Protocol Specialist

Department of the Air Force Headquarters•Lackland AFB, TX

About The Position

The Protocol Specialist serves as protocol advisor to the 16 AF Commander and HQ 16 AF senior staff, and consults on worldwide 16 AF activities involving protocol, conferences, special events, ceremonies, and distinguished visitors. The position manages and coordinates protocol efforts across the 16 AF enterprise, interprets and applies Department of the Air Force protocol guidance, and carries out work assigned by the Chief of Protocol according to organizational priorities and customer needs. The incumbent maintains working relationships with Air Force, Joint Services, Joint Base San Antonio, foreign embassies, and state and local organizations; greets high-ranking dignitaries; and instructs conference and summit project officers on customs and courtesies for special award presentations and recognitions. This is a GG-11 Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System position in the Excepted Service. It is designated special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information or other specified sensitive intelligence access, as well as signing a nondisclosure agreement. The position is a Testing Designated Position and requires initial and periodic short-notice drug testing. The employee may travel by military or commercial aircraft for temporary duty, work some weekends and hours outside the normal duty schedule, and lift, carry, push, or move heavy objects, equipment, and supplies. Work takes place indoors and outdoors, sometimes in varying weather, and involves frequent extended periods of standing and movement among locations. The incumbent must be able to work under stressful conditions and adapt to frequent changes in schedules and event details.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Must meet the specialized experience requirements for the GG-11 position, including knowledge of protocol for conferences, special events, ceremonies, and distinguished visitors, supplemented by experience enabling independent performance of recurring assignments and planning of difficult but well-precedented projects.
Alternatively, qualify through a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. in a relevant field; qualifying education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the work.
A combination of qualifying post-high-school education and experience may be used to meet grade-level requirements.
Submit official transcripts if qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience; education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Be eligible for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information, other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs, and sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Pass initial and periodic short-notice drug testing.
Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
Must use direct deposit.
Must be able to travel by military or commercial aircraft for temporary duty assignments.
Must be able to lift, carry, push, or move heavy objects, equipment, and supplies.
Must be able to work some weekends as designated by the 16 AF Chief of Protocol and approved by the 16 AF Chief of Staff, and may be required to work outside normal duty hours.
Must be able to stand for frequent long periods and move among locations during briefings, seminars, ceremonies, conferences, social events, arrivals, visits, and tours.
Must be able to work indoors and outdoors, including in varying weather conditions.
Must be able to work under stressful conditions and adapt to a fast-paced environment with frequent changes to itineraries, schedules, guest lists, menus, and facility availability.
Must demonstrate knowledge of protocol, official funding sources, administrative and security regulations, instructions, methods, and procedures.
Must demonstrate knowledge of organizational functions sufficient to process incoming and outgoing correspondence.
Must demonstrate knowledge of ceremonies for the Air Force, other U.S. Armed Forces, the Department of State, and other federal organizations.
Must demonstrate knowledge of U.S. or foreign military and civilian distinguished visitors' rank structures.
Must demonstrate knowledge of religious preferences, cultural differences, customs and courtesies, dietary restrictions, and personal interests and habits of foreign and domestic distinguished visitors.
Must demonstrate diplomacy when dealing with high-level officials and senior Major Command members, joint agency staff, and the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

Advise the 16 AF Commander and HQ 16 AF senior staff on protocol matters.
Consult on worldwide 16 AF activities involving protocol, conferences, special events, ceremonies, and distinguished visitors.
Manage and coordinate protocol efforts across the 16 AF enterprise.
Research, interpret, analyze, and apply protocol guidance and policies in DAFI 90-1201, Protocol.
Complete work assigned by the Chief of Protocol according to organizational priorities, assignment difficulty, and customer needs.
Establish, develop, and maintain working relationships with Air Force, Joint Services, Joint Base San Antonio, foreign embassies, and state and local organizations' executive staff.
Greet high-ranking dignitaries upon their arrival at the installation.
Instruct and educate conference and summit project officers on customs and courtesies for special award presentations and recognitions.
Analyze complex ceremonial functions and procedures, determine appropriate requirements, resolve problem areas independently, and make on-the-spot corrections.
Communicate with high-level officials and senior Major Command members, joint agency staff, and other stakeholders in person, by video teleconferencing, and by telephone.