Sr. Leahy and Munitions Vetter

RWD Consulting•Washington, DC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves conducting security force vetting for munitions exports and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to identify derogatory information. The position requires utilizing various databases and systems to approve or flag requests, compiling data, providing reports, and assisting in bilateral agreements. The individual will also develop organizational charts, map human rights violations, and advise on unit ineligibility for security assistance. Policy analysis, research, and recommendations related to security sector assistance, arms sales, and human rights are key aspects. The role also includes drafting briefing materials, authoring reports, and serving as a subject matter expert on relevant laws and policies.

Requirements

BA Degree
5 years professional experience
Secret Clearance
Must be a U.S. citizen
Ability to develop professional working relationships with officers throughout the Department and with other foreign affairs agencies.
Knowledge of research and analytical methods to validate, evaluate, and interpret information obtained from a variety of sources.
Skill in oral and written communications to prepare and present analysis, to defend recommendations and proposals, and to participate in meetings and discussions.
Skill in using open source and classified information sources to map foreign security force units and actions geographically and functionally.
Familiarity with individuals, organizations, and other sources of expertise in the field of human rights in security assistance activities in the academic and non-governmental sector.

Responsibilities

Use the internet and classified databases to check security forces members’ and/or units’ name and proposed recipients of munitions exports and FMS for derogatory information.
Approve requests utilizing INVESTc, U.S. Exports, or the FMS workflow SOP if no derogatory information is uncovered.
Inform responsible DRL officer, regional bureau, PM vetting POC, and interagency stakeholders if derogatory information is found, and work with relevant offices to verify it and identify appropriate courses of action.
Complete vetting searches within designated time frames (e.g., 10 working days for Leahy vetting, 30 days for export licenses, one day for certain FMS cases).
Compile data on office vetting requests and provide periodic reports to management on vetting case load.
Assist in completing bilateral agreements with foreign governments pursuant to the State Leahy Law.
Develop and provide lists of ineligible units to applicable stakeholders.
Make recommendations on vetting procedures when requested by management.
Participate in bureau and interagency meetings on issues related to human rights vetting, Leahy Law implementation, munitions exports, and FMS.
Develop foreign country security force organizational charts using open source and classified resources.
Map credible allegations of gross violations of human rights, geographically, functionally, and in time.
Advise which foreign units are ineligible for security assistance, munitions exports, and FMS.
Provide support to developing individual country Leahy remediation strategies.
Conduct same-day human rights vetting of below-Congressional notification threshold FMS cases.
Assess the vetting process and make recommendations to DRL leadership on refining the Department’s FMS review procedures.
Resolve problematic cases by DRL, PM, regional bureaus, posts, and interagency stakeholders.
Conduct policy analysis and research and assist with policy recommendations in support of DRL/SHR policy, including but not limited to security sector assistance, arms sales, and human rights; security force conduct, gross violations of human rights, and accountability for abuses; civilian harm mitigation and civilian casualties; preventing and countering violent extremism; preventing and responding to atrocities; addressing issues related to children and armed conflict; and Women, Peace, and Security.
Participate in meetings across the USG and foreign policy community on issues related to security and human rights, and maintain relationships with key USG, civil society, and bilateral stakeholders and counterparts.
Draft briefing checklists and talking points for DRL leadership.
Author congressionally mandated reports on security and human rights concerns.
Coordinate with other agencies to schedule roundtable discussions on human rights topics and shared concerns.
Serve as a DRL/SHR subject matter expert and advisor on laws, policies, and procedures including but not limited to gross violations of human rights, conduct and accountability of security forces, security sector assistance, Leahy vetting, arms sales, civilian casualties, atrocity prevention and early warning, preventing and countering violent extremism, gender-based violence, and child soldiers.