International training programs.
• Provide services to assigned countries to ensure training package development and tracking for all cases and associated manpower requirements.
• Monitor student requirements and support training program management goals and objectives.
• Coordinate with the International Scheduling office for programming and confirming training quotas and training course pipeline/track for International Military Students (IMS).
• Assist the Mobile Training Office by ensuring pre-coordination, qualified personnel, positioning requirements, and managerial/fiscal aspects are accomplished for country-requested Mobile Training Teams (MTTs), Mobile Education Teams (METs), Extended Training Service Specialists (ETSS), and Language Training Detachments (LTDs).
• Manage all aspects of the FMS case(s) as the Case/Country Manager (CM).
• Serve as the USAF focal point for all international student issues in support of assigned countries' training programs.
• Act as the liaison between managed countries' representatives, SCOs, MAJCOMs, and other USG agencies.
• Develop and initiate proper documentation, including estimated training costs, training sequences, and identification of potential problem areas.
• Develop official correspondence, messages, items of interest, staff summaries, sheets, and talking papers relative to assigned programs.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree