Foreign Affairs Specialist

Office of the Secretary of Defense • Arlington, VA

23d

About The Position

This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Policy (OUSW(P)). The OUSW(P) serves as the principal advisor and assistant to the Secretary of War on the formulation of national security and Department policy, with emphasis on integrating and overseeing Department of War policy and plans to achieve national security objectives.

The Foreign Affairs Specialist studies, reviews, and adjusts strategies, concepts, programs, and budgets supporting policy and program guidance, and focuses senior policy attention on issues with major defense, national security, or international security implications. The position leads team projects and analyzes complex policy, strategy, and force-posture alternatives and implications. It provides expert advice to senior officials, develops and reviews policy positions and responses, represents the Department of War at international meetings and in congressional engagement, monitors congressional action, and contributes to congressional testimony and presentations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet the basic foreign affairs education or experience requirement: a relevant degree or at least 24 semester hours in specified disciplines; a combination of at least 12 semester hours in a specified discipline and 12 semester hours in statistics or quantitative methods; an appropriate combination of education and experience; or four years of appropriate experience in specified fields associated with international organizations, problems, or foreign affairs.
• Meet the specialized experience requirement for the grade level sought: one year equivalent to the next lower grade, demonstrating the applicable abilities in supporting or advising senior leaders on U.S. national security matters, developing policy and strategy recommendations, understanding and coordinating with stakeholders, and, at GS-15, preparing and briefing papers, memoranda, or strategic messaging.
• Obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI and SAP components; a Special Background Investigation and favorable adjudication are required.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
• Successfully complete a probationary or trial period if required.
• Be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Participate in direct deposit.
• Pass required pre-employment and random drug testing.
• Meet all qualification and education requirements by the announcement closing date and document them in the resume; the resume may not exceed two pages.
• Be available for occasional official travel, potentially up to 20%, and for work outside normal duty hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, or overtime, if required.

Responsibilities

• Study, review, and adjust strategies, concepts, programs, and budgets supporting policy and program guidance.
• Focus senior policy attention on issues with major defense policy, national security, or international security implications.
• Lead team projects and encourage communication, coordination, innovation, and high-quality team products.
• Analyze complex policy, strategy, and force-posture alternatives and their implications.
• Provide expert advice at the Assistant Secretary of War (ASW) level or higher on strategy and other matters.
• Review and develop policy positions and responses to actions from Department of War and non-Department offices or agencies that affect foreign policy and national security policy, strategy, programs, planning, and budgets.
• Represent the Department of War in delegations to international meetings and conferences.
• Represent Department positions in contacts with congressional staff.
• Monitor congressional action on Department of War defense strategies, programs, and budgets.
• Develop or contribute to testimony and other presentations to Congress.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed